Who do you say that I am?

Reading: Matt. 5:3, Matt. 16:13-16, Matt. 17:1,2

So far in reading about the Beatitude, "Blessed are the poor in spirit..." we have looked at the lives of Isaiah, David, Peter, and the other disciples as they had an encounter with God, or with Jesus. In the light of His amazing glory, they suddenly realize their own pitiful state of being a sinner. Today we'll look at a couple experiences Peter, John and James had with Jesus and then their comments later in life after He ascended to heaven. Here we will see who Jesus was and is.

Jesus asked His disciples: "'Who do people say that the Son of Man is? 'Well,' they replied, some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.' NLT  Jesus knew that people perceived Him as a prophet, one of many men, who spoke for God. But still just a mere man. Jesus was more than one of many men, He was the one and only unique man to ever walk on this earth . Next Jesus asked them,

'But who do you say I am?' 

Peter answered, 

"You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God" 

Matt 16:13-16 NKJ

Peter got it! After all he had experience with Jesus, He knew who Jesus really was and he dared to say it. 'You are the Christ,' the one and only Messiah in all of human history that God sent to save humanity. Even more penetrating, 'the Son of the Living God', the one and only Son of God Almighty! After Peter said this, Jesus said to him, 'You are Blessed... because My Father in Heaven revealed this to you.'

"Six days later Jesus took Peter, James and John, 

and led them up to a high mountain to be alone. 

As the men watched Jesus' appearance was transformed 
so that His face shone like the sun, 
 and His clothes became as white as light." 

Matt. 17:1,2 NLT

They witnessed more of His glory being revealed. Imagine the sense of awe they must have experienced that day as they gained an even greater picture of His glory! Much later, after Jesus ascended to the Father; Peter reflects on his experience with Jesus:

"For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw His majestic splendor with our own eyes when He received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to Him, 'This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.' We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place- until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts." 2 Peter 1:1:16-19 NLT
This is what John said later about Jesus:

" We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, 

who we have heard and seen. 

We saw Him with our own eyes and touched Him with our own hands. 

He is the word of life..." 

1 John 1:1-4 NLT

These men spent years personally with Jesus, seeing His miracles. They saw His authority over the elements. They saw Him transfigured in glory on the mountain and heard the voice of God saying 'This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to Him'. These men were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

So here we are 2,000 years later, believing in something we have not seen with our own eyes. Yet we can believe in Christ, based on the eyewitness testimonies of the men who spent those years with Him. We know their testimony to be true because they were tortured for their faith and yet never denied Him. Peter speaks of the faith of believers who have not seen Him. 

"You love Him even though you have never seen Him. 

Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him; 

and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 

The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls." 

1 Peter 1:8, 9 NLT

As these men experienced Jesus day to day they grew in their revelation of Him. With a true conversion we can openly come before the Lord, behold His glory and have a greater and greater revelation of His person. In seeing Him for who He is, He will transform us, from glory to greater glory as we are changed to be ever more like Him:

"But we all, with unveiled face,
beholding as in a mirror
the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same image
from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."
2 Cor 3:18 NKJ

It is my prayer that "Christ the Morning Star will shine in your hearts" today!
"I, Jesus... am... the Bright and Morning Star." 
Revelation 22:16 NKJ