Hearing His Voice #157

[Jesus said,] “My Father in heaven has revealed this to you. . . . Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church.”

Matthew 16:17-18

The voice of God revealed Jesus’ identity to Simon, though Simon had heard nothing concrete. He simply came to a realization of the truth, and Jesus said this realization was a revelation from God. But even though this revelation had not thundered from heaven for all to hear—even though it probably seemed to Simon to be his own thought processes—it was enough to become the foundation of the church. God’s people would be established on this rock of truth that Jesus was and is the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

Simon had the privilege of calling out Jesus’ true identity, and Jesus did something profound in response. He called out Simon’s true identity. He told this rash, often-unstable disciple that he was really a rock and that he would be instrumental in the early history of Jesus’ followers. He saw the glory and purpose in Simon Peter’s calling and declared it openly in front of the other disciples. He affirmed the character that was developing in Peter, even though it was not yet fully formed. Peter would one day deny that he ever knew Jesus, but that didn’t prevent Jesus from calling him a rock. He knew Peter’s heart and his future. He insisted that Peter would be defined by His words, not by Peter’s past.

Acknowledge who Jesus is, and you will hear Him acknowledge who you are. This is a two-way communication, and both the revelation you receive and the revelation you share will build His Kingdom. Your words about Him and His words about you will further His work in this world. His identity and yours are both necessary parts of His mission.

Jesus, I can answer Your question, “Who do you say I am?” You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. But who do You say I am? You alone define my identity. I look to no one else to tell me what role I play in Your Kingdom.