But Who Do You Say That I Am?

 

(Matt. 16:13–20; Mark 8:27–30)

And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, 

"Who do the crowds say that I am?"

So they answered and said, "John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again."

He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God."—Luke 9:18-20

When Jesus asks His disciples “But who do you say that I am?” His purpose in asking was probably to give His them the opportunity to make clear in their own heads who they believed that Jesus was.  The people around them had lots of opinions but Jesus especially wanted the hearts and minds of His followers to be certain in their belief in who He was.  He wanted to prepare them for what lay ahead. His Galilean ministry was ending and He was about to begin His journey to Jerusalem where He would be crucified and their faith would be shaken.

And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."

But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death."

Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me."—Luke 22:31-34

He loved each of them. He prayed for each of them. And He wanted each of them to live with Him forever. Beloved…He does the same and wants the same for each of us. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He loves us, He prepares us for what lays ahead and as our Advocate, He prays for us. 

As believers may the lives we now live unto God pose to others the very same question that Jesus asks His disciples here.  Oh, Father, may our light so shine before men, that they see our good works and glorify You.  May they want what we have and by Your Spirit confess in their own hearts and with their own mouths that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.—Romans 8:31-34

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.—John 3:16

But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.—Romans 10:8-10

Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul?

 

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.—Psalm 43:5

When my spirit begins to flag and darkness to gain its footing, these words of the Holy Spirit through David hearten and encourage my soul. Truly the LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me.

I am so thankful for God’s faithfulness. There has never been a time when I have cried out to my Him and not been comforted.  In Him, my consolations abound.   His merciful kindness toward me, His child, is from everlasting to everlasting.  I am precious in His sight.  

Beloved…Allow the light of His countenance to lift your spirit heavenward so you can once again emanate His glorious light toward those around you. The Lord our God gives us strength as we patiently pray through our trials…As we look to Him…as we wait upon Him…as we depend on His all-sufficient grace to meet our every need.  

Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'—Jeremiah 33:3

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.—2 Corinthians 12:8-10

Have you not known?

Have you not heard?

The everlasting God, the LORD,

The Creator of the ends of the earth,

Neither faints nor is weary.

His understanding is unsearchable.

29 He gives power to the weak,

And to those who have no might He increases strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,

And the young men shall utterly fall,

31 But those who wait on the LORD

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint. —Isaiah 40:28-31

The Soul’s Cry After Her Resting Place…

The following is an excerpt from Jessie Penn-Louis’ beautiful and life changing book Thy Hidden One’s: The Life of a Believer as Illustrated in the Song of Solomon. The exposition here is of the same verse.

His left hand is under my head,

And his right hand embraces me.

The first is from 2:6 and the second from 8:3.  The “progress” seen is paradoxical. 

He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love” (2:4). 

As the Well-Beloved fills her vision and becomes all in all to her, she finds herself brought in by Him to the banqueting house, where in an overpowering revelation of His love He gives her a foretaste of the union which she seeks. The spiritual manifestation of Christ in the heart is love. It has now pleased God to “reveal His Son” in her (Galatians 1:16). She had already had glimpses of this when she had fellowship with Him at His table, but now she has a revelation of Himself, and sees that wherever He may lead her henceforth, though it be along the way of the cross, it will be under the banner of love. The soul is not able to bear the full answer to all its desires. It cries to know all that oneness with the Risen Lord means to redeemed sinners, but it does not understand that it needs to be prepared and strengthened to endure it. 

“Stay me . . . for I am sick [with] love” (2:5), cries the surrendered one in the banqueting house. 

The revelation of Christ in His glory makes even an apostle fall at His feet as dead! (Revelation 1:17). The soul asks for some support, for it all seems too much; but she remembers that He is holding her even while He reveals Himself to her, and she needs no other stay. “Underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27). “His left hand is under my head, and His right hand doth embrace me” (2:6), she exclaims.

The Soul’s Cry After Her Resting Place 

His left hand should be under my head, and His right hand should embrace me” (8:3). 

However foolish and ignorant she may be, there is no question as to the integrity of her heart; her will is ever kept immovably set to obey. “I only desire to be taught,” she says. “That He may have His way and be satisfied is all I want. Oh for the rest and the upholding of the Everlasting Arms!” Ah, she thought she knew how to keep step, but she sees she is as helpless as ever. She must needs be carried. Now she knows what is meant by being a “little one,” and understands the Master’s words that the greatest in His Kingdom is as a little child (Matthew 18:4). She is maturing in truth, for she is progressing from “the cross to the cradle”! Her growth in the stature of Christ will be manifested in the child-spirit which evermore lies down in the Father’s bosom.

Precious Truths From Scripture…

 

Surely He has borne our griefs

And carried our sorrows;—Isaiah 53:4

Why are you cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him

For the help of His countenance.—Psalm 42:5

In all their affliction He was afflicted,

And the Angel of His Presence saved them;

In His love and in His pity He redeemed them;

And He bore them and carried them

All the days of old.—Isaiah 63:8b-9

"Then I said to you, 'Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. 30 The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 31 and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.'—Deuteronomy 1:29-31

I have chosen you and have not cast you away:

10 Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'—Isaiah 41:9b-10

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.—Hebrews 4:15-16

What a comfort it is to know that Jesus understands what we go through.   These precious words from Scripture never fail to bring joy and consolation when my heart is depressed and disquieted.  What I face, He faces with me. I am not alone in this crazy world.  He is continually with me and will be with me holding my hand even as I enter into eternity.

I am in Christ…a member of His body. In Him I live and move and have my being. Jesus is affected by what affects me. He feels what I feel and sympathizes. He suffers along with me. 

"The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by Him,

Who shelters him all the day long;

And he shall dwell between His shoulders."—Deuteronomy 33:12

Beloved… Believe God even when the darkness threatens to overwhelm your heart.  Jesus has gone before you and will be with you. He will make even the darkness light about you. Make His footsteps your pathway.  See your trials as opportunities to honor Him by trusting Him. 

Abide at His feet. Go to the Scriptures.  Find an anchor hold of truth.  Meditate on it. By His Spirit who dwells in you, grasp His promise, rejoice and be comforted. Allow His gracious love and care to flood your soul. He Himself is your companion and your great consolation as you navigate the darkness of this world into His kingdom of light…the kingdom of the Son of His love. 

Hope in God;

For I shall yet praise Him,

The help of my countenance and my God.—Psalm 42:11b

God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear,—Ps 46:1-2a

Trust in Him at all times, you people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us.

Selah—Psalm 62:8

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress;

My God, in Him I will trust."

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler

And from the perilous pestilence.

4 He shall cover you with His feathers,

And under His wings you shall take refuge;

His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,

Nor of the arrow that flies by day,

6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,

Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,

And ten thousand at your right hand;

But it shall not come near you.

8 Only with your eyes shall you look,

And see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,

Even the Most High, your dwelling place,

10 No evil shall befall you,

Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;

11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,

To keep you in all your ways.

12 In their hands they shall bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,

The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

14 "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him,

And show him My salvation."—Psalm 91

Photo Credit: Rachel ❤️

Psalm 26…David’s Response to Being Slandered…

 

1 Vindicate me, O LORD,

For I have walked in my integrity.

I have also trusted in the LORD;

I shall not slip.

2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me;

Try my mind and my heart.

3 For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,

And I have walked in Your truth.

4 I have not sat with idolatrous mortals,

Nor will I go in with hypocrites.

5 I have hated the assembly of evildoers,

And will not sit with the wicked.

6 I will wash my hands in innocence;

So I will go about Your altar, O LORD,

7 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,

And tell of all Your wondrous works.

8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house,

And the place where Your glory dwells.—Psalm 26:1-8

Vindicate me, O LORD,

For I have walked in my integrity.

I have also trusted in the LORD;

I shall not slip.

I love David’s heart for God!  As you read his Psalms you really can’t miss it. In verse one he calls on the Lord to judge Him...he cares not what man thinks about him only what God thinks. He places his trust in God knowing that although he is not perfect, the overall direction of his life has been one of obedience and fruit toward God.  His inward heart for his Lord has been reflected in his outward walk.  His word and deed match.  In the last part of verse 1 we see David trusting God in whatever would happen next. His heart is steadfastly walking in faith and in truth.  His feet will not slide because His God has got him. 

2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me;

Try my mind and my heart.

Verse 2 reminded me of David’s words in Psalm 139:

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;

24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting

Beloved...this is a prayer of courage and a prayer one would not pray unless he was confident that his love for his God was without hypocrisy. David gives God is heart and asks Him to search it and lead him in right paths.  He WANTS to be ruled by God. His words brought these verses from Psalm 25 to mind

Teach me Your paths.

5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me,

For You are the God of my salvation;

On You I wait all the day.

Skipping down to the end of verse 6 through verse 8 we read...

So I will go about Your altar, O LORD,

7 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,

And tell of all Your wondrous works.

8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house,

And the place where Your glory dwells

There are many that might go into the house of God in an attempt to hide their sin and hypocrisy from others...not David.  David loved the house of his God because he loved the God of the house!  His desire was to be in His Presence, to proclaim His wonderful works and to sing His praises.  His heart was all in!  There was no falseness in David. His whole being glorified God.

Father...do this work in me!  Search ME and know MY heart and lead ME in the way everlasting. Be my strong habitation to which I continually resort. Ending with more of David’s heart from Psalm 37, Psalm 43 and Psalm 27.

3 Trust in the LORD, and do good;

Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

4 Delight yourself also in the LORD,

And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD,

Trust also in Him,

And He shall bring it to pass.

6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,

And your justice as the noonday.

7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;—Psalm 37

3 Oh, send out Your light and Your truth!

Let them lead me;

Let them bring me to Your holy hill

And to Your tabernacle.

4 Then I will go to the altar of God,

To God my exceeding joy;

And on the harp I will praise You,

O God, my God.

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God;

For I shall yet praise Him,

The help of my countenance and my God.—Psalm 43

One thing I have desired of the LORD,

That will I seek:

That I may dwell in the house of the LORD

All the days of my life,

To behold the beauty of the LORD,

And to inquire in His temple.

5 For in the time of trouble

He shall hide me in His pavilion;

In the secret place of His tabernacle

He shall hide me;

He shall set me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;

Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;

I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.—Psalm 27

Hope Deferred Makes the Heart Sick…

 

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.” ~ Proverbs 13:12, NKJV

I love this proverb because it is comfort for the longing heart. Really, whatever it is we think we're longing for, the truth is we only want the Lord. We were created with a desire for Him built into our souls. When Adam sinned, the fellowship we had with the Lord was broken, and our souls went hungry as a result. Cut off from the only One who can satisfy our longing hearts, we seek to fill that hole with anything and everything we think might assauge our heartache: beauty, success, food, activity, learning, relationships, etc. But because none of those things can take the place of God, we are always disappointed. Our hope of satisfaction is constantly deferred. The disappointment and disillusionment and the unrelenting spiritual hunger gnaws at our souls and leaves us sick at heart. BUT WHEN THE DESIRE COMES...when we accept what Christ has done to restore our fellowship with God at an even greater level of intimacy than we had in Eden...IT IS A TREE OF LIFE! (Literally!) In Christ we find the satisfaction for our souls. In Christ we have access to the fountain of living water that slakes our the desire of our hearts and never leaves us wanting. I need to be reminded of this so often! Even though I'm saved, I still battle with my flesh, and my flesh resists the Lord and persists in its futile efforts to find satisfaction elsewhere. I long for heaven...I long for the presence of God forever, and I can hardly wait for the day when He will come!—by Rebecca

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,

To all who call upon Him in truth.

He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;

He also will hear their cry and save them.

The LORD preserves all who love Him,

But all the wicked He will destroy.

My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD,

And all flesh shall bless His holy name

Forever and ever.—Psalm 145:18-20

Delight yourself also in the LORD,

And He shall give you the desires of your heart.—Psalm 37:4