Who Do You Say?

 

“…I tell you, you are Peter, 

and on this rock I will build my church.” Mathew 16:18

He started out as Simon the fisherman. Then he became Simon, disciple of Jesus. But when Jesus asked him the question: “Who do you say that I am?” Simon’s answer—“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”—changed him into Peter the Rock. With that declaration, Peter’s heart changed. He recognized Jesus as more than a cool Rabbi who did miracles and fed people. He was more than a great guy, an awesome teacher, or even a prophet. Peter’s statement became the foundation for the church. Every person who desires to become a part of that church must have the same change of heart.

Many people assume they are right with God because they consider the Bible “an amazing Book” and revere Jesus as a “wonderful teacher.” But going to a building once a week does not make someone part of God’s church. The church is made up of people who have seen Jesus for who He really is and handed ownership of their lives to Him. C. S. Lewis echoed the declaration that turned Simon into Peter: “You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon, or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” Peter’s declaration transformed a group of fishermen and tax collectors into world-changers. When we surrender our lives to that declaration, it transforms us too.

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