What Now?

With Resurrection Sunday (Easter) in the rear-view mirror for another year, it is time to ask, "What now?" Churches everywhere celebrated our Lord's resurrection in special ways—Sunrise Worship Services, church breakfasts, larger than normal crowds—all with the hope that people everywhere would find Christ, receiving His offer of salvation or rededicating themselves to walking more closely with Jesus. And many people made such professions of faith.

But now what? How should we continue to respond, now that we have trusted Christ more fully? Unfortunately, many people dedicate themselves to follow Jesus more faithfully, but then simply return to "business as usual" in their day-to-day lives. So what should we do?

Two of Jesus' followers did just that: "Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him" (Luke 24:13-16).

"And He said to them, 'What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?'" (v. 17). Jesus saw their countenance and was concerned for them.

"Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, 'Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?'" (v. 18). They were bewildered. Did this man really not know what had happened in Jerusalem?

"And He said to them, 'What things?' So they said to Him, 'The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see'" (vs. 19-24). Good summary of events. That should make things clear.

But note Jesus' response: "Then He said to them, 'O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?' And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (vs. 25-27).

Jesus chastised them. He said they were "foolish" and "slow of heart to believe" (v. 25). They had experienced first-hand the Lord's death and resurrection, and had committed themselves to following Jesus faithfully, yet now they were returning to Emmaus to a life that was "business as usual." Nothing had changed, but it should have!

"Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, 'Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.' And He went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight" (vs. 28-31). What an eye-opener! They now understood and they knew that they could not, they must not, return to "business as usual."

"And they said to one another, 'Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?' So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, 'The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!' And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread" (vs. 32-35).

Immediately, these two disciples returned to Jerusalem and joined the "testimonial meeting" that was already in progress. They had learned what we all need to learn—that once you meet Jesus and recognize who He is, and once you have trusted Jesus as Lord and Savior, your life has changed. You cannot, you must not, simply return to life as it used to be. Your life must no longer be "business as usual." You must seek Jesus every day, and you must follow Him faithfully moment by moment. Amen.

Mourning Turned to Rejoicing

On Saturday of Passion Week we remember the time Jesus spent in the tomb: "So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard" (Matt. 27:66). The Jewish leaders had taken steps to insure that His disciples could not steal the body and then claim He rose from the dead. The Jewish leaders did not miss the fact that Jesus claimed He would rise again.

It was a time of waiting for the disciples, while the women spent the time preparing the spices and other supplies needed to finish preparing His body for burial. Remember, they had buried Jesus in a hurry on Friday because the Sabbath was about to  begin and they needed to have His body in the grave before sundown. Here is the story:

"Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb" (Matt. 27:57-61).

The wait was on, but the chief priests and Pharisees would not stand idly by. They secured the tomb and set up an armed guard to keep a close eye on things: "On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, 'Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, "After three days I will rise." Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, "He has risen from the dead." So the last deception will be worse than the first.' Pilate said to them, 'You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.' So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard" (Matt. 27:62-66).

The disciples were in mourning that Sabbath, but their mourning would soon be turned to rejoicing. Why? Because when the women returned to the grave on Sunday morning to finish preparing His body, they were amazed and in disbelief. The stone had been rolled away and His body was not there!

"Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.' So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word" (Matt. 28:1-8).

Passion Week ends with a victorious celebration filled with great rejoicing. Why? Because Jesus is risen! The grave is empty! All that remains is for us to believe. With all your heart, trust Jesus and walk with Him every day by faith in His death on the cross and His resurrection the third day. Amen.

It Happened One Friday

Thursday night Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. Through the night He would face several trials and in the end be led to Calvary to be crucified on Friday morning: "Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified" (Matt. 27:26).

That brings us to Friday; to the cross and all the miracles surrounding the cross that day. This Bible Insight is entitled: "It Happened One Friday." What happened? Perhaps the greatest miracle of all time—the payment for sin, the ultimate sacrifice, the provision for salvation.

Jesus was crucified on Golgotha, which means the Place of the Scull: "And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull" (Mark 15:22). The sky grew dark for three hours: "Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour" (Mark 15:33). The veil of the temple was torn in two: "Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom" (Matt. 27:51a). There was an earthquake: "and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split" (Matt. 27:51b). Old Testament saints were raised: "and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many" (Matt. 27:52-53).

So many miracles surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus that day. But the most significant of all was the miracle that took place on the cross itself. When the sky grew dark, Jesus cried out, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matt. 27:46b). God had forsaken Christ because at that moment the sin of the world was placed on Him: "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21).

Peter explains, "For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God" (1 Peter 1:18-19, NLT). Jesus died for you. He died to save you from your sin.

That is the core truth of what happened that Friday. Jesus died on the cross that day. He died on the cross for you. As He hung on the cross dying, He cried out, "It is finished!" (John 19:30). Then He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit'" (Luke 23:46a). "Having said this, He breathed His last" (Luke 23:46b).

His work on earth was done. His purpose for coming had been accomplished. He came to die and shed His blood for forgiveness of sin—your sin. The task was done. Your sin is forgiven through the cross of Christ. Trust Him by faith and you will be saved. Amen.

When the Hour had Come

"When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, 'With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God'" (Luke 22:14-16).

"The hour had come" (v. 14a). It was time for Jesus to fulfill the purpose for which He had been born. It was time for Jesus to suffer and die for our forgiveness. The time of the cross had arrived.

As they ate the Passover meal together, at the appropriate time, Jesus "took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me'" (v. 19). "Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you'" (v. 20).

With those words, Jesus instituted for us the celebration of the Lord's Supper, often referred to as Communion. It is a service of remembrance—remembering what Jesus did for us that very next day. Every time we partake of the bread together we remember Christ's body that was given, or sacrificed for us. We remember how His body was broken for us on the cross.

Every time we partake of the cup, the fruit of the vine, we remember Christ's blood that was shed on the cross for our forgiveness. Only through the shed blood of Christ is there remission of sin. As the writer of Hebrews said, "And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

Christ's blood shed on the cross is the only way. If Jesus had not shed His blood and died on the cross, there would be no forgiveness and we would still be lost in sin. Not only that, but without Jesus' death on the cross, there would be no resurrection the first day of the week and there would be no salvation; there would be no eternal life in heaven.

That is the importance of the Lord's Supper (Communion). Every time we partake of it, we are reminded of what Jesus did for us. So, remember and be thankful. Amen.

It Happened One Wednesday

Wednesday of Passion Week was the day Judas decided to betray Jesus. This betrayal doesn't occur until Thursday night, but His meeting with the chief priests colors everything we read about the Last Supper, which we will look at tomorrow.

Here is how it all came down: "Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, 'What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?' And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him" (Matt. 26:14-16).

Once one of Jesus' most trusted disciples, numbered among the Twelve, he turned on Jesus and become the poster child of treachery. Why? Why would he do this? Who is Judas anyway?

There is little background information given about Judas in Scripture. He is the only one of the Twelve that is possibly identified by his home town. It may be that his surname, "Iscariot," refers to Queriot (or Kerioth), a town located south of Jerusalem in Judea. Jesus is from Galilee to the north from Jerusalem, as are the other disciples, making Judas a little bit of an outsider.

Judas never truly bought into what Jesus taught. He was never faithful at the level of the other disciples. It is also noted that Judas "was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it" (John 12:6). But most importantly, we are told that when Jesus identified His betrayer during the Last Supper on Thursday night, that "Satan entered him" (John 13:27).

"Satan entered him!" He was demon possessed! In fact, Satan himself entered Judas. No wonder he betrayed Jesus to the chief priests. He was controlled and driven by Satan. When you flirt with sin, Satan gets a hold of you and tries to push you over the brink. He shoves you down that slippery slope and into the pit of sin.

After Judas betrayed Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane later that night, we are told, "Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, 'I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.' And they said, 'What is that to us? You see to it!' Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself" (Matt. 27:3-5).

Sin and rebellion against Jesus is never good. And, apart from repentance, it never ends well. But when a sinner repents, there is great joy and celebration in heaven: "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance" (Luke 15:7).

Don't fall in to Satan's trap. Trust Jesus. Should you fall into sin, repent, get right with Jesus and live by faith in Him. He will reward you. Amen.

A Matter of Faith

Tuesday of Passion Week was a day of teaching. The Jewish leaders put increasing pressure on Jesus through multiple questions, seeking to trap Him in His words in hopes of turning the people against Him. Jesus challenged them with His answers, seeking to expose their false beliefs. But with His disciples He gave a lesson on the power of faith. It is on that lesson I want to concentrate today.

"Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, 'Let no fruit grow on you ever again.' Immediately the fig tree withered away" (Matt. 21:18-19).

On the way into Jerusalem, Jesus saw a fig tree in full leaf. It was early in the season for the tree to be in full leaf, making it possible to have early figs—but it does not. So, Jesus cursed the tree and it withered. This presents Jesus with an opportunity to teach the disciples about the power of faith.

"And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, 'How did the fig tree wither away so soon?' So Jesus answered and said to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, "Be removed and be cast into the sea," it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive'" (vs. 20-22).

When the disciples asked Him what had just happened, Jesus shifted the focus to prayer. Though the disciples do not yet understand, they will be the instrument by which people everywhere will be transformed. Through them lives will be changed. And it is by the power of faithful prayer that this will take place.

So, the cursing of this fig tree is really about us. Again, Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive" (vs. 21-22).

If you "have faith and do not doubt" (v. 21a), you will produce spiritual fruit. Prayer is a powerful thing. The prayer of faith can move mountains, spiritually speaking. James said, "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16b). "And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive" (Matt. 21:22). With the prayer of faith, great things can be done for Christ. Only believe! Amen.

The Journey to the Cross Begins

Yesterday we celebrated Palm Sunday, a celebration of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem to begin a week of agony, known as Passion Week, leading to the death and resurrection of Christ. He entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey in fulfillment of prophecy.

Zechariah prophesied accurately of Jesus, declaring, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey" (Zechariah 9:9).

"So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: 'Hosanna to the Son of David! "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" Hosanna in the highest!'" (Matt. 21:6-9).

What an entrance! Jesus entered Jerusalem like a king. And the people declared Him to be the King, the Messiah, the Savior. But little did they know, He did not come to overthrow Rome as they had hoped. Rather, He came to die. He came as a spiritual Savior to shed His blood for their salvation. Before the week was out, many of those same people would be crying for His crucifixion.

Things began to turn on Monday when Jesus entered the temple: "Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, 'It  is written, "My house shall be called a house of prayer," but you have made it a "den of thieves"'" (Matt. 21:12-13).

Whether this occurred later on Sunday or sometime on Monday is irrelevant. What is important to understand is that again, Jesus fulfills Scripture. Jeremiah prophesied, "'Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,' says the Lord" (Jer. 7:11).

This is where things began to turn: "Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, 'Hosanna to the Son of David!' they were indignant and said to Him, 'Do You hear what these are saying?' And Jesus said to them, 'Yes. Have you never read, "Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise"?' Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there" (Matt. 21:14-17).

Let the games begin! From this point on, the Jewish leaders who despised Jesus began working hard to turn the people and destroy Jesus. And turn the people they did! Within days, the people would join them in crying out, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" (Luke 23:21).

And crucify Him they would by the end of the week. But little did they know, they were also fulfilling Scripture by carrying out the purpose of God to provide forgiveness of sin through the shed blood of Christ. Oh, what a Savior! Receive the forgiveness Jesus offers. Receive Him as your Savior. Amen.

Noah: The End of the Rainbow

Last night six of us from my church converged on a movie theater in West Des Moines to experience on film the on-stage performance of the biblical musical Noah. It was originally performed live at the Sight & Sound Theater in Branson, MO and Lancaster, PA. The live musical was filmed and that film is showing this week in theaters across America.

And what an extravaganza it was! Great set with an Ark standing four stories high filled with live animals, many of which came up the isles and onto the stage two-by-two. Birds flew in as well, with some landing on Noah's outstretched arms. Definitely an event worth seeing!

Genesis 6:5-8 sets up the story of Noah and the Flood, which is found in Genesis 6:9-9:17. It begins like this: "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, 'I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.' But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD" (Gen. 6:5-8).

Things had gotten so bad and all mankind was so evil that judgment was coming. Only Noah and his family remained faithful to the Lord God, and God took notice. So God spoke to Noah: "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you. And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. And you shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them" (Gen. 6:13-21).

The important thing to notice is Noah's response: "Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did" (v. 22). Noah was faithful. All the way through this great and epic story, Noah remains faithful. He always does everything exactly as God had instructed.

Do we do the same? We may not be asked to build an Ark, though recent local flooding may have started some to wonder! Yet, we are to respond as Noah did when God directed. We need to follow faithfully every detail.

They entered the ark as commanded, and the rains descended and the floodwaters covered the earth. But again take note: "And Noah did according to all that the LORD commanded him" (Gen. 7:5). "So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive. And the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days" (vs. 23-24).

"Then God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided. The fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were also stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained. And the waters receded continually from the earth. At the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters decreased. Then the ark rested in the seventh month, the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat. And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen" (Gen. 8:1-5).

After some time, the earth dried up and again God spoke to Noah: "Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons' wives with you. Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you: birds and cattle and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth" (vs. 16-17). And again, Noah was faithful: "So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him. Every animal, every creeping thing, every bird, and whatever creeps on the earth, according to their families, went out of the ark" (vs. 18-19).

"Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, 'I will never again curse the ground for man's sake, although the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done'" (vs. 20-21).

Again, Noah remains faithful to God's Word. "So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth'" (Gen. 9:1).

"Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying: 'And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth. Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth" (vs. 8-11).

"And God said: 'This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.' And God said to Noah, 'This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth'" (vs. 12-17).

Again, it was said of Noah: "Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God" (Gen. 6:9). Oh, that we too would be righteous and just, walking faithfully with God every day. Like Noah, remain faithful, always following the Lord Jesus in every way and in every detail of His Word. Amen.

Who Do You Say Jesus Is?

In Luke chapter nine, Jesus twice predicts His coming death on the cross in Jerusalem. In Luke 9:22 He told His disciples, "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day." And again in Luke 9:44 He told His disciples, "Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men." But His disciples "did not understand this saying" (v. 45).

Just prior to introducing this truth to His disciples, Jesus set their minds to thinking about His identity, because what He was about to reveal to them depended upon their understanding of who Jesus is. Only if they knew that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, could they begin to grasp what it meant for Him to die on the cross and rise again from the dead.

So to prepare them, when they came to Him while He was "alone praying" (Luke 9:18a), He asked, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" (v. 18b). The answer was telling. Everywhere Jesus went, large crowds gathered to hear Him and to be healed by Him. Even King Herod was perplexed by the stories he had heard, and he asked, "Who is this of whom I hear such things?" (v. 9a). "So he sought to see Him" (v. 9b). Of course, he only wanted to be entertained. He had no intention of believing on Jesus.

The disciples answered Jesus, "John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again" (v. 19). In other words, nobody had a clue! The crowds that followed were constantly speculating about who Jesus is, but they didn't have a clue. But what about the disciples? Did they understand the truth?

Jesus reworded the question slightly, and asked, "But who do you say that I am?" (v. 20a). To that, "Peter answered and said, 'The Christ of God'" (v. 20b). Final answer? "The Christ of God" (v. 20b). Correct! Peter, and assuming he was speaking for all the disciples as he often did, they all were catching on! Well, at least they were beginning to. They still didn't quite grasp the truth of Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection, both of which awaited Him in Jerusalem. But they soon would.

Do you understand who Jesus is and what He did for you? He is the Christ, the Savior. He died on the cross as an atonement for your sin; for your forgiveness. He rose again to give you eternal life, as He defeated even the final enemy—death. "Death is swallowed up in victory" (1 Cor. 15:54b). "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" (v. 55).

Trust in the Lord Jesus by faith. Believe in His atoning death on the cross for your forgiveness and His resurrection, and you will be saved. Amen.