Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 190

July 9;    Mark 8:29;    36/260(III);    ‘A Personal Decision’

Mark 8:29 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said to Him, "You are the Christ."

The Lord Jesus and His disciples were walking along on the road and Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I am?”  They answered the Lord, “John the Baptist, Elijah or one of the prophets”.  People have various opinions of who Jesus Christ is.  Then the Lord got more specific, asking, “Who do you say that I am?”  Peter answered and said to Jesus, You are the Christ.  That is the only answer that leads to eternal life.  Everyone has heard about Jesus, even different religions, but not everyone believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.  How did Peter come to the proper conclusion concerning Jesus?  Peter spent time with Jesus.  Peter got to see Jesus treat people with love, courtesy and kindness.  He saw the compassion of Jesus as Jesus ministered to the sick.  Peter heard what Jesus taught and observed His holy conduct.  Peter also saw the authority Jesus ministered by and that the Lord was in charge of every situation.  All of this proved to Peter that the Lord Jesus was indeed the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior of the world.  Peter had the privilege of actually being with Jesus as He ministered.  What about us?  By the Word of God, we can experience everything Peter experienced and more.  We can see how He ministered and His Example in the gospels, we can read of the Old Testament prophecies that preview what Jesus will do.  We can read in the epistles the blessings that are ours because of our personal decision about Jesus.