Daily Reading & Prayer

Who Is Jesus?

August 22, 2024

Read

Matthew 16:15-16 “‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’”

Think

Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our faith, fully God and fully man, a profound mystery that invites us to a deeper understanding of God’s love and sacrifice. Jesus wasn’t just a great teacher or moral leader; he is the very Son of God who stepped into human history to transform our lives forever.

C.S. Lewis captures this truth powerfully: "You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse.” The Gospels portray Jesus as compassionate and powerful, performing miracles, healing the sick, and raising the dead. Yet he also experienced hunger, sorrow, and temptation. This dual nature—fully divine and fully human—makes Jesus relatable and accessible yet awe-inspiring and worthy of worship.

In Matthew 16:15, Jesus asks his disciples, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” Peter responds, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” This declaration is central to our faith. Understanding Jesus as the Messiah means recognizing him as fulfilling God's promises, the Savior who offers redemption and eternal life. Jesus invites us into a personal relationship with him, offering peace, hope, and purpose that transform our lives.

Reflecting on Jesus’ life and sacrifice brings us to a place of gratitude and awe. Philippians 2:6-8 tells us that Jesus, “being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” This incredible act of love calls us to respond with faith and devotion.

Apply

If you have received Jesus as your Lord and Savior and given him control of your life, your next step is to share the good news—the transformational story of Jesus—with someone else. When was the last time you shared your story with someone?

Pray

Lord Jesus, thank you for revealing yourself to us as fully God and fully man. Help me to grasp the depth of your love and sacrifice. Open my heart to a deeper relationship with you and transform my life through your presence. May my understanding of who you are lead me to live in a way that honors and glorifies you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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