16th March 2024

Revealing Jesus

When we don’t know someone very well, we can form opinions about them that may not be true. We sometimes listen to what others are saying, or we hear rumours or we come to wrong conclusions based simply on appearance. Even though we all know it’s wrong, we still tend to judge a book by its cover. 

The same is true when it comes to Jesus. People think and say all kinds of things about him, without really knowing him. I was like that for a large part of my life. I was told things about him and since I didn’t know him for myself, I believed what I heard. 

In Jesus’ day, rumours and gossip flew like pigeons. Jesus, knowing this was the case, turned to Peter with a question. “‘But you,’ he asked them, ‘who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus responded, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven'” (Matthew 16:15-17, CSB).

Getting to know Jesus has to begin with asking God to do for us what he did for Peter – reveal him to us. We then need to keep asking that as we read the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, we will be able to see him there. The Holy Spirit will help us see him more clearly and experience who he is, so we can know him for ourselves.

Study by Tammy Tkach

First published on 20 February 2024, at www.gemsofgodsgrace.wordpress.com

About the writer:
Tammy Tkach is the Assistant Pastor of the Eugene, Oregon, USA, Grace Communion International congregation. She is a speaker and writer, and publishes a blog at www.gemsofgodsgrace.wordpress.com  

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