Good morning. “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” So the disciples consulted the latest polls 😊. Jesus was not ready to declare Himself to be the Messiah. It turns out they believed that He was some special person from the Old Testament or else John the Baptist. Then Jesus asks them who they say He is. It was OK that the people believed He was someone else; but it was crucial that His followers believed that He was the Messiah. If you ever taught a class with Peter in it, you could be sure that he would be one of those who would speak up, and all the time. If you were doing group work, his group would never be one of the silent ones. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And of course Jesus commended Peter for his great insight – right? No He said “Blessed are you, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it.” Of course Jesus was not saying like some say that upon Peter, the rock, He would build His church but rather upon - that He was the Son of God. Also it says the gates of Hades shall not overpower Jesus' church. Have you ever seen anyone attacked by a gate? That must mean that the church is the one doing the attacking. Father thank You that the reader knows that Jesus is the Son of the living God – You! Guide and protect him/her and his/her family every day.

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