Listen to Him!

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16, NIV 1984).

My Musings – If we learned anything in school, it is that answers matter. Answering correctly, leads to passing the test. Answering incorrectly, just the opposite. Something else we should have learned is that usually (at the same time and in the same sense – law of noncontradiction) there is only one correct answer. True or false. A, B, C, or D. Multiple choice will not mean there are multiple answers. It depends, is never a choice.

The question? “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?'” (Matthew 16:13–15, NIV 1984). Who He was, was not a matter of opinion. But who we say He is, is an opinion that matters.

My Advice – Why does it matter? “A voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!'” (Matthew 17:5, NIV 1984). That “voice from the cloud” is not just some “wanna” be wizard behind the curtain. It is the voice of the LORD God Almighty. “Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other.” (Isaiah 44:8, NIV 1984).

When God says, “listen to Him,” it would be best to listen to Him. And perhaps the most profound thing Jesus ever said was, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, NIV 1984). No other answer. No other choice. No, it depends. No other way to come to the Father. “[He is] the Christ, the Son of the living God!” Don’t fail the test [the entrance exam] by answering incorrectly. If we’ve been listening, we know the answer.