17th century English philosopher and statesman Francis Bacon is attributed with saying: “Knowledge is power.” Sometimes we attribute wisdom to knowledge, and wisdom’s a good thing because it leads to our growth in faith, and this leads to the power of having the peace that passes all understanding believing in Jesus gives.
But no matter how academic we are, how book smart, or how much we claim to “know,” knowledge doesn’t instantly give us the power of wisdom. About this, 19th century renowned Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon said: “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many (men) know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.”
Now that Jesus has his chosen 12 far from the influences and voices from home so maybe they can really listen and speak without the fear of some religious upright challenging them or bringing charges against them for something right or wrong, said or done, Jesus is about to test their faith. School’s in session and Jesus has a couple of questions for the disciples.
They’re identity-type questions and the first one’s not too hard. “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” asks Jesus. For this one, the disciples can rely on their knowledge. “Well, Jesus,” says one, “some say John the Baptist.” Another says: “Some say Elijah.” Another one raises his hand and says: “Jeremiah.” And a few of them chime in with: “He could be one of the other great prophets of old.” All good answers! These guys know the Scriptures!
But then Jesus poses the clincher, you know – the kind that really pulls something out of you. You look down and frantically start flipping the pages of your book or your notes. “But who do YOU say that I am?” Gulp! The disciples are probably afraid to look up, hoping, in the name of God, Jesus doesn’t just call on any of them by name. Nobody wants to be put on the spot, esp. not by Jesus! Yup, this one relies their wisdom; on their faith, but now they’re feeling pretty dumb and powerless.
Well, the Holy Spirit must’ve touched Peter, or maybe he’d been thinking it for a while, but afraid to say it out loud. He rose up and humbly confessed: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Wow, way to go, Peter! It’s not just a great answer, but the 100% always and forever correct one, esp. it came from his heart.
Maybe some of the others had come to the same realization, but just hadn’t voiced it yet. Whatever the case, But Jesus knew Peter would be the one; the one God had extra special, great plans for all along. He affirmed it by saying (vs. 17-19). Then he sternly ordered them all not to tell anyone yet that he was the Messiah. Why? Because he needed to make sure they were absolutely secure in their faith in him and who he was and is before unleashing the power to proclaim the gospel to all people.
Although Jesus and his gospel are all about love and salvation – and that’s a really good thing coz we all want to be loved and we all want to be saved, it’s also a very radical and challenging thing, even a risky thing. This love, forgiveness, saving, and eternal life thing is all good and fine when it’s for us and people like us, right?
But when it includes the possibility of everybody being able to have faith enough to claim Jesus as their Lord, Savior, and Messiah and thus giving everybody to have the power to use those keys to unlock the gates to the kingdom for themselves and others like them to enter, then it starts to get a little sticky.
When Jesus commands us to love God with all that we are and love all others as we love ourselves, we can’t pick and choose when we’re gonna love, how we’re gonna love, or who we’re gonna love. We might be busy, we might not particularly like that person or people, we might not have the adequate resources or skills to do whatever, but that’s ok. We just have to take that leap of faith and do whatever because Jesus is our Lord and Savior who loves and equips us to be Jesus to others.
Isaiah 6:9 He said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving 10 Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”