YOUR PERCEPTION ABOUT CHRIST

Matt 16:13-20

Our perception is how we see or perceive things; how things appear to us; our conscious understanding of things. Our perspective is our opinion, view, or outlook about something and in our text above, we see Jesus inquiring about these two very important things; Perception and Perspective. Interestingly, He asked His disciples first "who do men say that I am?", before He asked them "who do you say I am?".  This is very important because perspective is enhanced by perception. Jesus was telling His disciples that men's perspective of Him is enhanced by their (His disciples') perception of Him; that the way men see and whatever they say about Him (their opinions and views) is based on what His disciples perceive and say about Him. Jesus had ministered to the twelve and through them He had ministered to the people. The people had heard about Him through the twelve, and so their opinions about Him would be based on what the twelve had taught and portrayed about Him. So He asked them first "who do men say that I am?"

 

The answers His disciples gave are quite interesting; some said John the Baptist, some said Elias, others said Jeremiah, and still others said "one of the prophets". These answers are considered by some to be correct and by others to be incorrect. But one thing is sure, they were based on the people's perception of Jesus Christ. Scriptures tells us that Jesus came in the spirit of John the Baptist, and so when His ministry started, the people saw John in Him (Mar 6:14), meaning that He reflected some of the characteristics of John the Baptist. Of course John's ministry is similar to that of Elias and so it's no surprise they also saw Elias in Him (Jesus Christ); and then Jeremiah (one of the new covenant prophets)and one of the prophets. In essence, their perception of Him is kind of correct and ok, but when it comes to perception and what we perceive to be true, we must be very careful because sometimes, what appears to be real, is really not real. The spiritual is more real than the physical and what is seen is not as real as what is not. So we cannot base our decisions sometimes on just perception.

 

So Jesus turned His attention to His disciples and asked them "who do you say I am?". When Peter gave Him an answer that is not based on flesh but on revelation (Matt 16:17), Jesus said to him "blessed are thou". This means that there is a blessing in looking beyond the physical/ordinary. Jesus said "blessed" to an answer that is not based on "flesh and blood". Many a times, what gets us into trouble is "flesh and blood". What we know about God is "flesh and blood" (what we've read from books, heard from our pastors, etc.) and not what has been revealed to us by the Spirit; but God is only interested in what He has to say. The church of today is so filled with info, lacking insight; today's church has a lot of head knowledge but lack revelation, and just like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus has lots of info but are strangers to Christ and were trying to explain Christ to Christ; their eyes were opened when revelation came from Christ (Luke 24:13-32). The only way to receive revelation that will enhance our perspective of God is by communicating with Him.

 

Matt 16:18-19

Jesus said to Peter "you are Peter and upon this rock, I shall build my church". He had been speaking to Peter all the while, so coming definite to Peter and saying "you are Peter" could only mean that He was talking to two Peter. The Greek word for Peter is Petros (small rock, stone), but Jesus said upon this rock (Petra - large rock) I shall build my church. The problem with the church is that we have always emphasised the small stone and neglected the Rock. We focus on ourselves and branches and denominations (small stones) and forsake the Rock (Christ). Small stones also refer to revelation in progress (revelation of God's word in bits); prosperity, healing, breakthroughs and the likes that the church has formed doctrines out of and has emphasised. Today we speak of healing churches, deliverance churches and the likes, all small stone churches. Christ is the Rock, and in Christ is all small stones. The church has turned Christ to a means to an end, but He is the end; and in Him we have all things. Christ is our focus, and not the things He brings.

 

It's not about the small stones, it's about Christ. We are unmovable and unshakable because we are connected to the Rock. We are constantly being refreshed because we are connected to the Rock. David always spoke of refuge as connected to the presence of God. Our refuge is in the Rock; He is big enough to house us all. The devil cannot chase the Rock; the reason he has been chasing you is because he has been seeing you. It's not about you, it's about the Rock. It is the mountain of the Lord's house that will be set above all other mountains (Isa 2:2). It is about lifting up Jesus and not ourselves. The basis of our message and our lives as Christians is lifting up Christ. It's not about us (the small stones), it's about Christ (the Rock).