Key Thought

Today's Prayer

O LORD God Almighty, my Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus. He is so much more than words can capture. He exhausts the meaning of every title. I praise you for your plan and purpose in sending him. In Jesus' name I offer my prayer and my life to you. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

Jesus and his followers went to the towns in the area of Caesarea Philippi. While they were traveling, Jesus asked the followers, "Who do people say I am?" The followers answered, "Some people say you are John the Baptizer. Other people say you are Elijah. And other people say that you are one of the prophets." Then Jesus asked, "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ." Jesus told the followers, "Don't tell any person who I am." Then Jesus began to teach his followers that the Son of Man must suffer many things. Jesus taught that the Son of Man would not be accepted by the older Jewish leaders, the leading priests, and the teachers of the law. Jesus taught that the Son of Man must be killed and then rise from death after three days. Jesus told them everything that would happen. He did not keep anything secret. Peter spoke to Jesus alone. Peter criticized Jesus for saying {those things}. But Jesus turned and looked at his followers. Then he criticized Peter. Jesus said to Peter, "Go away from me, Satan! You don't care about the things of God. You care only about things that people think are important."

Related Scripture Readings

This is what the Scripture says: "God's teaching is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart." That teaching is the teaching of faith that we tell people. If you openly say, "Jesus is Lord," and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from death, then you will be saved. Yes, we believe with our heart, and so we are made right with God. And we use our mouth to say that we believe, and so we are saved. Yes, the Scripture says, "Any person that trusts in him (Christ) will never be disappointed." That Scripture says "any person" because there is no difference between Jew and non-Jew. The same Lord is the Lord of all people. The Lord gives many blessings to all people that trust in him. Yes, {the Scripture says,} "Every person that trusts in the Lord will be saved."

No person can see God. But Jesus is exactly like God. Jesus is ruler over all the things that have been made. Through his power all things were made—things in heaven and on earth, things seen and not seen, all {spiritual} powers, authorities, lords, and rulers. All things were made through Christ and for Christ. Christ was there before anything was made. And all things continue because of him. Christ is the head of the body. (The body is the church.) Everything comes from him. And he is the Lord who was raised from death. So in all things Jesus is most important. God was pleased for all of himself to live in Christ. And through Christ, God was happy to bring all things back to himself again—things on earth and things in heaven. God made peace by using Christ's blood (death) on the cross. At one time you were separated from God. You were God's enemies in your minds, because the evil things you did were against God. But now Christ has made you God's friends again. Christ did this by his death while he was in his body. Christ did this so that he could bring you before God. He brings you before God as people who are holy, with no wrong in you, and with nothing that God can judge you guilty of.

He also says, "I will trust in God." And he says, "I am here. And with me are the children that God has given me." Those children are people with physical bodies. So Jesus himself became like those people and had the same experiences people have. Jesus did this so that, by dying, he could destroy the one who has the power of death. That one is the devil. Jesus became like those people and died so that he could free them. They were like slaves all their lives because of their fear of death. Clearly, it is not angels that Jesus helps. Jesus helps the people who are from Abraham. For this reason Jesus had to be made like us his brothers and sisters in every way. Jesus became like people so that he could be their merciful and faithful high priest in service to God. Then Jesus could bring forgiveness for the people's sins. And now Jesus can help those people who are tempted. Jesus is able to help because he himself suffered and was tempted.