As all of this had been going on, the disciples, including our author Matthew, have been watching and learning. Finally, Jesus knows it is time to ask THE QUESTION, to settle once and for all what all of this is about. Peter--perhaps the most aggressive, type A personality among the disciples--is the one to answer: "You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God."
Jesus' identity--the fact that he was the Son of God--was the focus of his ministry, not his actions or teachings. The healings and the miracles served to point to his divinity. The teachings showed an access to Truth not available to a mere mortal ("he taught as one who had authority, and not as the teachers of the law). It was all about revealing that he was God in the flesh. A miracle would impress, would help an individual for the rest of their mortal lives. A good teaching might help people live better. But his mission was much larger than that. He was here to save all of humanity for all of eternity, and no one understood how big, how dramatic, how gruesome and glorious that effort would become. Now that his identity is established with his disciples, everything changes. There is a gravity that begins to pull Jesus, and the disciples, and all of us, to the Cross.
As followers of Christ, we spend a lot of time on Jesus' teachings, as we should. But Jesus' teachings are not life--not primarily. Jesus himself is life. There is a huge difference. If you try to follow Jesus' teachings, you will fail. "Be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect." (Matt. 5:48) Good luck with that. Jesus-perfection is unattainable, but Jesus-life is within our grasp, and Jesus is about to show us how.
What stands out to you about Jesus as a person so far? What has surprised you most? What about him are you struggling with?
