Observation: This is the moment Peter proclaims his faith that Jesus in the Messiah. Jesus will change his name from Simon to Peter, and declare that it is upon this rock that the church will be built. However, he also describes this proclamation interestingly. He calls it a secret, that has been revealed to Peter by the Lord. This is interesting because ... Jesus has been actively and openly proclaiming himself to be the Son of Man, the Messiah. He has been filling Messianic prophesy, and teaching his disciples about those prophesies and how his behavior aligns to them.
Jesus being the Messiah isn't a secret he has been hiding. However, everyone continues to say the "Son of Man" is some other prophet come back to life. It is Peter who declares it, strongly and with great conviction of faith, in this group setting first.
And that seems to be the "secret" Peter has received from God ... faith. Jesus as Messiah isn't head-knowledge to Peter that he learned from a book, or that he has learned as the "right answer" to the question of Jesus as a result of all the teachings. Peter declares Jesus as Messiah because he believes it, by faith, in his heart. It is a belief that fills him to his core. He doesn't know Jesus to be the Son of God as a result of earthly learning. He knows Jesus to be the Son of God in his heart, as if it is part of the embedded fabric of his being. That is the secret.
Application: I know Jesus is Messiah as a result of logical learning, true enough. However, I too know Jesus is Messiah because ... I just know it in my very being. I know it like I know how to breath or drink water. It isn't learned, but it is known.
This is truly how faith manifests. I have seen people who have heard all about Jesus, and even know what he did and all the logic about his miraculous life, and who don't believe in him. Sometimes they are even confused about 'why' they' don't believe, but the fact remains they do not. They have not allowed the Lord to reveal it to their heart. They have rejected that level of knowledge ... the knowledge that isn't about reading stories, but about being internally changed by the Holy Spirit, and the understanding that comes from relationship with a loving father.
The secret, then, is not some truth that will result in faith. The secret is that faith reveals truth.
Prayer: Lord, I thank you for letting me in on this secret. When I was lost and about to give up, you didn't teach more something new, but you told me your secret, which was that you do in fact love me, and it was that secret that made Jesus the Messiah for me. Jesus is my Lord and savior, and you are my father and God, and your Spirit is my guide and strength. Amen.
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