Observation: Jesus asks the disciples a pretty simple question, to paraphrase, "You hear murmurings from people, so what are they saying about me as far as who I 'really' am?" The honest response is ... odd. People are mostly saying that Jesus is some famous, historic person, resurrected, and the first one listed is a contemporary who was alive when Jesus even began his public ministry. Heck, they were seen together before!
This exchange famously ends with Peter's declaration - the first ever - that Jesus is the promised Messiah. However, at the very least, by now most people who had been around Jesus would have considered him a prophet. The fact that the people believe him to be some specific 'other' prophet probably says something about the Jews at this time, which might be this ...
They believe that all the Lord does is tell people when they are failing. All three of these individuals brought a message of correction and repentance. John declared the need to repent for the coming kingdom of God. Elijah openly opposed Ahab and the sins of Israel. Jeremiah spoke of the destruction and exile of Judah if they did not repent.
Messiah is a promised deliverer who saves, and he is a savior who brings love, and the Jews just cannot understand that. They hear Jesus correct the Pharisees, and lock onto the idea that God's message to the Jews is that they are doing things wrong. The Pharisees here Jesus, know they are 'obedient', and conclude Jesus is heretical. That was never God's point. Yes, God tried to correct Israel, but all he really wanted to do was love Israel, and by extension love the entire world. Now Messiah is among the Jews, delivering a message to love one another, love the Lord, and receive all the blessings of Yahweh through simple faith ... the Jews hear it all, know Jesus is sent by God, and therefore they only hear correction.
Application: How often, when I am reflecting upon the Lord, do I do this ... do I only hear correction? I hear a voice in my head saying, "see, you did that wrong, and that, and that."
All the more, how often do non-believers - when they consider whether or not God exists and if they might want to explore the idea of faith - think that all God has ever done is declare laws then punish people for not obeying them?
It is satan who tells us we are failures, and more importantly, who tells us that God is angry with us because he has judged us to be failures. Sure, we do in fact fail to obey every precept and command, however the Lord loves us so much that he provides the means to make that moot, and to give us his love and blessing anyway, if we will turn our hearts to him and love him back.
I don't want to only hear correction. I want to recognize the truth ... that it is the love of Jesus that should overwhelm my experience with God.
Prayer: Lord, I thank you for your love and your blessings. I know I am unworthy, but for some reason you love me anyway. May I simply be open to experiencing that love today. Amen.
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