Key Passage: Matthew 16:13-20

Topic: Jesus

"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18, ESV)

Jesus is talking to one of His disciples. He wants to know how ordinary people walking down the streets, shopping in the markets, hustling off to work, celebrating births and mourning deaths, perceive Him--who they say He is.

The answer: "Some of the people are saying that You are John the Baptist.'" John the Baptist, by this time, had been beheaded. And some of the talk around town was that Jesus was John come back to life.

"Others are saying, 'Jesus is Elijah'"--a revered prophet, important to the Jewish faith from generations before. "And still others are throwing out the theory that You're Jeremiah or one of the other deceased prophets come back to life."

Jesus then asked "But who do you say I am?"

And Peter's answer was a truth revealed to him by God. Peter knew who Jesus was and told Him, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

That truth is the truth that became the foundation for the spread of Christianity, for the beginnings of the Church.

That's the truth that you must embrace to become a follower of Christ.

That's the truth that all the power of the devil and his schemes cannot conquer.

That's the truth that remains when other things you believe turn out to be false.

That's the one firm, unshakable truth: Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.

It's up to you what to do with that truth. You can receive it and let it change your life or you can reject the truth.