What Peter said is important

 

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then He ordered His disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah. Matthew 16:13-20

What Peter said here is very important. Or, to be precise, what Jesus replied is very important.

"... this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven."

This is affirmation, by God, through the Holy Spirit, that Jesus is His Son. Jesus is the Son of God.

When Peter uttered these words, it was not Peter the man talking, but the Holy Spirit talking through him. The Holy Spirit inspired Peter to say what he did say. It was not just a man babbling or repeating what he'd heard Jesus say. It was the Holy Spirit declaring through Peter who Jesus is.

Let us understand this and not misquote it many years later.  

Today, many people believe Jesus was a good teacher, a healer, a prophet, a kind man; but how many openly declare that He is the Son of God?

It is not the first time the Holy Spirit inspired people to say what they say. At Pentecost, the Apostles and others were gathered together in a house in fear of the authorities. Suddenly there was a mighty sound and flames of fire on their heads. The Holy Spirit, the third person in the Trinity, descended on them and became one with their very souls.

Their soul and the Holy Spirit were one. And this union of the human and the Divine manifested itself in many ways. For a start they all had the courage to speak up. They were no longer afraid. These very people who days before had ran away when Jesus was arrested, suddenly gained new courage given them by the Holy Spirit.

 

They knew the truth about Jesus and His Resurrection and they were no longer afraid to keep the secret to themselves. They had the courage to stand up and shout their truth to all willing to hear. They were not afraid of the consequences. They spoke out in many languages to the crowds gathered there.

The Holy Spirit inspired the writers of the Old Testament to write what they did and to predict the coming of Christ. Did you know there are more than 300 predictions about Jesus in the Old Testament that were fulfilled in His life? Some He had no control over; like where He would be born, and the manner of His death and Resurrection.

Today, the Holy Spirit speaks to and inspires people like you and me. Have you ever had a thought in your head, or said something, or written something, and sometimes later you wondered where such thoughts came from? Could the Holy Spirit be talking to you?

There's a big difference between you having your own thoughts, and God speaking to you through the Holy Spirit.

When God speaks to you, He makes sure you know it is Him speaking.