Insight

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you…” Matthew 16: 16-17  NIV

I think often in popular culture Jesus is presented as some kind of always-affirming hippie. But in the Gospels, Jesus did not go around telling people how wonderful they were.  Rather he reprimanded them and pushed them beyond their comfort zones.  Sometimes he sounded frustrated with his disciples as they struggled to grasp the truth that he was giving them.  Jesus healed people, forgave people and taught people but he never fed their pride. He loved them too much to do that.

When Peter made his declaration that Jesus is the Christ, Jesus replied that Peter was blessed because the Father had revealed this to him.  Jesus didn’t tell Peter that he was clever, insightful, super spiritual or any other adjective that might suggest that Peter was a cut above the other disciples.  He was told that he had been given a very special gift from God. God’s decision, not Peter’s merit.