13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist;C)’>
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”E)’> but by my Father in heaven. Matthew 16
One of the most often heard complaints from those who have left a church is that they were no longer being fed. There is much clamoring for more meat from those who believe that they have graduated from the “milk” of teaching. This comes from a misunderstanding that the Christian walk is primarily fact gathering. We don’t move from Christian grade school to graduate school by gaining more facts. We gain more Jesus.
One of the first things a young child is taught, long before his diet moves from milk to meat, is to fed himself. This is kind of like the adage that it is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish. Sometimes we continue to “spoon feed” Christians long after they should be feeding themselves. Jesus didn’t come so we would know more about God, but so that we might know God.
Perhaps “feeding themselves” is not the best term because in reality the mature Christian learns through “revelation knowledge.” This is the kind of learning that Peter had. After Jesus had asked what others said about Him, He came to the real point, “Who do you say I am?” It was important information to know what others said about Jesus. However, Peter had been with Jesus, had listened to His words, had watched His miracles. He certainly was in a place to have an opinion. But more importantly, his relationship had placed him in position to have truth revealed to Him directly by his Father in heaven.
What Christians need more than facts is a developing relationship with the Fact Giver. Jesus was telling Peter that the prophecy of Jeremiah was being fulfilled: “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Jeremiah 31:33
Revelation knowledge is personal knowledge that arises from the relationship now possible with our God. It is consistent with the written word of God, but personal to the situation and current need of the child. It is the real meat of knowledge. It fuels the work of God, giving energy to the child of God.
It’s living proof that He is the way, the truth and the life.
Don’t settle for what others say about Him, don’t focus on accumulating facts, be satisfied only with Him, living in us.
Be blessed.
Nick
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