October 12, 2025 -Worldly Words

MARK 8:22-30

MATTHEW 16:13-20

LUKE 9:18-20

MARK 8:31-9:1

MATTHEW 16:21-28

LUKE 9:21-27

MARK 9:2-13

MATTHEW 17:1-13

LUKE 9:28-36

Chronological Bible Readings

Matthew 16:15 “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.”

Imagine standing before Jesus and Him asking you this question. The question that every human will have to answer while here on this earth. Who do you say Jesus is. This answer determines your eternal destiny. This is one time that our answer should be swift and confident.

Matthew 16:17 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.

The truth is revealed to us by the Father through the Spirit of God not by man. That is why we should be ready to speak it confidently and quickly. Simon's response is directed by God not by his own human understanding.

Matthew 16:21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Just as Peter did not hesitate to say that Jesus is the Messiah, he is quick to "rebuke" Jesus and tell him that he would not let Jesus suffer. Here he is responding according to his humanness, and our humanness is what Satan can use to distract us from heavenly concerns.

Maek 9:5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

I have always said that I feel a connection to Peter as being the jump in and impulsively respond kind of guy. Today I also see that being quick to speak is another thing that I have had in common with Peter. Again, he is quick to speak because he doesn't know what else to do. Heavenly things are happening all around him and instead of silently and patiently waiting for Jesus to direct him he wants to do something, anything even though he does not understand what is going on.

I used to be much quicker to speak. I have tried to be better at watching, listening and praying but I usually only think about it when someone is sharing a problem with me or is seeking council from me. This happens pretty regularly for me but I think I need to get better at asking for the Spirit to lead me when I speak in my everyday life. It's hard when you are a wordy kind of person as I am and apparently Peter is also. But thinking that my wordiness can be used by Satan to discourage, misdirect, or cause someone to stumble is convicting of the need to stop, pray and think before speaking.