When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” And they said, “Some say that thou art John the Baptist; some Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.” He saith unto them, “But whom say ye that I am?” And Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered and said unto him, “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. xvi. 13-17).
IN the opening verses of this chapter we read of the Lord Jesus Christ being assailed by the enmity of the Pharisees and Sadducees. In general, these sects were at enmity between themselves, but in despising Christ they made common cause. “There is no new thing under the sun.” Such unholy alliances are still common among men. The disciples were then warned by Christ to “take heed and beware” of Pharisee and Sadducee doctrines. These two great destructive evils endangered the life of the Church. The exhortation is still “take heed and beware.”
Following that discourse a private discussion took place between Christ and His disciples as they went along the coasts of Caesarea Philippi. The Saviour referred to Himself as “the Son of Man.” His humanity was a reality. He possessed a true body and a reasonable soul. He was made of the seed of David according to the flesh. He was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary—”Bone of our bone, flesh of our flesh.” It is written of Him that “being in the form of God, He thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men, and, being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. ii. 6-8).
He had done many mighty works among them. Some were asking, “Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?” Others had to say: “Never man spake like this man.” Now He asks whom do they regard me, the Son of Man, to be? The Saviour already knew what the people in general thought of Him, but He was now to try the faith of His disciples. Thus, having asked the question: “Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man am,” He distinguishes between the disciples and others, saying, but “Whom say ye that I am,” —ye, my disciples—preachers of the gospel? This is a question of vital importance. All the glory of Christ as Mediator hangs upon the glory of His Person.
I desire to direct your attention as the Lord may enable me to:
I. The variety of opinions which prevailed regarding the Lord Jesus Christ.
II. The beautiful confession of the true Church of God as expressed by Peter saying: “Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God.
III. The divine origin of this confession—”Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father, which is in Heaven.”
I. The variety of opinions.
Some said that He was John the Baptist; others said, Elias; and some, that one of the old prophets was risen again. All were agreed that, He was a good man and that His doctrine was not like that of the Scribes and Pharisees. But they came far short of the truth. As yet they knew Him not. “No man can say that Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Ghost.” Many and varied were the opinions, ranging from His being “a good man” to His being “a malefactor.” Yet, this was He, concerning whom a voice was heard from heaven, saying: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.”
We may see the same thing in our land at the present day. Christ and His Gospel are just as little understood in reality and that is an evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit being largely withheld. What is the answer of Modernism to this question—Modernism which denies the infallibility of the Old and New Testament Scriptures which are the only rule given to guide man? Modernism, which is Scotland’s blight, says concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, that He was “a perfect man” but denies that He is very God—the one Mediator—the one High Priest—the only source of life and peace. Vague ideas about Christ are common but experimental acquaintance with Christ is rare. Happy are they who can say of Him: “My beloved is mine and I am His” (Song ii. 16).
Evolutionists say: “He is the great master product of Evolution,” “the flower of humanity,” but the flower of which they speak is artificial—lifeless. It has no fragrance. It is not “the Rose of Sharon;” it is not the “Lily of the Valleys.” It is not the Christ of divine revelation but of men’s imagination. Let us beware of a religion that consists, in men’s opinions, speculations and theories. “If any man will do God’s will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God” (John vii. 17).
II. The beautiful confession:—“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
The disciples’ faith shone brighter because of the fact that they dwelt among hardened and unbelieving Jews. Few were for Christ while many were against Him. The heads of the Jewish nation, the Scribes, Priests, and Pharisees, refused to receive Jesus as the Messiah. Further, the Lord was at this time in the “form of a servant,” without any visible marks of a King. Yet even then Simon Peter says: “Thou art the Christ”—the promised Saviour, the true Prophet greater than Moses, the long predicted Messiah. This confession was an evidence of living faith. To-day the question is addressed to us in particular who profess to be His sent messengers: “Whom say ye that I am?” Do we in doctrine and in practice, subscribe to this confession that Jesus is the Christ—the glorious Emmanuel, God and man in two distinct natures and one person for ever?
Patriarchs, Prophets and Apostles testified to His being co-equal, con-substantial, co-eternal, with the Father. John, the fore-runner, declared: “I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.” Andrew went to his brother, Simon, saying: “We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.” The poor outcast of Samaria exclaimed: “Come see a man who told me all things that ever I did. Is not this the Christ?”
Peter’s confession became that of the Church of God in all ages. Why was the Reformation necessary? It was because the Son of the living God was no longer the theme and object of worship. Prelacy and Papacy had robbed Him of His Kingly glory in doctrine and practice. The noble Martyrs, Covenanter, and others, followed by generation after generation of witnesses maintained an unwavering testimony to Christ, as being the sole Head of His body, the Church. In keeping with that testimony, the Free Presbyterian Church, about forty years ago, came into existence as a distinctive body and continued the Church of the Reformation in Scotland. The older witnesses, who took an active part in upholding the banner at that time, are fast disappearing from among us. To-night, we mourn the removal of one of them, in the person of the late Rev. Neil Cameron. He was wont to take a prominent part in our Synod meetings, and for six and thirty years he preached within the walls of this church, “Christ and Him crucified.” He earnestly contended for “the faith once delivered to the saints.” He enjoined others to do likewise as he closed his eyes in death saying with the Psalmist: “All my hope and confidence is placed in Thee alone.” “It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” It is all of free and sovereign grace, it is by faith that any man is saved from sin, “the wages of which is death.” O to have saving knowledge, and a zeal according to knowledge. Those who get this embrace with their whole heart, Peter’s confession: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
III. The divine origin of this Confession:—”Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in Heaven.”
This light arose neither from nature, nor from education. The Christian religion is a divine revelation. The truth concerning Jesus being the Christ, the anointed of the Father, the Mediator, the Messiah could never be known but by the revelation of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit that convincees of sin, works repentance, faith, love, and new obedience in the soul. The absence of the work of the Holy Spirit accounts for the flood of freak religions, such as Spiritualism, Russellism, etc., which overflow the land. We agree with the writer who said that the characteristic of the present day is “to make truth subservient to a spurious charity, and everything to popularity.” Thus there is an obliterating of the distinction between truth and error in doctrine. In practice we see the House of God largely turned into a synagogue of Satan under the plea of reaching the young. It is not by a flesh-pleasing religion, with its dancing, whist-drive, card-playing accompaniments, that souls are to be set free from sin and its miseries. Nothing short of the irresistible power of the Holy Spirit will draw sinners to Christ, who said: “I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me.” It is here alone that there is hope and encouragement for those who go forth to preach the gospel. A sound creed and orthodoxy of itself, will not suffice. It is through divine revelation that Ethiopia will stretch out her hands to God and His ancient people, the Jews, will look upon Him whom they have pierced. That day is coming and world wide events seem to indicate its approach.
A wonderful benediction was pronounced by Christ upon Peter, saying: “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona.” He was blessed in the knowledge he possessed:—”This is life eternal to know thee and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” In this knowledge is the sum of happiness. We need the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We cannot have too much of “the unity of the Spirit,” but we are in danger of “Church Unions” or “religious combines,” at the sacrifice of truth. Union is not strength unless it is union in the truth and consequently for the truth in doctrine and in practice. Peter’s confession of faith must be held.
Let us ponder seriously our generation’s answer to the Saviour’s question: “Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” Our disregard of the fourth commandment involves an answer. Our legislators, in legislating against the laws of God (Sabbath Cinemas, Betting, etc.), say in effect: “We will not have this man to rule over us.” The inordinate love of pleasure, among all classes, also involves an answer. Our spiritual slothfulness and formality reveal much of the spirit of Gadara, and the hand of God is out against us, industrially and otherwise. He says: “If ye walk contrary to me I will walk contrary to you.”
Is there no encouragement? Yes, every needed encouragement is in Him, who is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” “My Word shall not return unto me void. It shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Out of confusion He will bring order. He will build the temple and He shall bear the glory. Therefore, let us give heed to the message of the sweet Psalmist of Israel:
“Be of good courage and He strength
Unto your heart shall send,
All ye whose hope and confidence
Doth on the Lord depend.”