Jesus pronounced the benediction upon Simon Peter because of the great confession.

A Christian, an authentic Christian, is one who hears the same benediction.

After Jesus had spent some time in public ministry, and he gathered together privately

with his disciples beside the sea and Cesaree of Philippi.

And he stopped him for a moment.

He says, okay, it's time to take a look at the Gallup polls.

Who do men say that I am? So they began to give him the

scuttlebutt. Well, some say, you know, you're a radical. Some say you're a prophet, some say

you're a lot, some say you're this, some say you're that. There was not a uniformed opinion

developing among the masses about who Jesus was.

Many were for him, many were against him. They didn't know who he was.

It was confusion.

Jesus is fine, thank you. It's nice to get the report.

But who do you say that I am?

You've known me now intimately. You've heard me preach.

You've seen me work.

Who do you say that I am?

And Peter spoke up for the group saying boldly,

thou art the Christ, the son of the living God.

And what did Jesus say?

And Peter, thou art the scholar of scholars.

Thou art the perceptive one.

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