Bible Society of South Africa
Frank Retief

Remember his strength – Day 13

You are the Christ

Se(di)ngolwa (t)sa Bibele

MAREKA 8

29A ba botsa, a re: “Empa lona le re nna ke mang?”

Petrose a re ho yena: “O Kreste.”

MAREKA 8:29SSO89SOBula ka mmadi wa Bibele

MATHEU 16

Petrose o bolela hore na Jesu ke mang

13Yare ha Jesu a fihla sebakeng sa Sesaria-Filipi, a botsa barutuwa ba hae, a re: “Batho ba re Mora Motho ke mang?”

14Ba re: “Ba bang ba re: ‘Ke Johanne Mokolobetsi,’ ba bang ba re: ‘Ke Elia,’ mme ba bang ba re: ‘Ke Jeremia kapa e mong wa baporofeta.’ ”

15A re ho bona: “Empa lona le re nna ke mang?”

16Simone Petrose a araba, a re: “O Kreste, Mora wa Modimo ya phelang.”

17Jesu a mo araba, a re: “O lehlohonolo, Simone mora Jona, kahobane hase motho wa nama le madi ya o senoletseng hona, empa ke Ntate ya mahodimong. 18Jwale le nna ke a o bolella, ke re: ‘O Petrose,’ mme hodima lefika lena ke tla haha kereke ya ka, mme monyako wa Nqalo ya Bafu o ke ke wa e hlola. 19Ke tla o nea dinotlolo tsa Mmuso wa lehodimo; seo o se tlamang lefatsheng se tla tlangwa lehodimong, mme seo o se lokollang lefatsheng se tla lokollwa lehodimong.” 20Yaba o laya barutuwa ba hae hore ba se ke ba bolella motho hore ke yena Kreste.

MATHEU 16:13-20SSO89SOBula ka mmadi wa Bibele

Have you ever wondered why it is that which is so clear to you about Jesus and the Gospel message, seems so difficult and obscure to others? Or why, when in a church service, you can be so moved, yet others next to you, on the same pew, seem utterly untouched by the message?

Here is a strange and profound truth. Just as Simon could not have recognised Jesus as the Messiah in and of his own understanding, neither can we comprehend the truth about Jesus, unless it is given to us to understand. God, in his great grace, opens our eyes and, suddenly, we can see what was formerly hidden from us.

This should be a cause of wonder and praise that, in his great mercy, he should have opened our eyes to the truth. All the healings of blind beggars or people in the gospel foreshadowed this great event – the Holy Spirit opening our understanding so that we may believe in Christ and be saved.

As a result, we should walk very humbly before God, in full awareness that we are what we are by his mercy and grace alone. Consequently, when we encounter those who do not understand, comprehend or believe the gospel, we should deal with them in great humility and with compassion – not argumentatively or arrogantly. For once, we too were blind and could not see. We should pray that God would be gracious and open their understanding, so that they may see and believe with their hearts.

This should also be a reminder to us that we cannot simply argue or persuade people to believe. That must be the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts and minds. This should lead us to pray earnestly for our loved ones and friends, so that as we have opportunity to speak, our words will be accompanied by the life-giving power of the Spirit. And may we then have the joy of seeing many come to faith, because of God’s gracious revelation to their hearts.

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