“There comes a moment when Jesus asks us the same question he asked Peter: ‘What about you? Who do you say I am?’ With the evidence before us on the pages of Scripture and written on our own hearts, how can we say anything other than, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.’ Yet, as was the case for Peter, the Messiah may be more than we ever imagined.”- Kyle Idleman and Mark E. Moore
As Kyle Idleman and Mark E. Moore conclude Chapter 6 of The Missing Messiah, they note that Peter’s great confession marks a key moment in the Gospels. Because at that moment the disciples shifted from wondering about who Jesus is to marveling at who He is.
Most significantly, Kyle and Mark point out, Jesus made His Jewish claim to be the “Son of God” in the long shadow cast by the Roman emperors. After the Romans posthumously deified Julius Caesar, they referred to Augustus, the first Roman emperor, as divi filius (“son of the divine”).
As a result, this imperial propaganda created a charged political climate for Christian claims about Jesus as the Son of God. However, the authors stress, significant differences exist between Jesus’ claim and those of the emperors. For example:
- Romans only deified emperors after their death; Jesus claimed a divine identity while alive.
- Emperors used their power to indulge in immorality and excess; Jesus lived humbly and sacrificially.
- Emperors possessed obvious, ulterior motives — power, wealth, and control; Jesus’ motive was salvation and shalom.
In conclusion, Kyle and Mark explain:
“Here’s where it gets personal — really personal. Because Jesus is the Son of God (the authentic, verified version), we get to join the divine family network. This isn’t just an honorary title or a spiritual participation trophy. This is about full adoption rights, with all privileges included! . . . Here’s the bottom line: Son of God isn’t just another religious title to add to your theological database. It’s the master key that unlocks everything else.”
Today’s question: How is the Messiah more than you ever imagined? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: the September Short Meditation, “All creatures, lift up your voices”