What A Conversation It Must Have Been

When Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴ They answered, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  Matthew 16:13-16 NET

Napoleon has been quoted as saying; “I know men; and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between Him and every person in the world there is no possible comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and and all who have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of their genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded His empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for him.” What did Napoleon know about Jesus that many people don’t, that he could make such a statement? For one thing, he was a student of history. He studied empires and the people who created and lead them. He studied their lives, how they governed and what they were known for. What they said and did in both their political and private lives, and Jesus was one of them he studied.

In studying the words of Jesus, Napoleon found that Jesus could not have been just a mere man. He should have been forgotten by history being born of peasant parents, having a common vocation of a carpenter and taught and proclaimed His message for only 3 short years in the public arena. Instead His life changed millions of lives and changed the course of history forever. The study of Jesus’ life so impressed Napoleon that he wrote, “One can absolutely find nowhere, but in Him alone, the imitation of the example of His life. . .I search in vain in history to find the similar to Jesus Christ.”

Do you think that Peter recalled that conversation with Jesus as they met together in the upper room while waiting for Holy Spirit? Perhaps, but I’m sure none of them would know the full impact of Holy Spirit indwelling and filling them would have. And that same Holy Spirit is dwelling inside every Believer and has the same power and through us continues to transform lives. If our power seems to be waning, perhaps we need to once again wait on the Lord and let His Holy Spirit fill us and refresh and renew us once again.