Who is Jesus?

It depends on who you ask. When it comes to knowing Jesus, don’t trust social media.

Both John the Baptist and Simon Peter knew Jesus by revelation. But neither had the full picture. John nearly stumbled when Jesus didn’t break him out of jail as Isaiah had prophesied (Isaiah 61:1). And Peter tried to squeeze Jesus into the mould of popular expectations.

But the Prince of Apostles got one thing right: You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Well done, Peter. You didn’t pluck that from Google.

When it comes to knowing Jesus, we need more than hearsay and human reason. Wisdom from above is, of course, open to reason (James 3:17). But without revelation, the greatest powers of reason can lead us astray from sincere and pure devotion to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3).

Peter lacks formal education. But don’t be fooled. Education is not the same as learning.

Peter is both a practical man and a profound thinker. He follows Jesus like a shadow even in the dark. But when all the math is done and all the dots are joined, it’s still not enough. Only the Father can reveal Jesus to him and to us.

We say we want revival. But do we really?

Every revival brings a fresh revelation of Jesus. Not a new revelation. But a return to the Original Jesus who is often forgotten and cannot be known by human reasoning alone.

For example, the Azusa Street Revival started when 40 Bible school students rediscovered Jesus as the Baptiser in the Holy Spirit.

The Healing Revival that produced the Charismatic Renewal started when a handful of evangelists rediscovered Jesus as the Healer.

And the Welsh Revival started when a youth leader asked the group: Who is Jesus to you? A teen by the name of Florrie Evans answered: I love Jesus with all my heart. He died for me. The presence of God overwhelmed the place. And so began the Welsh revival.

We need revival. We claim revelation. But do we want the Original Jesus who is the same yesterday, today, and forever? Or do we prefer another Jesus? (Hebrews 13:8; 2 Corinthians 11:4)

PrayerWatch

Knowledge is good. Revelation is best. Knowledge is human. Revelation is divine. Knowledge makes you think. Revelation makes you see. Knowledge teaches your mind. Revelation changes your heart. Knowledge is informational. Revelation is experiential (Zach Burandt).

• Revival brings a fresh revelation of Christ that places Him front and centre and above all else. Otherwise, church life remains business as usual.
   
  We perpetuate a church culture that breeds nominal Christians with little passion for Christ and His cause. Relationship with Jesus becomes a ritual. Quiet time in the Word becomes a chore. Worship becomes a show. Prayer becomes an option. Ministry becomes a lifeless routine. Evangelism becomes an event. Preaching becomes a motivational talk, pleasing and teasing, full of humour, but without the revelation of the Gospel of Christ.
   
  Ask God for the gift of desperation, a deep and holy discontent. Cry out to him for a historic revival in our city that reveals Jesus, fuels faith, and fires up zeal for His name and His fame. There’s no better time for this than now – our bicentennial.
   
• Celebration of Hope continues: Personal evangelism on a mass scale. Every believer has a part in reaching the 80% unsaved in our city.
   
  Revelation makes a world of difference in how we share our faith. Pray that Peter’s first-hand revelation of Jesus will become a reality for us: Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
   
  Pray that Paul’s stunning revelation of the Gospel will arrest us today: The gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-12).
   
• We are the most religiously-diverse society in the world (Pew Research 2016). In March 2019, the Institute of Policy Studies released its findings on Religion in Singapore: The Private and Public Spheres. 86% agreed that religion is as relevant to life today as in the past.
   
  About three in four Singaporeans said they followed a religion.
   
  The majority of respondents were likely to believe in religious concepts such as heaven, hell, life after death and religious miracles.
   
  Even among those who professed no religion, there were substantial numbers who believed in some religious concepts or supernatural powers.
   
  Rejoice! God has placed eternity in their hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Pray for a divine visitation, revealing Christ as the Son of the Living God. Not just another god among a pantheon of gods. Not just another messenger. Not just another prophet.
   
  Declare: Jesus says to you, Singapore, I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
   
  Come, Lord Jesus! Unveil the minds of pre-believers. Let them see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Read the devotional from Day 7, July 7: Peter’s conviction here.