A letter of recommendation ∙∙

A letter of recommendation ∙∙

But who do you say that I am? – Mark 8:29

Mark 8:27-29

 27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”

 28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”

 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”

A letter of recommendation evaluates and describes the personality traits, attributes, and skills of the individual being endorsed, with the aim of assessing their suitability for a specific job or duty.

At some stage in your life, you will most likely be required to compose a reference letter for someone. If you were asked to draft a reference letter for the Lord Jesus Christ, what would you write? In a way, the four Gospels serve as letters of recommendation.

Early in each of the four Gospels, the readers are informed who the Lord Jesus Christ is. But the same cannot be said of the inner circle of His apostles. In one sense they are left hanging and have to work it out for themselves. They listen, they observe, and they speculate. Frequently, they are astonished. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!” (Matthew 8:27)

The Lord Jesus Christ revealed His true identity through His compelling teachings and miraculous power to control nature, illness, and even death.

John 6:68-69

 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,

 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Every child of the King has conducted a comparable evaluation and arrived at the conclusion that He is the Son of God, and has consequently placed their faith in Him.

The Lord Jesus Christ conducts a reality check, seeking to ascertain the prevalent beliefs about His identity. Furthermore, He wants to know what His disciples believe about Him.

“Who do people say I am?” He is gathering information regarding the opinions of others. Their assessments range from sympathy and acceptance to rejection and hostility. But the Lord Jesus Christ is leading the apostles down a narrow path of individual awareness. Each of them is required to not merely parrot the opinions of others but express their own conclusions regarding His identity. In the end, they will be left with only two choices: to believe in Him or to not believe in Him.

He is not running for office. He is not concerned about His standing in the polls or public opinion. He wants each of His apostles to clearly state what they believe about Him. He asks, “Who do you say that I am?”

Each of the apostle’s beliefs regarding the Lord Jesus Christ is the product of their time and experience with Him. They hung out with Him for over three years. They have observed Him teach, heal, and interact with the religious authorities.

Peter answers that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Peter is the first to publicly confess his belief regarding His identity.

REFLECT & PRAY

Biblical belief is not a matter of opinion. It is the response of the human heart to the revealed Truth in the Word of God. Biblical belief recognizes the truthfulness of the Scriptures and affirms them.

Father thank You for creating in me a desire to know the Truth. Thank You for guiding me to the Truth in Your Word. Thank You for enabling me to understand and believe in You and Your Son. Thank You for giving me eternal life.

INSIGHT

The Gospels were either penned by eyewitnesses or individuals who conversed with them in the first century. They function as both historical records and biographical portrayals of the life of the Lord Jesus Christ, offering insight into His teachings and deeds throughout His public ministry on earth. However, the Gospels are not mere compilations or depictions of His teachings and actions; instead, they are intricate narratives with a storyline, characters, and a setting, centering around the historical events of His life, death, and resurrection.

Despite their significance, the Gospels are not exhaustive, and their aim was not to present a comprehensive, detailed account of His life. Rather, they are selective, offering a glimpse into His personality and presenting only a fraction of what He said and did.

John 20:30-31

 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book,

 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John clearly states his purpose for writing the Gospel of John. He wanted to provide a sufficient amount of convincing information regarding the identity and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Gospel of John is a letter of recommendation for the Lord Jesus Christ. John provides information in his gospel that anyone could evaluate for themselves and draw their own conclusions. The content included in John’s gospel allows people to learn and believe that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. And as a result of their faith in Him, they receive eternal life.

Suppose a friend or an associate was requested to draft a letter of recommendation concerning you, detailing your traits, characteristics, and skills. What would their assessment of you be?

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© Dr. H 2023