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Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Very few people are “anti-Jesus.” Don’t take that to mean most people are “pro-Jesus,” they are not. The problem is, while most people think Jesus was a positive influence, he was a good teacher, he was a charismatic leader, they may even believe there was something supernatural about him… the majority have never made him their Lord. It matters where you stand with Jesus, salvation isn’t automatic. The question is this: “who do you say Jesus is?” Is he a good teacher who is interesting, or is he your Savior?

he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person. …For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

We don’t live with a God who requires specific dietary laws or other pedantic restrictions on day-to-day living in order to follow Him. Being holy is belief in Jesus, it’s keeping yourself free from evil, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, stealing, lying… not petty things about what kind of food you eat or how it was prepared. Jesus is who makes us holy. You can’t be holy by “keeping kosher” without following Jesus, and if you’re following Jesus, your heart won’t produce a sinful lifestyle, follow Him, He’s worth it! 

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

Why do we follow Jesus? Is it because of what He can give us, or is it because of who He is? We can fall into the trap of thinking that as we follow Jesus more closely, all our troubles will fall away, or we will get the things we want like a (better) spouse, more compliant children, healing from sickness, or a (better) job. You fill in the blank of what you want… now ask yourself the question “if I don’t get this, do I still trust Jesus?” They wanted to follow Jesus because He had given them bread, maybe we follow Jesus because He’s already headed us once, perhaps He’s already helped us with our marriage… but what if this time is different?

Don’t work for the little things we desire… this life is short, invest in eternity. That doesn’t mean our desires here are (necessarily) wicked, that just means we put Jesus first. Believe in Him.

wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.

If we share the light with everyone, most people won’t receive it. We know that the path is wide that leads to destruction, and maybe that’s why we sometimes don’t share as we should. But we need to! When someone won’t listen to what you say, they aren’t really rejecting you, they’re rejecting Jesus. Don’t take it personally, even if they intend it that way. “Shake of the dust” Taylor Swift was right! Never close the door for them, but sometimes we just need to move along, there are always more people who need the love of Jesus.