New Year 2025

Welcome to the year 2025. Yesterday’s message at NCC was, “What’s Coming?” Only God knows for sure what will happen in this new year 2025. But we do know this…we are at the beginning of a new year, a new year’s journey with our God.

So, let’s go to another biblical beginning for some perspective today. I was honored to lead a group (with Tim Moore from Lamb & Lion Ministries) of 45 people from NCC to Israel in June of 2023, just 4 months before the Hamas invasion changed everything. Our 10-day pilgrimage included my first visit to Caesarea Philippi. This biblical city sits at the base of Mount Hermon which is also the beginning of the Jordan River that runs through the nation of Israel all the way to the Dead Sea.

Today, Mount Hermon represents the beginning of Israel’s northern border with Syria. Mt. Hermon represents the beginning of the Jordan River. And Caesarea Philippi at the base of Mount Hermon represents the beginning of a question from Jesus that would forever change the world.

Matthew 16:13-15 (NLT)

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”

15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

Jesus’ world changing question began broadly…who do others say that the Son of Man is. Jesus’ disciples gave various answers that represented the sentiment of the crowds that were following Jesus at the time.

But then something happens. Jesus’ question becomes personal. “But who do you say I am?” This question becomes the beginning. The beginning of what? The beginning of the church. The beginning of the living water. The source of water for Israel and the source of living water for mankind were both revealed at Caesarea Philippi with Jesus’ question and Peter’s answer.

Matthew 16:16 (NLT)

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

There it is…the truth that unlocks the living water of eternal life. This answer wasn’t from the crowd. No, this answer was from Peter personally. Peter publicly proclaimed his faith that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

Jesus’ response to Peter’s confession of faith reveals much about this beginning that will have no end.

Matthew 16:17 (NLT)

Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.

This revelation of truth does not come from man or from the kingdoms of men. This blessed revelation of truth about the true identity of Jesus comes from God the Father. Jesus reveals this source of living water truth again in the Gospel of John.

John 6:65 (NLT)

Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”

God the Father has revealed the true identity of Jesus to Peter. But this revelation wasn’t just for Peter. No, this was only the beginning. Caesarea Phillipi was a place of beginnings. Jesus was going to build his church on this revelation of his true identity and this public confession of faith.

Matthew 16:18 (NLT)

Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.

The Catholic church uses this statement to announce the man- Peter as the Rock that the church would be built upon. I respectfully disagree. Yes, I believe the church was built upon a man, but that man was Jesus, not Peter. I believe it was Peter’s acceptance of the revealed truth of Jesus’ true identity and the public confession of that faith that the church would be built upon.

The Apostle Paul confirms that same thinking when he says this…

Romans 10:8-13 (NLT)

In fact, it says, “The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” And that message is the very message about faith that we preach:

9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”

12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him.

13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.”

So, what does all this have to do with the beginning of a new year 2025. Peter had no idea what would happen after he made that confession of faith in Caesarea Phillipi. It was only the beginning. The unstoppable church would soon follow. But we know this truth today. That beginning has no ending. That beginning, that God revealed truth of the true identity of Jesus and the public confession of that living water faith has no ending, its eternal.

I don’t know what this new year will bring. I feel like there might be very difficult days ahead if the Lord tarries. But I do know this. I know about the beginning that has no ending. I know about a source of water that begins and has no ending. That revealed knowledge leads me to publicly confess that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God to as many as possible so that they too might find this beginning that has no ending.

John 4:13-14 (NLT)

13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again.

14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

Who do you say that He is? Not the crowd, but you? Who do you say that I am?

Maranatha, Hosanna, Hallelujah and Amen,

Terry Cooper