Matthew 16:13-16

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

“You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

-C.S. Lewis

Jesus asked His disciples,“Who do you say I am?” This question is recorded in three of the four Gospels. But this question is a lot more complicated than we think. The disciple’s answer wasn’t just, “You are Jesus.” It was so much more. At some point in all of our own lives, we are faced with a similar question. Who do we say Jesus is?

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record this conversation, but before Jesus asks this question, He asks them, “Who do people say I am?”

They replied, “‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets’” (verse 14)

Jesus, knew who He was, He didn’t need the disciples to tell Him. Because He is God, He already knew what the disciples thought about Him, and would say.

Jesus often asked questions to test the disciples. He would often answer a question with a question, leading them to think and search for answers.

First, Jesus asked the disciples what others said about Him. They responded by naming off some of the prophets. Then He shifts gears. “Who do you say I am?” Jesus was concerned with what His disciples thought more than the people around Him.

In all three of the accounts, Jesus’ exchange with His disciples is recorded shortly after the feeding of the multitudes. By this time, Jesus has traveled all over teaching, healing, driving out demons, and even raising the dead. The disciples had been with Jesus for a couple of years, and had seen all of these miracles first hand. Jesus turned to His disciples and asked, “Who do you say I am?”

The disciples were beginning to get it, and began to understand who Jesus was. The title of “Messiah” was not fully understood at first, as they were expecting a Messiah or Savior that would be a military leader type who would deliver Israel from Roman rule. This may be the reason why Jesus told His disciples after Peter’s confession not to tell anyone He was the Messiah.

Here’s His response to Peter in verses 17-19:

17 Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.”

Jesus showed just how important Peter’s answer was. What we believe, what we answer about His identity is important.

Jesus came to do much more than free us from earthly rule. He came to give us Eternal Life.

Family Time:

Who do you say Jesus is?

Meditate:

Matthew 16:13-16

Pray:

Jesus you are the Son of the living God. Please help me to see this everyday.

In Jesus name, Amen.

About the author:

Jose Aguilar Jr. is an Associate Pastor at FBC Weslaco and has served in this capacity for the last 12 years. He and his wife Blanca have served faithfully at FBC Weslaco since 2001. They are the proud grandparents of Lilyana Faythe and Trinidad Esperanza Aguilar.