Who Do You Say That I Am” -
Matthew 16:13-20, NIV - When Jesus came to the
region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son
of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say
Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of
the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for
this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this
rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of
heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you
loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell
anyone that he was the Messiah.
Years
ago, I visited the now abandoned town of Caesarea Phillipi, where the above
conversation took place. It was a Roman
city built as a tribute to the Roman God Pan.
I remember gathering with the group I was traveling with at the bottom
of a cliff where, carved into the mountain, were images and monuments created
to honor Roman deities. We read the passage
above where Jesus asks His disciples, “who do people say that I am?” We envisioned this question being asked in
the shadows of carvings depicting pagan Gods and the question took on even more
impact. And yet today, amidst all the “gods”
that vie for our attention and devotion, it seems just as impactful. Who do people say that Jesus is?
Even
people who aren’t “churchy people” often have an opinion about who Jesus
is. Some say He is a great moral teacher,
but nothing more than that. Others say
he was a good man whose wisdom still has relevance, but He was sadly deluded about
being “the Savior of the world.” Still
others do believe Jesus was who He said He was, but their belief about Jesus
never translates into living any differently than they would have if they had
never heard of Jesus.
Chances
are that, if you’re reading this, you are among people who would answer the way
Peter did when Jesus asks, “yes, but who do YOU say that I am?” Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God. This confession of Jesus’s identity has
formed the basis for the Church’s witness since the time of Peter. Jesus is more than just a good man or wise
teacher. He is greater than any Prophet,
even John the Baptist. Jesus is God
incarnate. He is Emmanuel, God with us.
He is the Lord of Lords, King of kings, the Alpha and the Omega. Jesus is everything!
This conviction
in Jesus identity that we hold two thousand years later is grounded in Peter’s confession
in Caesarea. Peter, as Jesus prophesies
over him, does become the foundation for the church Jesus will build. Peter is the first of apostles that carry on
the ministry of Jesus after His death and resurrection. And from the beginning in the first century
until now, “Jesus is Lord,” is still the foundational confession of our
faith. But from time to time, I have to
ask myself an important question. Today
I also ask you that some question:
Questions: “What difference
does that confession make in my daily life?
How is the way I live different because I believe Jesus is Lord of all?
Prayer: Lord Jesus,
after Peter confesses that you are the Messiah, you tell the others not to tell
anyone until after your resurrection.
Perhaps it not until we realize that your death and resurrection is
actually what makes you our Messiah that we can begin to understand who you
really are. Help us experience who you
are for us so that our living may ever more reflect the truth about who you
are. Amen.
Prayer Focus: Pray
for people you know who do not know Jesus.
Song: “Who Do Say That
I Am?” – David Phelps
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