Who Do You Say I Am?
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Matthew 16:15
There are some passages in Scripture I can envision with poignant clarity, others that I wrestle to grasp. I’m no Bible scholar or theologian, I just love the Word of God. I love nothing more than when a passage springs to life off the pages as I read, and I feel like I am in the midst of the story.
Matthew 16:13-19 is one of those passages for me.
Let’s look at it together:
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 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. 18 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. 19 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.”
Tears come to my eyes as I read verse 15 now. “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” The loving invitation to a declaration of faith that changes everything for His people.
There is something incredibly beautiful and profound in hearing the Messiah Himself ask this question to His disciples, knowing that the answer holds impossible power.
When Jesus came to earth many of the very people He came to save did not recognize Him as the Messiah He was. In David Guzik’s study guide of Matthew 16 on Blue Letter Bible he says this of the passage, “Some thought Jesus was a herald of national repentance, like John the Baptist and some thought Jesus was a famous worker of miracles, like Elijah. Some thought Jesus was someone who spoke the words of God, like Jeremiah and the prophets. Perhaps in seeing Jesus in these roles, people hoped for a political messiah who would overthrow the corrupt powers oppressing Israel. The general tendency in all these answers was to underestimate Jesus; to give Him a measure of respect and honor, but to fall far short of honoring Him for who He really is.”
The very people who Jesus had been promised to come and redeem did not recognize Him for who He was. They believed He was powerful, and something special, but not the One they had been waiting for.
Why?
Because He didn’t come in the way they thought He would. He didn’t do the things they thought He would. He was better, but they couldn’t see it for their own perception.
Jesus didn’t come to establish an earthly kingdom, He came to tell of a better one, the Kingdom of Heaven. He didn’t come to take a position of power, He came to take the position of servant. He didn’t come to wear a crown of gold, but a crown of thorns. And no one saw it coming. Many struggled to lay down the way they thought the Messiah should come, and missed the fact that they were in His very presence because of it.
But not Peter.
Jesus asked His disciples “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” Not because He needed them to tell Him who He was, but because He wanted to reveal what was in their hearts, to reveal their faith in Him.
In David Guzik’s study guide, previously mentioned, he goes onto say this about the question Jesus posed, “this is the question placed before all who hear of Jesus; and it is we, not He, who are judged by our answer. In fact, we answer this question every day by what we believe and do. If we really believe Jesus is who He says He is, it will affect the way that we live.”
Peter knew what he believed, and he knew that Jesus was in fact the Messiah, the One they had been waiting for, the Redeemer of Israel, the One who would save his very soul. And it was because of Peter’s belief in who Jesus was that Jesus could say what we find in verses 17-19.
“17 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. 18 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. 19 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.”
It was on this statement of faith, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” That Jesus would build His church, and he would use the very person who uttered those words to do just that.
Peter, the wily fisherman from Galilee, was going to play an integral part in establishing the first church, the Bride of Christ herself (Ephesians 5:22-33). Not because he was anything great, but because his faith in Jesus was.
And so this begs the question, who do we say Jesus is?
Are we among those of the crowd? Those who underestimated Him. Believing Jesus was a marvel, and certainly powerful, but surely not that powerful. Missing Him altogether because He has not moved how we thought He would.
Or are we like Peter? Believing Jesus is who He says He is. That He is everything He says He is. That He is that powerful. That He is our Prince of Peace. Our Redeemer. The Hope of the nations. The Son of the living God. The Ancient of Days. The One who was, and is, and is to come. The Light of the world. The Way, the Truth, and the Life. The Risen One. The Messiah.
It is our answer to the question “who do you say I am?” that will determine the depth of our relationship with Jesus, and our ability to be used by Him.
The difference between Peter and the people of the crowds was not more accolades, popularity, or financial status. The difference between Peter and the people of the crowds was Peter’s faith.
It’s our faith that makes all the difference, too.
Because if we really believe Jesus is all that He says He is then that changes everything.
If we believe Jesus is all that He says He is we will have peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7). If we believe Jesus is all that He says He is we have a living hope (1 Peter 1:3), not defined by circumstances. If we believe Jesus is all that He says He is we will never hunger or thirst (John 6:35). If we believe Jesus is all that He says He is we know we will lack no good thing (Psalm 84:11). If we believe Jesus is all that He says He is we will never walk in darkness (John 8:12). If we believe Jesus is all that He says He is nothing will be impossible for us (Matthew 17:20).
Could today be the day that, at long last, you dare to believe that Jesus is all that He says He is? That this good news of the Gospel is good news for you too. I’m certain that will change everything for you. For me. For all of us.
He is not man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19), and this hope will not put you to shame (Romans 5:5).
What could change for you today if you believed, really believed, Jesus is all that He says He is? What could change in you? And what could God do through you?
Those are questions that only you and God together can answer, but I am entirely certain the answer is nothing but beautiful. He’s in the business of giving beauty for ashes, after all (Isaiah 61:3).
Peace to you, friend.
