Matthew 16:13-15

Matthew 16:13-15 (ESV): “13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?””

Life is full of questions, but the greatest one is this: Who is Jesus? If we identify Him as anything less than Messiah and Lord, we have missed who He truly is.

As Jesus and His disciples traveled north through Galilee, they came to the district of Caesarea Philippi. It was named by Herod Philip in honor of Caesar Augustus. Previously, it was known as Paneas, after the false god Pan. It was in this idolatrous Gentile region that Jesus asked His disciples who people said He was. The answers varied, but Jesus then asked the more important question: “But who do you say that I am?” Every human heart must answer this personally.

Who do people say that Jesus is today? Some say He was merely a religious leader. Others suggest He was a prophet or a good teacher. But we must come to our own conclusion and answer personally. If we truly seek to know, we will arrive at the same conclusion Peter did: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Once we come to this conclusion, it should not be hard to completely surrender to Him. In the words of CS Lewis, “Jesus is either liar, lunatic, or Lord.” Who do you say He is?

Father, thank You for revealing the true identity of Your Son to us. May we declare with our lives that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. We pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.