"Who Do You Say That I Am?"

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

(Matthew 16:13-17, ESV)

This passage got my thoughts rolling. However, this is written more as a series of thoughts than a well-written post, so hopefully it doesn't seem totally disjointed.

The Christian faith is both objective and personal; objective Truth demands a personal response.

The identity of Jesus is not a mental or philosophical exercise where all answers are equal. And yet Jesus asked the disciples for a personal response: "Who do you say that I am?" That's much more specific than the first question: "Who do people say that [I] am?"

Jesus asked Peter what he believed. Jesus knew His own identity. He did not need Peter (or anyone else) to speak affirming words.

Just as it mattered that Peter himself believed (more than being able to say what others believed), what Peter believed mattered. Jesus did not say to Peter, "That's great. It is good that you have thought things through, and have settled on an answer that satisfies you." Jesus asked Peter about his personal belief; He did not, however, affirm all beliefs as equally valid.

But the lesson does not stop there. Jesus did not say to Peter, That's great. It is good that you have thought things through, and have settled on the answer that is right." Jesus does not flatter our ability to reason to come to Him.

We have a faith that is built on divine revelation: "For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven." We can indeed reason based on this revelation, but we cannot reason to attain revelation.

Jesus says, "Who do you say that I am?" and we have to answer personally. And when we believe and confess that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God, we can praise our Father in heaven.