Who Do You Say I Am?
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The Foundation
The Foundation
Whenever I wrestle with this passage, I’ve wanted to ask the 2 questions Jesus asks to a broad collection of people. It would be interesting to hear the different answers. Who do people say that Jesus is? Who do you say he is?
In our passage today Jesus disciples wrestle with these 2 questions. Many of them answer the first question but only one is brave enough to speak up to answer the second question. Who do you say I am?
Peter’s bold confession doesn’t flow from any logical argument or human reason. There is something about the incarnation of Christ that defies our logical arguments, and goes far beyond our ability to reason. Peter came to his bold confession by the Holy Spirit. He personally saw the work of Jesus. Through that work, the Holy Spirit revealed who Jesus was to his disciples. The Holy Spirit continues to reveal who Jesus is to us today.
This morning as we wrestle with the question, “Who do you say I am?” Who has the Holy Spirit revealed Jesus to be to you? Through your journey with Christ, who do you say he is?
This passage calls us to move beyond our particular political and denominational factions, our various theological emphases, and our respective ethnic loyalties by speaking truthfully to one another in and through our differences about the impact of Jesus Christ in our own lives.
This confession is the unchanging, unwavering rock of the church. Upon this rock Christ will build His church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
Who Do You Say I Am?
Who Do You Say I Am?
Confessions of who Jesus is happen pretty quickly in the gospels. In John’s Gospel John the baptist proclaims to his followers behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John 1:29
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
In John 4:42 Samaritans proclaim to know who Jesus is. John 4:42
42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.”
In Matthews gospel some 8 chapters before Peter’s confession we see that even the demons know and proclaim who Christ is. Matthew 8:29
29 Suddenly they shouted, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”
Why do I bring up these other proclamations of who Jesus is? Because they confirm Peter’s confession of who Jesus is. This confession is the unchangeable rock of the church. Jesus is the Messiah, the son of the Living God.
Caeserea Philippi
This is a significant place for Jesus to ask this question. Caeserea Philippi was named for two people. One was for Cesar Augustus who King Herod the great built a temple for there. The other was Herod’s son Philip. This chunk of land had a rich history of idol worship. When Israel fell into worshiping Baal it is thought to be here in this space where one of the places of worship was. It is here that there was a temple and a cave for the greek god Pan.
It is here at the mouth of a cave, that some would have thought was the gate to hades or hell, that Jesus asks his disciples who do others say that I am? Who do you say that I am?
Many of the disciples answer the first question. Only Peter has the boldness to answer the second question.
Jesus asks his disciples after hearing who others say he is, who do you say that I am? This group 8 chapters earlier heard the demons who went into the heard of pigs call him the Son of God. They witnessed Jesus send those demons into the pigs. At this point they have seen many miracles done through the work of Jesus. Peter speaks up and boldly proclaims Jesus to be the messiah, the son of the living God.
In this place named for Cesar and Herod’s son Philip. In the shadow of idol worship from Baal to Pan. God’s who aren’t living. Near the mouth of a cave thought to be a gateway to hades or hell. Peter proclaims Jesus to be the messiah, the son of the living God.
All 4 gospels capture Peter in different ways proclaiming Jesus identity. John 6:66-69
66 Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 67 So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
20 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.”
29 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.”
All these confessions cement who Peter knew Jesus to be. In response Jesus blesses Peter. Upon this confession Simon the fisherman’s life changed so much that his name even changed. From this point forward he would be known as Peter.
Matthew is the only one that captures Christ blessing. Peter didn’t arrive at this conclusion through human reason, or logic. It was revealed to him through the Holy Spirit. It is upon this rock solid confession that Jesus is building his church and the gates of hell will not over come it.
Who do you say Jesus is?
Who do you say Jesus is?
Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year A, Volume 3 Pastoral Perspective
Jesus’ question to each of us is, “Who do you say that I am? What is your testimony of me? What is your experience of the living God through my witness and presence?”
Peter’s bold confession comes in a place shadowed by idol worship. It comes in a place that was associated with the gates of hell. Despite all this Peter boldly proclaimed in this place who Jesus is. The messiah, the son of the living God.
In your journey with Jesus who has the Holy Spirit revealed him to be to you? Who do you say that He is?
Despite everything we see going on around us. The rock the Jesus is building his church on is our confession of who he is.
Take some time this morning and reflect on this question. Write down your answer. On this rock Christ is building his church and the gates of hell cannot overcome it.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.