Who Do you say He is?

The Rock of Our Faith

Bible Passage: Matthew 16:13–20

Matthew 16:13–20 KJV 1900

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

1. Perceptions of the Prophet

Matthew 16:13–14 “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.”

Jesus challenged the disciples by asking who people said He was. He wanted to point out that many people were speaking of Him but not realizing who He truly is.

Some of the people believed He was John the Baptist who preached repentance in the wilderness

Some beleived He was Elijah representing the fiery preacher who performed miracles

Some believed that He was Jeremiah who was a power teaching prophet

Some believed He was a regular prophet coming before the Messiah

The same challenges are in the world today. There are some who believe Jesus was a great teacher or prophet.

Some today believe He was a fictional person listed in history to inspire change and peace in the world.

Muslims believe He is a prophet second to Mohammed and just above Moses

Jews believe He was a great teacher or a heretic.

Jehovah Witnesses believe He is a god created by the God but not the son of God.

But what does the church believe?

2. Peter's Powerful Proclamation

Matthew 16:15–16 “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus asked the same question I am now asking you. While the other disciples said nothing, the hard-headed Peter responded:

Christ

Christ is not His last name but His title. In the Hebrew, the title is Mashaich which means Messiah, the Anointed one.

Peter declared His purpose first and acknowledged that Jesus is the Messiah.

Peter declared the anointing which activated His faith and allowed him to go further.

Son of the Living God

Peter acknowledged His person as the Son of God.

By declaring Him as the Son of God, He is acknowledging that Jesus is the same essence as the Father and thus He is also God.

Something happens when we acknowledge who Jesus is. God begins to activate our faith in powerful ways.

3. The Foundation of Faith

Matthew 16:17–20 “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.”

Jesus changes the name of someone who acknowledges Him

Genesis 17:5 “Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.”

Genesis 32:28 “And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”

Jesus changes the purpose of anyone who acknowledges Him

Moses goes from Shepherd to deliverer

David goes from shepherd to king

Joseph goes from slave to ruler

Paul goes from persecuter to preacher

Jesus changes the foundation of anyone who acknowledges Him

Jesus reassigns kingdom resources to anyone who acknowledges Him