Who Do You Say I Am? (Matthew 16:13-20)

13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.

Introduction:

Good morning, y’all! I want to start today by asking you the same question Jesus asked His disciples: “Who do you say that I am?”

Now, I know you’ve probably heard about Jesus in Sunday School. Maybe you’ve sung about Him in youth choir, worn a WWJD bracelet, or even posted a Bible verse on your story. But today, Jesus isn't asking about your youth pastor’s faith. He’s not asking what your mom or dad believe.

He’s asking you. Personally. Directly. “Who do you say I am?”

I. Jesus’ Question is Personal (v.13-15)

Jesus took His disciples to Caesarea Philippi, a city known for its idols and temples. It was like standing in Times Square, surrounded by messages and noise, and then Jesus drops this question:

“Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

Some said John the Baptist. Others said Elijah or Jeremiah. In today’s terms, some say He’s a prophet, a good teacher, or just a historical figure.

But then Jesus zeroes in:

“But you—who do you say I am?”

Imagine your teacher gives a group project and your friend answers all the questions. When the teacher gets to your name, though, you can’t say, “What she said!” No—you have to answer.

Your relationship with Jesus has to be your own. Not inherited. Not borrowed. Personal.

II. Peter’s Answer is Powerful (v.16)

Peter says boldly:

“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

That’s a big deal. Peter didn’t say, “You’re a good guy.” He didn’t say, “You’re like a spiritual guru.” He said, “You are the Messiah—the one we’ve been waiting for, God’s Son, the Savior.”

Imagine you've been waiting for a new phone to drop for months, watching every teaser. When it finally comes out, you’re like, “This is it. This is the real deal.”

Peter saw the evidence—Jesus walking on water, healing the sick, feeding thousands—and he said, “This is the One.”

Can you say the same? Not just that He exists, but that He’s your Savior, your Lord, your everything?

III. Jesus’ Promise is Unshakable (v.17-20)

Jesus responds with something powerful:

“On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overpower it.”

Here’s what Jesus is saying: "Peter, that confession you just made—that’s the foundation of everything I’m building. The Church, the mission, the hope of the world—it starts with knowing who I am."

Think of building a house. If you build on sand, it’s going to fall. But if you build on a rock, it's solid. Jesus says: My Church will be solid because it’s built on Me.

🚫 Not built on trends. 🚫 Not built on celebrities. ✅ Built on the unchanging truth that Jesus is Lord.

Conclusion: Your Turn to Answer

So, today in 2025—who do you say Jesus is?

Not your pastor. Not your parents. Not the culture. You.

If Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God—what does that mean for your life? Your choices? Your identity?

Don’t leave today without answering that question for yourself.

Call to Action:

For the believer: Re-center your life on that confession. Live boldly like Peter.

For the seeker: Maybe you’re not sure who Jesus is to you yet. That’s okay—but don’t stop searching. Ask. Pray. Learn.

For the lost: If you know in your heart that Jesus is the Son of God and you're ready to follow Him—come forward today. Let today be the day you say, "You are the Christ… and I give You my life."