Matthew 16:13-20
13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”20 Then He ordered His disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah.
MATTHEW 16:13-20 “WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM”?
Springford Baptist Church: September 17, 2023.
When we are introducing someone, often we will make reference to who the person is connected with whom we are introducing.
For instance, recently when I was introducing people at a baby shower I was saying things like, “This is an aunt or a great aunt, a grandma or great grandma, cousins, or a friend of our family.”
These descriptions helped to identify who each person was and how they were connected.
If we are at a gathering and there is someone there we do not recognize, we may ask the person next to us, “Do you know who that is over there”?
Often the response will include details about how that person is related to someone we do know, or that this person used to live in Tillsonburg, or that they worked at a particular place…
We get a better sense of who someone is when we know something about that person.
When Jesus came on the scene and began such a public ministry, of course people were asking an obvious question, “Who is this”?
Especially since Jesus was teaching and preaching powerful messages about God and healing people who were sick and infirmed, He naturally received a lot of attention. People wanted to know who He was and from where He had come.
In today’s Scripture, we have record of a conversation that Jesus was having with His disciples. He begins by asking, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is”? (vs. 13) In other words, “Who are people saying that I am”?
It is apparent that people have been talking about who Jesus is because His disciples have a variety of answers. They reply, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” (vs. 14) These answers grasp at identifying Jesus as someone who has already died. There has to be a different answer that is the accurate truth.
Rather than confront the truth, people today will also come up with a variety of ideas of Who is this Jesus who continues to captivate people’s hearts and draw people to Him in devoted commitment.
Jesus poses a penetrating question here that is a question we also must consider today. Jesus speaks directly to His followers and says, “But what about you? Who do you say that I am”? (vs. 15)
This is what matters! Who do we say that Jesus is? Do we recognize Jesus as the Son of God Who gave His life for us?
I want us to take this question a step further. What does the living of our lives say about Who is Jesus? What is our understanding of Who Jesus is and how He impacts our lives?
If we think of Jesus as One Who is always waiting to catch us doing something wrong and to punish us then that is not an understanding of Jesus that would urge us to come to Him and to trust Him with our deepest distress and our unanswered questions.
If we think of Jesus as a historical figure who lived a remarkable life but is not relevant to us and our lives today then that limited perception of Jesus will not urge us to turn to Jesus to guide our everyday lives.
If we think of Jesus as Someone who was important to our parents or grandparents, but not One whom we would commit our lives to today, then again that is going to affect how we speak of Jesus and if we even think to speak with Jesus.
It is only when we identify Jesus as Peter did that our lives will be transformed. Peter spoke from his heart and expressed what God the Father revealed to him. In answer to the crucial question that Jesus posed, “But what about you? Who do you say that I am” ? (vs. 15), Peter answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (vs. 16)
It is this recognition of Who Jesus is that changes everything.
If this really is Who we believe Jesus to be then our lives must demonstrate this consistently.
If it is only our mouths that say that Jesus is the Promised One, the Son of God then that will not be a credible or believable testimony.
How could others trust Jesus as their Saviour if they do not see us and hear us relying on Jesus all the time.
If we identify Jesus as God’s own Son who loves us without exception and has given His life for us then every aspect of our lives should make that apparent.
This does not mean that we do not acknowledge our anxious thoughts or wondering over what the future may bring. This does not mean that we refuse to speak of our struggles and heartaches.
It does mean that whatever aspects of our real lives that we reveal, we also reveal that we know we are not alone because Jesus is with us always.
Other people who wonder if there is hope for them in our broken world, can be reassured that there is because of the Jesus Who has given us hope.
What then do our lives say to those around us about Who is Jesus?
Imagine two people talking with each other and saying, Do you have any idea Who Jesus is”?
And then imagine them saying well I know that person there (one of us) believes in Jesus and goes to church with other people who believe in Jesus.
Could that conversation continue with a recalling of things we have done that have displayed the love of Jesus to them?
Could those same individuals reflect that we live our lives relying on Jesus and that when troubles and hardships come that we find strength in Jesus?
Could they affirm that it is not that we have acted as if we are better than them, but have shown by the way we live our lives that we realize we all need Jesus to forgive us and to help us?
It is Who we say and live that Jesus is that will influence how others will answer that question themselves.
Knowing how much it means to us to trust Jesus as the living Son of God, our Lord and Saviour, do we long for others to also know Jesus in this way?
If we think that what other people believe is none of our business, then we may not live our faith in Jesus so openly.
If we are concerned that the inconsistencies and regrets of our lives will not give a good example to people of Who Jesus is and what it means to live for Him, then we will be focusing on us rather than on Jesus.
There is an opportunity here for our lives to proclaim in powerful ways Who is Jesus and for others to come to know Him as we do!
Jesus warned His disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ, the Messiah. (vs. 20) He did not want His ministry and what He was sent to accomplish to be prematurely derailed. After Jesus’ resurrection, there was no such limitation on His disciples boldly declaring and demonstrating Who is Jesus!
And there is no limitation for us today either!!