Who Do They Say You Are?

Gates of Hell - Caesarea Philippi - Israel

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" "Well," they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets." Then He asked them, "But who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven." Then He sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah. Matthew 16:13-20

On His journey to the Cross Jesus challenged His disciples as to who He is. Who do you say that I am?

It is a basic human instinct or longing to know and be known. Who do you say that I am? Who are you? People want to know. Jesus had already spoken of the “Son of Man” during His ministry. He told them that the Son of Man would be in the earth (grave) for three days, just like Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days. Were the disciples not listening? Peter’s response to Jesus’ question was brilliant and inspired by God. He was listening. Jesus and His disciples were standing near the headwaters of the Jordan River where Philip, a tetrarch ruler of Judaea from 4 BC to 34 AD who inherited the northeastern part of his father’s kingdom, had built a massive city called Caesarea Philippi. Part of that city was an immense temple built into the rock known as the “gates of Hell.” Jesus goes on to say…upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. This rock was the truth that He was the Messiah. That truth was the foundation of the Christian church. Jesus…as well as Peter…was known as the rock. He is the cornerstone.

For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, 'The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.' Acts 4:11.  

Who do you say that Jesus is? Who do people say that you are? Do you call yourself a Christian?  

Prayer ~ Guide us Lord that we would understand how You have built Your church on the truth that You are the Messiah. You are the cornerstone that is essential for holding the church together. We must acknowledge You as our Lord and Savior…so that You will acknowledge us before Your Heavenly Father one day.

Daily Bible Reading: March 27 – Joshua 16-18

© 2017 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

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