Who Do You Say That I Am?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You asked your disciples at Caesarea Philippi “Who do you say that I am?” There before “The Gates of Hell” as people referred to a great gaping hole in the hillside where the Temple of Pan had been constructed. “Who do you say that I am?” Peter replied that You are the Son of the Living God. I say that, too, and that You are my Lord and Savior. 

The Gates of Hell
Caesarea Philippi, Israel

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?" So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 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." Matthew 16:13-17 NKJV

 

Meditate. Consider God’s guidance in scripture. Read God’s word and listen to what He is saying.

 

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” honoring Pan, a false god worshipped in that area. It was an evil place. Jesus was declaring war on it…stating that His church would prevail—would win in this battle…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 NLT.

Who do you say that Jesus is? Who do people say that you are? Do you call yourself a Christian? The choice is yours. How would you respond to Jesus if He were to ask you…Who do you say that I am?

 

Verse of Salvation ~ For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD, and there is no other. I have not spoken in secret, In a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, 'Seek Me in vain'; I, the LORD, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. Assemble yourselves and come; Draw near together, You who have escaped from the nations. They have no knowledge, Who carry the wood of their carved image, And pray to a god that cannot save. Tell and bring forth your case; Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me. Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. Isaiah 45:18-22 NKJV (Underlined for emphasis.)

 

© 2024 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted. 

New King James Version © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Harper Collins Publisher. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

 New Living Translation (NLT) copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

 

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories