Who Do You Say That I Am?

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 NLT 

Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" "Well," they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets." Then he asked them, "But who do you say I am?" Peter replied, "You are the Messiah." But Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. Mark 8:27-30 NLT

One day Jesus left the crowds to pray alone. Only his disciples were with him, and he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" "Well," they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other ancient prophets risen from the dead." Then he asked them, "But who do you say I am?" Peter replied, "You are the Messiah sent from God!" Luke 9:18-20 NLT 

Meditate.

            Jesus took the disciples to a Gentile area about 25 miles from the Sea of Galilee, Caesarea Philippi. He asked them, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”  They thought John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or another prophet. Then Jesus asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  Jesus said, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. …upon this rock I will build My church and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it….whatever you shall bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Jordan River - near the headwaters

 

Palace ruins

At the headwaters of the Jordan River, Philip, a tetrarch ruler of Judaea from 4 BC to 34 AD who inherited the northeastern part of his father’s kingdom, built a massive city called Caesarea Philippi. He wanted that city to rival Caesarea, which his father, Herod the Great, had built along the Mediterranean coast.

 Philip’s palace, which stands in ruins (see the photo above), was an architectural marvel. The temple he built nearby was dedicated to Pan, an evil Greek god related to rustic music, nature, and fertility. Pan is associated with the root word in pandemonium or panic. These ruins of the city still exist, and it is there that we saw a cave that is referred to as “the gates of hell”. The entrance to that cave was actually where the temple was built, so that there was no back wall inside, but just the opening into a deep cavern. This was fitting for worship of Pan in a natural setting.

Gates of Hell at Caesarea Philippi - Israel

   Jesus took His disciples away from the Jewish region of Galilee to this Gentile region of Caesarea Philippi, about a day and a half walk from the Sea of Galilee, to teach them without distractions. He wanted to see who could “Hear.” He even spoke to them in Greek (a Gentile tongue)—not in Hebrew or Aramaic. Peter was the only one to “hear” the truth. Jesus is the Son of God!  Jesus gave the keys of heaven to Peter, like gifting him “salvation.” The Gates of Hell will not prevail---evil will not stand in his way. Simon in Hebrew is Shimon, meaning One Who Hears. Simon Peter was the first missionary to the Gentiles, and it was here in Caesarea Philippi that Jesus commissioned him.

     Visiting Caesarea Philippi was an awesome epiphany moment for me when we went to Israel. I knew that Jesus was the Son of God—but to hear it again in the place it was declared touched my spirit deeply. This was where Jesus told his disciples to reach out to Gentiles. Being a “gentile,” that meant me. If it weren’t for this event, maybe I wouldn’t know Jesus like I do.

Who do you say that Jesus is?
Που λέτε είναι ο Ιησούς;
Kdo říkal že je Ježíš?
Wer sagt man, dass Jesus ist?
누가 예수님은 말합니까?
人はイエスだ？
Кто вам сказал, является Иисус?
Vous dites, qui qu'est Jésus ?
Hvem sier du er Jesus?
Vem säger ni Jesus är?
你說耶穌是誰？
Care vă spun este Isus?
Siapa yang Anda katakan Yesus?
¿Que dices que Jesús es?
Kim İsa diyorlar?
Ai làm bạn nói Chúa Giêsu?
Który trzeba powiedzieć, że Jezus jest
Que dius que Jesús és?
מי אתה אומר שישוע הוא?

The Gates of Hell will not prevail against us. We can claim that promise today. Evil will not stand in our way. The Kingdom of God is within you—within us. We should go to Godless places to change their hearts. Evil will not prevent us from doing that. Don’t panic or run—don’t fall victim to terror. God wants you to get revelation in dark places. Be like Shimon—hear the Word of God and respond. Are you listening?

What do we learn about Jesus from these Scripture passages today?

Prayer ~Lord, I’m listening—help me to hear and understand You. 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.

Verses 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.)

 

© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

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

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

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

Scripture from New King James Version (NKJV). New King James Version © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. 

Harper Collins Publishers. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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