“Who do you say I am?” Matthew 16:15
The lone voice that immediately answered was the outspoken disciple Peter. He said, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:15–16). If this declaration had not been true, Jesus would have instantly corrected such a brash and blasphemous claim. No true prophet of God would have allowed such a pernicious misunderstanding to persist. Jesus didn’t correct or rebuke Peter for his stunning revelation but instead praised him by saying, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.” He went on to tell him that He would build His church on this very foundation—one that “the gates of Hades will not overcome” (Matthew 16:17–18). In this exchange between Peter and the Lord, we see the battle line drawn in the sand. And this battle would cost many of Jesus’ followers their very lives.
The cosmic struggle would come down to the knowledge of the true identity of this man from Nazareth in the northern region of Galilee in the tiny nation of Israel. The promise was made that regardless of the fierceness of the conflict, the powers of darkness would not prevail. In light of this exchange, it becomes clear why there has been such a firestorm around the name of Jesus Christ. No other name evokes such debate or emotion—the most popular as well as the most polarizing name in history. At the same time, no other name has inspired such beauty, courage, and sacrifice.
Regardless of who you are or where you were born, eventually you must make a decision about what you believe about this Jesus and the claim that He is the Son of God, the Savior of the world. How will you respond when Jesus looks at you and says
“Who do you say I am?” Matthew 16:15