Matthew 16:13-20

Matthew 16:13-20 NIV

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
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. 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. 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.”
Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Who do you say that I am?" That just might be the most important question you will ever answer. It is a question that will be revisited and revised over the course of one's life. How we understand Jesus drives much of how we experience life.

If I think of God as a policeman looking to bust me for breaking the law, then I will likely be looking over my shoulder, so to speak. I would live an uneasy existence. If I considered God to be an absentee landlord who wasn't in touch with the daily goings on in my life, I might live ambivalently toward any higher calling than my own personal aspirations, or the aspirations of my current culture. If I said that Jesus was only a good man and teacher, then I wouldn't have much use for prayer to a God who can't really do anything to assist me.

Let's be clear. When the New Testament talks about Jesus, they are talking about divine world changing power. They're talking about the powers of the age to come that are suddenly upon us in the appearance of Messiah Jesus. The lame walk. The blind see. The poor receive good news! Behold! The kingdom of heaven is near! Repent and believe the good news!

The apostles witnessed these powers at work in Jesus and in themselves. So when Jesus took them far north near the Syrian borders (Lebanon today) at Caesarea Philippi and got them away from the crowds of Galilee, He wanted to hear what the people were saying about Him.

The apostles answered that some say Jesus is John the Baptist back from the grave. That's what Herod feared. Others said Jesus was Elijah come to herald the Messiah as foretold. Others thought Jesus was the prophet promised by Moses. Matthew certainly sees Jesus in this way. While Jesus is the fulfillment of Moses' prophecy, there's much more to Him.

Then Peter answered, "You are the Christ (a Greek word for messiah), the Son of the living God."

Jesus was pleased and told Peter that He hasn't gained this insight through men but by divine revelation. God the Father, through the Holy Spirit, opened Peter's eyes to see Jesus for who He is.

Then Jesus made a proclamation. He told Peter that his name would no longer be Simon, son of Jonah, but Peter, which means rock. And Jesus said, "on this rock i will build my church". For Roman Catholics and other Christians this means that Peter is the head of the church. He succeeded Jesus as the chief administrator and spiritual leader. There is a tradition that every pope chosen stands in direct succession to this first appointment. That's really a wonderful idea.

I have a certificate showing the line of bishops in the Methodist tradition going going all the way back to our founder John Wesley. It connects my ordination to the bishop who laid hands on me all the way back to Wesley. It's a great feeling to look at that line of bishops and know I'm connected to something that goes back to the beginning of our version of Christianity.

But as a protestant I put no credence in the pope. Therefore we read this pronouncement of Jesus' rock very differently. The rock on which Jesus build His church is not Peter or any man. The rock is the revealed truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

Son of God is a traditional title for kings. Many kingdoms proclaimed their kings and rulers to be divine. The caesars certainly held that belief. Pharaohs in Egypt held that belief. But to call Jesus the Son of God is not simply a kingly title. It is the actual truth of His being. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. There is no other.
He was sent to establish His Father's kingdom on earth in the hearts of men.

Some believe that only centuries later did the church claim divine status on Jesus and that His earliest followers did not think of Jesus in this way. You have to decide for yourself who you say Jesus is. But know this: the belief that Jesus is the divine Son of God is the key to the kingdom. And with this key you have access to the powers of the age to come through your faith. Jesus entrusts to those who believe His authority. What you bind on earth is bound in heaven and what you set free on earth is set free in heaven. The authority of the council of believers brings healing, help and holiness to the world. And not even Hell can stand against the kingdom of God. Not even the power of death is greater.

You likely will not see this truth unless God opens your spiritual eyes to see it.

“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
Matthew 11:27 NIV
http://bible.com/111/mat.11.27.NIV

So what is you answer?
Who do you say Jesus is?