Daily devotion – who do you say Jesus is?
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ
(Matt. 16:13–20; Luke 9:18–20 )
Mark 8:27 Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?”
28 So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”
29 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”
30 Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him.
Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection.
Each time we visit Israel, our journey to the furthest northern point of Israel brings us to the beautiful location known as Caesarea Philippi. It is here that the water from Mt Hermon travels underground and through the rocks coming out at this location called Banias today but in Jesus day, Caesarea Philippi.
It was a place used by many to worship the array of false gods by the Romans and situated in the locality of the tribe of Dan. The tribe who are considered to be responsible for bringing a heightened idol worship to the nation of Israel.
This place reeked with false worship and false gods. The Greeks when they came founded a shrine there for their god Pan. The early Semites worshipped Baalim here because of the waters that flowed from this location into Israel.
Herod’s son, Philip the tetrarch, named it Caesarea Philippi to honour the prince and to distinguish it from his father’s similarly named port on the coast of Israel – Caesarea.
So it is with this in the background of the knowledge of the disciples that Jesus asks His disciples a pointed question – “Who do men say that I am?”
The disciples fire off a list of names that people have tried to place on this Jesus of Nazareth such as 28 ….“John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”
Now Jesus gets to the heart of the matter with His disciples. He wants to know who they think He is!
29 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Jesus would soon depart from this location and begin His last journey to the Cross at Calvary and He wanted to speak deeply to His disciples before they began this final trek.
People today as back then have many concepts about who they think Jesus is. Some think He is just a good man, some think He was but a prophet, others think He was simply the son of a carpenter. But Jesus wanted to know what did the disciples really think about Him?
Peter responds to Jesus question to the disciples, but this time it’s not just the usual outburst from Peter. No, this time the Holy Spirit gave Peter the words to say.
Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”
Jesus had not failed in His mission!
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
It is significant that this confession was made amidst temples and places where idolatry had abounded. Peter referred to the LIVING God.
My question to you today is, “Who do you say Jesus Christ is?”
The way you live will give you the answer as to who you believe Jesus is.
Just another man, just another prophet or do you believe He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God?
For before we can journey with Him to the Cross of Calvary as the disciples were about to do, we must know He is our Saviour and Lord and that our lives are wholly entwined with Him in every step and breath we make.
He is the Son of God who has come to save us from our sins!