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.”
And Jesus answered 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)
A few days ago someone in my office screamed out “Jesus Christ” in frustration and then realised I was in the office. He turned to me and said “Rowland I have just blasphemed” to which I replied “you won't be the first neither will you be the last.”
For years the name of Jesus has be used for different reasons. Some have used it as a swear word, others a person's name, and for Christians whenever we need something or when we are in trouble the name to call.
Here in this verse Jesus is asking His disciples, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
It seems kind of strange that Jesus was asking His disciples this question. The truth is that even in Jesus time just as today, not many people could make out who Jesus was. Just as the disciples said, some thought He was John the Baptist, some Elijah, some one of the prophets.
Today we are in similar situation where so many people do not know who Jesus is. When you ask, some will tell you that He was a good man, some will say He was a prophet, some will say he was a deceiver. Many things have been said about Jesus by non-christians, but today like Jesus asked His disciples, I am asking you who is Jesus?
I could just hear a pin drop as Jesus turned to His own disciples and asked “But who do you say that I am?”
There must have been a great silence on that day as the disciples began to look at each other and wonder “who is He really, we know who everyone else thinks He is, but who is He? We have been with Him this long but do we really know who He is?”
Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
How did Peter know that Jesus was the anointed one, the Christ? It was the spirit of grace that revealed who Jesus was to Peter. Jesus said to Peter ”Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”
1Corinthians12:3 says:
"Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit."
In short anyone born of the Spirit of God can never curse Jesus. Anyone born of the Spirit of God knows who Jesus is. Just like the Spirit of God revealed who Jesus is to Peter, I pray that He will reveal who Jesus is to you today personally.
When the Holy Spirit does this, without a shadow of doubt:
You will know that Jesus is Lord!
You will know that Jesus is the Messiah!
You will know that Jesus is the Son of God!
He is the Anointed One!
He is the Holy One!
The King of Kings!
The Lord of Lords!
The soon coming King!
The chief Shepherd!
A unique being, with a unique birth and a unique mission.
