Confess
Who Do You Say That I Am? Understanding Peter's Confession of Faith
In the journey of faith, there are moments of clarity that define our relationship with Jesus. One such pivotal moment occurred when Jesus asked His disciples a question that continues to echo through the centuries: "Who do you say that I am?"
The Question That Changes Everything
Jesus and His disciples were in the district of Caesarea Philippi when He posed two questions. First, He asked, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" The disciples responded with the popular opinions of the day: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.
These weren't insulting comparisons. In fact, being compared to John the Baptist, Elijah, or Jeremiah was quite an honor. These were revered figures in Jewish history:
John the Baptist was known for his powerful preaching
Elijah could call down fire from heaven and perform miracles
Jeremiah had compassion and prophetic insight for the nation
But Jesus wasn't satisfied with these comparisons, no matter how flattering they might have been. He turned to His disciples with a more personal question: "Who do YOU say that I am?"
Peter's Remarkable Confession
In what must have been a moment of awkward silence, Peter stepped forward with a declaration that had never before been uttered about Jesus: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
This wasn't just another compliment. This was a recognition of Jesus' true identity that went beyond human understanding. Peter wasn't just calling Jesus a good teacher or a prophet—he was identifying Him as:
The Christ (the Messiah, the promised Savior)
The Son of the living God (divine in nature)
Jesus' response reveals how significant this confession was: "Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven."
How Do We Know Who Jesus Really Is?
Jesus makes it clear that Peter didn't arrive at this understanding through human wisdom or teaching. This revelation came directly from God the Father. This teaches us an important truth: Jesus' identity is revealed by the Father, not decided by the crowd.
No matter how the crowd might honor Jesus—calling Him a great teacher, a moral example, or a spiritual guide—these descriptions fall short of His true identity. Whatever good you believe about Jesus, He is better still.
Our culture today may be showing renewed interest in Jesus. People want to be near Him, read His words, and even pray to Him. But many haven't crossed the line from seeing Him as merely a good man to recognizing Him as "the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus isn't interested in just being complimented. He wants from us what Peter gave Him—a confession that comes from divine revelation, not human opinion.
What Does It Mean to Be "The Rock"?
After Peter's confession, Jesus responds with a play on Peter's name: "You are Peter (Petros, meaning 'rock'), and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
This statement has been interpreted in different ways throughout church history. Is Jesus saying He'll build His church on Peter himself, or on Peter's confession of faith?
The answer seems to be a bit of both. The confession that "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God" is certainly the foundation of all Christian faith. But Jesus also singles out Peter, speaking to him in the singular: "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven."
However, this doesn't mean Peter was given authority over the other apostles. Throughout the New Testament, we see Peter functioning as a representative of the apostles, not as their authority. In Ephesians 2, Paul describes the church as being "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone."
The church isn't built on any one man—not Peter, not a pastor, not any human leader. It's built on Jesus Christ, with the apostles collectively serving as the foundation. This is confirmed in Revelation 21:14, which describes the city of God as having "twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles."
What Are the Keys of the Kingdom?
Jesus tells Peter, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
These keys represent access, not authority. When you give someone a key to your house, you're giving them access to enter, not permission to rearrange the furniture or tear down walls. Peter wasn't being given authority to change the kingdom of heaven, but to open its doors through the preaching of the gospel.
Later, in Matthew 18:18, Jesus extends this same privilege to all the disciples: "Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." The keys weren't unique to Peter but were given to all the apostles to proclaim the message of Christ.
The Stumbling Block of the Cross
Just moments after this high point, Peter experiences a dramatic fall. When Jesus begins to explain that He must suffer, be killed, and rise again, Peter takes Him aside and rebukes Him: "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you."
Peter wanted a Christ without a cross. He had confessed Jesus as the Messiah but stumbled at the message of suffering. In response, Jesus delivers one of His harshest rebukes: "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."
This reveals a profound truth: A confession without the cross is a hindrance to Christ. You cannot have Christ without His cross. Many people today want Jesus' teachings and comfort without embracing His suffering and the call to take up their own cross.
Peter's story shows the battle we all face—moments of spiritual insight followed by moments of human weakness. He confessed Christ but stumbled at the cross. He was becoming the rock Jesus saw in him, but he wasn't fully there yet.
Life Application
The question Jesus asked His disciples is the same question He asks each of us today: "Who do you say that I am?"
Your answer to this question has profound implications for your life. Is Jesus merely:
A helper in times of trouble?
A wise teacher with good moral teachings?
A therapist who relieves your anxiety?
A friend who keeps you from feeling lonely?
While Jesus is all these things, He is infinitely more. He is "the Christ, the Son of the living God," who suffered, died, and rose again to bring salvation to all who believe.
This confession comes with a cost—it demands surrender and submission. It may involve suffering. But it also brings grace, mercy, forgiveness, freedom, and salvation.
Ask yourself these questions this week:
What is my honest answer to Jesus' question, "Who do you say that I am?"
Am I trying to follow a Christ without a cross?
Where in my life am I setting my mind on human things rather than God's things?
How would my life change if I truly lived according to the confession that Jesus is "the Christ, the Son of the living God"?
Remember, the journey of faith, like Peter's, will have ups and downs. But it begins with this fundamental confession about who Jesus truly is.
