Confession Of Christ As God's Son -- The Right Answer

In Matthew 16:13-17, we find Jesus and His disciples in Caesarea Philippi, away from their home territory. It was a place of idolatry and oppression — a threatening place both politically and spiritually. In this environment, Jesus posed two important questions about the perception of His identity.

When Jesus asked a question, it was not because He didn’t know the answer; nor was it because he was interested in His popularity rating. Rather, He was making a point. He wanted His followers to be certain about the One they were following.

Unfortunately, today’s culture is just as hostile and opposed to Jesus as when He first asked the question: “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” (Matthew 16:13). As in Jesus’ day, people often offer a long list of inadequate and incorrect ideas about Jesus, ranging from Him being “just a good teacher” all the way to Him being “divisive” and “intolerant.”

The real question was and continues to be the same as the one our Lord asked His followers: “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). Peter boldly and correctly answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Jesus said that Peter’s accurate confession was a God-given insight and that he was blessed because of his declaration (Matthew 16:17).

If we haven’t already done so, let’s join Peter in confessing Jesus as God’s Son (Acts 8:37; cf. Romans 10:9-10), then enter the watery grave of baptism (Romans 6:3-4) so that our sins might be remitted and washed away (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16). We will then become a “new creation in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17) and will be richly and eternally blessed (Galations 3:26-29).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets