Greetings brothers and sisters!
Today, let’s take a look at Peter’s confession of who Christ is:
And Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He was asking His disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am?”
— Mark 8:27
There are several important things we see happening as Jesus converses with His disciples. First, we notice that Jesus is the one who initiates the conversation. He deliberately prompts the discussion by asking them, “Who do people say that I am?”
It’s crucial to understand that the disciples were not the ones asking this question—Jesus was. This reminds us of the true condition of man: spiritually dead in sin and trespasses. The psalmist captures this well when he writes:
The wicked fool says in his heart, “There is no God,”
They act corruptly and commit abominable injustice;
There is no one who does good.
God looks down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there is anyone who has insight,
Anyone who seeks after God.
— Psalm 53:1–2
We often fall into the trap of thinking we are the ones who searched for God. Many take pride in saying, “I found God,” as if our salvation is due to our own effort or intellect. But the truth of Scripture shows otherwise. We did not seek Him—He sought us. We did not know Him, but rather, we were known by Him.
Paul makes this distinction clear in his letter to the Galatians:
But now, having known God, or rather having been known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you want to be enslaved all over again?
— Galatians 4:9
So it is worth noting again that it was not the disciples who asked Jesus about who He was, but rather it was Jesus Himself who posed the question. He was inviting them to reflect and respond—just as He invites us today.
Even when we forget God or are preoccupied with our own concerns, the Spirit of God continues to convict and prompt our hearts. This same question Jesus asked His disciples is one He still asks us today through the Holy Spirit.
Let’s take a closer look at the question: “Who do people say that I am?”
This question carries some key assumptions:
- People are already saying something about Jesus.
Even though some claim ignorance, the truth is that the gospel has been proclaimed. People around the world have heard about Jesus. The issue is not whether they’ve heard, but what they’ve decided about Him. - People have already formed opinions about Jesus.
Everyone who hears His name inevitably forms a view—whether accurate or not.
The disciples shared the popular opinions circulating at the time:
And they told Him, saying, “John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets.”
— Mark 8:28
People often compare the unfamiliar with the familiar. Because they saw Jesus performing signs and teaching with authority, they associated Him with the prophets of old. Matthew adds that some believed He was Jeremiah.
But Jesus had already addressed these misunderstandings.
For instance, John the Baptist himself acknowledged Jesus as greater than he was:
John answered, saying to them all, “As for me, I baptize you with water, but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the strap of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
— Luke 3:16
By John’s own admission, Jesus was not John the Baptist—He was greater.
Others saw Jesus as a prophet. But Jesus did things prophets could not do—He forgave sins:
And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.”
But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?”
— Mark 2:5–7
Jesus wasn’t just a prophet—He was doing the work of God.
Some regarded Him as a mere teacher. The rich young ruler even called Him “Good Teacher,” but Jesus responded with a clarifying statement:
And as He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and began asking Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.”
— Mark 10:17–18
These misunderstandings of Jesus aren’t limited to the past. They are still common today. Some believe He was merely a prophet—entire religions are built on this view. Others say He was just a good moral teacher or a political activist.
That’s what makes Jesus’ next question so significant:
And He continued asking them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”
— Mark 8:29
Notice how this question begins with “But.” Jesus expected something different from His disciples than from the crowds. He wanted them to have a clearer, deeper understanding.
This same expectation extends to us. It is a tragedy when believers hold the same view of Jesus as the unbelieving world. Sadly, some who claim to be Christians think of Jesus as only a historical figure or a moral example.
But Jesus expects His followers to know who He truly is.
Just like the disciples, we must ask ourselves this question daily:
“Who do you say that I am?”
And just like before, Jesus is the one asking. In our daily lives and choices, this question should always be in front of us.
This is a question no one can avoid. You will either answer like the crowds or like Peter.
Peter’s response was profound:
“You are the Christ.”
He didn’t say a Christ—he said the Christ. The one and only. In Jewish tradition, this referred to the long-awaited Messiah:
The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against Yahweh and against His Anointed (Messiah), saying…
— Psalm 2:2
“I will surely tell of the decree of Yahweh:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.’”
— Psalm 2:7
Some have tried to reduce “Messiah” to a philosophical concept. But to do so is to strip it of its redemptive power.
In Matthew’s account, we see how Jesus responds to Peter’s confession:
And Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
And Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”
— Matthew 16:16–17
Peter’s recognition was not based on logic or intellect. It was divine revelation. It was God who revealed to Peter who Jesus truly was.
This means the two groups—those who see Jesus as a prophet or teacher, and those who confess Him as Christ—derive their understanding from two very different sources: the flesh and the Spirit.
Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed,”
and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
— 1 Corinthians 12:3
This distinction is not just theological—it is eternal.
Those who reject Jesus as the Christ must stand before God and give account for their sins. But those who receive the revelation of Christ, repent, and believe—by grace through faith—will enjoy eternal joy in God’s presence.
So again, the two questions are being asked:
- Who do people say that I am?
- But who do you say that I am?
Let us be careful not to simply echo the crowd and diminish Jesus’ identity. When the second question is asked of us, may our answer be clear:
“You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
Because that answer, given in repentance and faith, does not come from flesh and blood—but by revelation from the Father who sits on the throne.
Now to Him who is able to grant us repentance and faith,
To Him who reveals to us the true Christ,
To Him who transfers us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son—
To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.
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