Is there a question that could change your life if you answered it correctly? Jesus once asked his disciples who they thought he was. Answering that question properly made a huge difference in their lives and relationships with him and others.
“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?'” (Matthew 16:13)
I’m sure Jesus’ followers understood the reference to the Son of Man as a profound hope pictured in the book of Daniel:
As I watched in the night visions,
I saw one like a Son of Man
coming with the clouds of heaven.
And he came to the Ancient One
and was presented before him.
To him was given dominion
and glory and kingship,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not pass away,
and his kingship is one
that shall never be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14)
Let’s focus on the words that describe the role of the Son of Man. He is given dominion, glory, and kingship, and all nations serve him. His rule will last forever, and his kingship will never be destroyed. Let’s keep these characteristics of the Son of Man in mind as we examine the dialogue between Jesus and His disciples in tomorrow’s blog article.
“And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist but others Elijah and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.'” (Matthew 16:14-16)
Peter often spoke for the disciples. Even though he usually answered Jesus, we can trust that the other disciples agreed with him. So when Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” Peter and the disciples would respond, “You are God’s Messiah. You are the one God has anointed in His kingdom.”
One of my college mentors talked about the difference between a childhood Sunday School faith and an adult faith. He explained that children often adopt their parents’ beliefs, which is fine. But there comes a time when each person has to have an encounter with Jesus and commit to Him on their own as an adult.
When Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?” He is asking for an adult faith. Who do we personally believe He is?
The Blessing of Revelation
When Paul was persecuting the church, he had a head full of knowledge about God, but his heart was as cold as ice toward God and others. Only God’s revelation helped him see who Jesus really was.
Peter also needed God’s revelation, and he could make his confession not because he understood it in his mind, but because God revealed it to his heart. What happened to Peter and Paul needs to happen to us, too.
“And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.'” (Matthew 16:17-19)
God built his church on the revelation of who He is and our acceptance of it through faith. This lets us live as His representatives in His kingdom.
The passage about binding and loosing is best translated like this: “Whatever you bind on earth has already been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth has already been loosed in heaven.” As God’s agents, we have the privilege of setting people free from the guilt of rebellion and sin.
I don’t know how many people have found freedom from sin and guilt in the churches I have served over the years. Followers of Jesus used the keys of the kingdom—the message of the gospel—to help them find freedom in Jesus. People were literally “loosed” from their old way of life because of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, combined with the activity of His disciples helping people meet Jesus.
Jesus knew people would misinterpret what Messiah meant, so “He sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah” (Matthew 16:20). As we read the next section of Matthew’s report, we will discover that Peter also didn’t comprehend God’s plan for His Messiah.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 