Matthew 16:16

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus took his disciples on a journey outside Palestine, into that area north of the Land, into the cultures of Tyre, Sidon and the Roman city called Caesarea Philippi. This is not Caesarea in Samaria, in Palestine, but the Roman center for the control of the border with the eastern nations that were not under Roman control.

What Jesus and his disciples did there in lands “beyond” is not recorded. But the way Jesus revealed himself more clearly to his disciples, is.

I find it interesting that Jesus chose to declare decisively who he is, not in Palestine but outside Palestine, in a secular, pagan culture. There no crowds plead for healing. They paid little or no attention to Jesus Christ. He was unknown there.

It was in this context that Jesus asked, “Who do people say the son of man is?” It is obvious that Jesus meant people in Palestine where Jesus ministered.

There in a non-concerned culture, Jesus, knowing that he was nearing the end of his ministry, asked a question. “Who do people say that I am?”  They answered him with what they heard and knew. Then Jesus, in a holy moment, sacred to all of us, asked, “What about you?  Who do you say I am?”  Thus, the ultimate question – who is this Jesus of Nazareth?  Not what others think, but what do you think and know?

Peter spoke for all of us, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  Think of the implications of this statement. The Old Testament is swallowed by the new. Divinity embraces humanity. The Incarnation blends God and man. All of this is made possible by Jesus, “The Son of the loving God.”

Little did Peter realize that his confession would fulfill mankind’s longing, would bring history to fruition, would, in a wonderfully mysterious way, usher into existence a new reality in the earth, the Kingdom of God among mankind.

Only one question matters. It is that of Jesus, “Who am I?”  Answer it honestly.