“But who do you say that I am?” Jesus’s question at Caesarea Philippi

Some questions you can answer by repeating what you have heard. In Matthew 16, Jesus asked his disciples one of those. Then he asked them one they could only answer for themselves.

The setting

Matthew says Jesus had come to the region of Caesarea Philippi when he asked his disciples who people said the Son of Man was (Matthew 16:13). Mark places the conversation on the road to the towns of Caesarea Philippi (Mark 8:27). Luke adds that Jesus had been praying alone, and his disciples joined him (Luke 9:18).

The disciples had answers ready. Some people said Jesus was John the Baptist. Others said Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets (Matthew 16:14).

These were generous opinions. Every name on the list belonged to someone respected as a man of God. People thought highly of Jesus. They still had not understood who he was.

The question turns to them

Then Jesus asks the disciples directly. He wants to know what they themselves say (Matthew 16:15).

Peter answers:

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16, NKJV)

In Mark and Luke, Peter’s answer is shorter. In both, he calls Jesus the Christ (Mark 8:29; Luke 9:20).

In Matthew, Jesus calls Peter blessed. He says Peter’s answer was revealed to him by his Father in heaven (Matthew 16:17).

Why the second question matters

The first question was easy. The disciples only had to report what they had heard. The second question needed an answer of their own.

It is possible to live a long time on the first kind of answer. You can know what your parents believe and what your church teaches. Those things matter. At some point, Jesus still asks you what you say.

In the first episode of Tea Time With Thandie, That I May Know Him, Thandie looks at this question at Caesarea Philippi. The episode also talks about moving beyond borrowed faith. Borrowed faith is belief you hold because someone else holds it. It can carry you for a while. It gets tested when life is hard and the people you borrowed it from are not around.

For more on this, read Knowing about God or knowing God: what is the difference?

A right answer, then a mistake

Peter’s answer came from God. A few verses later, Peter shows how much he still had to learn. When Jesus explained that he must suffer, be killed and be raised the third day, Peter took him aside and rebuked him. Jesus told Peter he was thinking about the things of men, not the things of God (Matthew 16:21-23).

That is encouraging. A true answer to Jesus’s question does not make you perfect. Peter got the most important thing right and still had a lot to learn.

His faith grew as he kept following. In John’s Gospel, when many disciples went back, Jesus asked the Twelve if they wanted to go away too. Peter said they had nowhere else to go, because Jesus had the words of eternal life (John 6:66-69).

How to answer for yourself

Jesus’s question deserves a real answer. Some ways to work towards one:

1. Read about Jesus for yourself. Start with Mark, which tells this story in chapter 8. Our guide on how to start reading the Bible can help.
2. Write your answer down. Who is Jesus to you today? Use your own words.
3. Notice whose words you are using. If your answer sounds exactly like someone else’s, ask whether you believe it or have only heard it.
4. Ask God to show you. Peter’s answer was revealed by the Father. You can ask for the same.
5. Say it out loud to someone. Tell a friend what you believe and why.
6. Keep asking. Come back to the question every so often and notice how your answer has changed.

Your answer will grow over time. Peter’s did.

Who he is and who you are

What you believe about Jesus shapes what you believe about yourself. In Matthew 16, straight after Peter says who Jesus is, Jesus answers by calling him by name and speaking about the church he will build (Matthew 16:18).

For more on that, read What does “identity in Christ” actually mean? If you have ever tried to live on someone else’s faith or someone else’s name, read Jacob, Esau and the danger of a borrowed identity.

To hear the full conversation, listen to episode 1 of Tea Time With Thandie.