Christian Quest
Study 17
Who Do You Say That I Am?

Reading:
Matthew 16:13-28
Mark 8:27-38
Luke 9:18-27

Commentary


Caesarea Philippi near where Jesus revealed to His disciples that he was the Christ and would build His church.

We now come to a turning point in Jesus' ministry when he acknowledged to his disciples that he was the Christ. He also informed them of His ensuing death. He had brought them to a place near the town of Caesarea Philippi (not the seaport Caesarea on the eastern Mediterranean). At that time it was a Gentile frontier town on the southern slope of Mount Hermon at one of the headwaters of the Jordan River. It is significant that Jesus chose this place to reveal His Messiahship because it was known for a shrine to the pagan god, Pan, the Greek and Roman god of nature. Caesarea Philippi had belonged to Herod the Great, and now to his son. Yet it was here that Jesus said to Peter after he confessed Jesus as Christ: "Upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it." (Matt. 16:18) Still, Jesus instructed the disciples to tell no one that He was the Christ.

In this study, Jesus tells the disciples that in order to follow him, one must "take up his cross" (Matt. 16:24; Mk 8:34; Lk 9:23) What does he mean? This expression recalls the common practice in those days of forcing persons who were condemned to death by crucifixion to carry their own crossbeam to the place of execution. In the first century AD crucifixion was one of the strongest deterrents against insurrection or political dissidence in Roman provinces. Crucifixion was preceded by flogging, then the victim was bound to the cross, stripped naked and mocked. It was regarded the ultimate pain and humiliation. By this illustration, Jesus made it clear that to be His follower would not be one of glory in this life, but one of great suffering; that one must be willing to bear this "cross" for obedience, even to death, to be apostles of Christ.

Synopsis

Matthew 16:13-20; Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-21
Jesus brings his disciples to Caesarea Philippi and asks them who people are saying He is. They tell him some believe he is John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others believe him to be one of the prophets. When Jesus asked: "Who do you say I am?" it was Peter who spoke up and said: "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Jesus had not revealed this to them and he acknowledged that it was God Who had revealed it to Peter. And he said that it was upon that premise His church would be built. This is the first reference in the Scriptures to His Church. And he continued to instruct the disciples to tell no one He was the Christ.

Matthew 16:21-23; Mark 8:31-33; Luke 9:22
Jesus now began to prepare his disciples for the things he must suffer in Jerusalem. He told them he would be killed at the hands of the Jewish religious leaders but would be raised on the third day. Peter was very disturbed to hear his Master say such things and disputed it, for which Jesus refuted him.

Matthew 16:24-26; Mark 8:34-37; Luke 9:23-25
Jesus forewarned his disciples that in order to follow Him faithfully would be a life of suffering. He compared it to the suffering of one condemned to be crucified and forced to carry their cross.

Matthew 16:27-28; Mark 8:38-9:1; Luke 9:26,27
Jesus told them that He would return with the glory of His father and His angels for judgment. He declared that some of them would still be living when he would come into His kingdom.

Optional research:

Review questions:

Optional discussion:
Why might Jesus have brought his disciples to a place of pagan worship to reveal to them that He was the Christ and say he would build His church on that foundation?