Who?

Matthew 16:13-18 (NRSV)

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 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.” 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.”

Our actions show what we believe. The disciples shared what others had said. Then Jesus asked, “what do you say?” And Peter spoke up. That’s two different things. We may hear one thing, but we must know what we believe. When Peter spoke up Jesus knew that Peter  was connected, that he had received such knowledge from God. 

This is actually the first recorded time that Jesus is acknowledged as Christ.  This was the one of two times that Jesus travelled north of Galilee. Caesarea Philippi or Banias was rich in paganism as the temples to Pan and Zeus were there. Out from the cave of Pan flowed water from an underground spring that was fed by the Jordan. This was thought to be the entrance to Hades. The cave is still there, but earthquakes have shifted the stream to flowing beside the cave and not out from the cave. The water flows at 4000 gallons per second.

There in the backdrop of paganism Jesus pronounced “Against this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” All on Peter’s revelation of who Jesus was.Who do you say? We have to be clear. Watch him use you. The church still stands, we must stand in our love, in our faith of what we believe. enough for now.