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Who Do Men Say That I Am?

Matthew 16:13-26 — The confession of Christ and the cost of following Him

Hands-free narration of this study — good for the car.

Synopsis

At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asks His disciples first what others say about Him, gathering a survey of impressive but inadequate answers — John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Then He turns the question personally: 'But whom say ye that I am?' Peter's confession, 'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,' is met with Jesus' declaration that this truth was not revealed by flesh and blood but by the Father Himself, and upon this confessed truth He would build His church. Yet immediately following this high point, when Jesus begins to explain that He must suffer and die in Jerusalem, Peter rebukes Him, only to be sharply corrected: 'Get thee behind me, Satan... thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.' Jesus then explains that following Him means denying self and taking up one's cross, for whoever seeks to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for Christ's sake shall find it. This passage insists that correct confession of Christ's identity must be joined to acceptance of His cross-shaped path, both for Him and for those who follow Him.

  1. I. The public opinion survey

    • John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah
    • Impressive answers, still inadequate
    • Popular opinion falls short of truth

  2. II. Peter's Spirit-revealed confession

    • "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God"
    • Revealed by the Father, not flesh and blood
    • The rock on which the church is built

  3. III. The rebuke that followed glory

    • Jesus foretells His suffering and death
    • Peter's well-meaning but satanic resistance
    • "Get thee behind me, Satan"

  4. IV. The cost of true discipleship

    • Deny self and take up the cross
    • Losing life to find it
    • No profit in gaining the world and losing the soul
The appeal

Jesus asks you personally today, 'Whom say ye that I am?' Will you not only confess Him as the Christ but also take up your cross to follow Him, denying self for the sake of gaining your soul?

Key points

  • True confession of Christ's identity is revealed by the Father, not mere human opinion.
  • Accepting Christ's identity must include accepting His path of suffering and the cross.
  • Genuine discipleship requires denying self, since saving one's life apart from Christ means losing it.

Key passages

  • Matthew 16:16
  • Matthew 16:23
  • Matthew 16:24-26
  • Galatians 2:20