Title: Who Do You Say I Am? (2006.11.19)
Contents
Date: November 19, 2006
Word: Matthew 16:13-20
Title: Who Do You Say I Am?
Contents :
In the region of Caesarea Philippi
It is a quiet town at the foot of Mount Hermon, not Caesarea on the Mediterranean coast, and the source of the waters of Galilee. This is where Herod made a statue of himself to flatter the Roman emperor Caesar Augustus. Cunning Herod secretly placed the table of Caesar with him, making his presence known and flattering him. So at the beginning of the year, men from Israel came to this image to bow down and pray for blessings. Truly foolish people are like lost sheep, wandering in search of vague happiness without a purpose and without knowing the truth. Standing among the gods, looking at the multitudes, he asked, “Who do you say I am?”
Jesus' two questions in the text
Who do people say the Son of Man is? (verse 13)
People did not fully understand the mystery of the kingdom of God hidden in the miracles and teachings that Jesus performed, and they fell into the signs themselves and did not realize who Jesus was. Jesus sent Elijah, John the Baptist, Jeremiah, and other prophets, not them. He is the Creator of all creation, not creation.
Who do you say I am (verse 15)
What is different from the first question is that Jesus himself is the Son of Man and I, and he asks many people and disciples. A confession of faith is a subjective confession, not an objective confession. Confession of faith is not a public confession, but an individual one. Even if you have met Jesus through some experience, your confession is the same.
This question, which was asked to the disciples two thousand years ago, asks us in the present tense today, in this age and in this moment. We have a duty to confess before Him.
Simon Peter's answer
Matthew 16:16 You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Jesus is the one who holds the offices of King, Priest, and Prophet who were anointed in the Old Testament. His life is eternal. He is the God who created and provided. He is the only begotten Son of God who came as a sacrifice to save us. When Jesus asked, “Son of God,” Peter confessed that he was the Son of the living God. What is our confession? Let me give you my sincere confession.
on this confession
Those who believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and my Savior. This confession is a special gift from God. I will build the Lord's church (only those who make this confession have the Lord), and the powers of Hades will not prevail against it. The one who has received the key to heaven.