And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 

Every person must answer this question.

And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 

The world is more than happy to tell us that Jesus was a good man, a failed prophet, a great teacher, or one of many gods in the divine pantheon.

And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” 

We cannot rely on the thoughts of others because Jesus is not a concept but a relationship. Knowledge of His existence won’t save us but recognizing Him as our personal Lord and Savior will.

Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”  And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.

Bold brash Peter blurts out the right answer but seems clueless as to what that answer means. Peter knows that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, but he has visions of a Roman butt kicking and not a crucifixion.

And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly.

Jesus meets Peter’s glorious world-shattering proclamation with the command to keep it under wraps and offers a dower explanation of how it was going to go down.

And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 

Peter is dumbfounded, “Wait a minute Jesus, are you telling me that it is your butt that is going to be kicked?” Peter then takes Jesus aside and explains to Him what it is that Messiahs do.

But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Jesus sets the record straight and explains to them that His identity is determined by God and not man.

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 

Stunningly, before Jesus is even crucified, He calls His followers to take up their cross. The only conception they have of a cross up to this point is of the horrific Roman killing machine reserved for the worst of criminals. Burned into their minds is the vision of crosses dotting the hillsides letting everyone know who is in charge. Jesus tells them that following Him as Messiah entails accepting their place as criminals of the state awaiting crucifixion

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? 

Jesus tells them that adhering to the vision of an imminent earthly kingdom forfeits their citizenship papers in the Kingdom to come.

For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:27-38)

Jesus tells them that if they have issues with the way the new Kingdom is being inaugurated in this world then He will have issues with them if they try to jump on the Jesus bandwagon when He looks less crucified. He told them that if they didn’t acknowledge Him when the going got tough then He wouldn’t recognize them at the end when they rested in peace.

As if Jesus’ words weren’t enough for the disciples, several verses later God settles the question on the mountain of transfiguration by offering His advice.

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.  And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only. (Mark 9:2-8)

We all have to answer Jesus’ question but instead of listening to the opinions of others maybe we would be best served if we just listened to Him.

“Who do you say that I AM?” is not just one of many questions on a doctrinal quiz but it is the ultimate question that asks us if we intend to love Jesus with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12:30)

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