“Coming into the region of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked His disciples, saying: Who do men say that the Son of Man is? They said: Some, John the Baptist; others, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. He said to them: But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered and said: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Then Jesus answered him: Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Then He commanded His disciples to tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ” – Matthew 16:13-20
This text is fairly well known even by people who are ignorant of the Word. Jokes are told referring to heaven and Peter is always mentioned, as well as to defend religious positions (on this rock I will build…), but the true message the Lord wanted to express in this passage has really not been the focus.
This account is fundamental to understanding Christianity and our salvation, because it contains two fundamental principles of the biblical theme, and they are:
- The essence of true faith in Christ, which consists of accepting Him as Messiah and worshiping Him as God.
- Only the faith that includes these two elements is faith acceptable before God.
The Bible is full of references showing that Christ even knew the thoughts of men (Matthew 9:4), so in these verses, Jesus’ asking His disciples about the opinion men have of Him is no more than to awaken the disciples in the midst of the miracles, the confrontations, the miraculous feeding, the discussion with the Pharisees, and to establish them in the truth. Christ wanted to draw them to the true answer.
If we notice in verse 14 the different opinions that people gave, it is interesting to see the kind of person who held them:
A) Some said He was John the Baptist; these were superstitious, who thought that only someone who had come back from “the beyond” could do these signs and wonders.
B) Others said He was Elijah; these knew the Scriptures, but Christ Himself said that John was a type (one like) of Elijah who was to come, not that he was Elijah.
C) Others said He was Jeremiah; these could be called pious souls, who remembered the prophecies of Jeremiah, and felt addressed by his preaching, since they recognized that they were in sin, but did nothing to remedy it.
D) Some said He was one of the prophets; these are the profane, who did not care who the Son of Man was.
But, I see that when Peter answers, his words were accurate. Why? Because he said: “You are the Christ,” thus fulfilling the first part of the truth, he was accepting Him as Messiah. And he finished by saying: “the Son of the living God” worshiping Him and acknowledging Him as God. That is why Jesus declared to him: “…Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17). That is, this is a revelation that comes from the very Throne of God.
Faith and devotion are not qualities that God accepts on our own account. If we look at James 2:10: “You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe, and tremble” Many Christians do not even have the reverent attitude of the demons, even though they bow down or attend church. In reality not all faith is true. Some is merely positive thinking or presumption. True faith comes only from God (Romans 10:17). God said: “I, I, Jehovah(other translations say: I am the Lord), and besides Me there is no one who saves” (Isaiah 43:11). That is why, when we see people who have been exposed to the Word, who have read and have heard, and yet have not established a personal relationship with God, it is because neither in reading nor in hearing did they do so with faith (Hebrews 4:2). Having faith is a blessing, beloved. Only God touches hearts, opens ears and gives new life.
Jesus said: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by Me” (John 14:6); and the apostles bore witness of Him, saying: “This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the head of the corner. And in no other is there salvation, for there is no other name under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:11-12). What, then, does it mean to believe that Christ is the Son of the living God? 1. To believe in His messianic work (anointed to be King of Israel, priest of the order of Melchizedek, the prophet who was to come, the only mediator between God and men. 2) To believe in His deity because He is God incarnate. He said: “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30)
In conclusion, the loftiest of our opinions, full of praise and acclaim, if it comes from our intellect, from our own opinion, is not valid. That answer necessarily has to be revealed to us by the Father. That is why the faith that Christ longs for is the one that comes from our inner man, the new nature that God gave us, which recognizes Christ for who He is, God with us:
“… who, being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His substance, and upholding all things by the word of His power, having made purification of our sins by Himself, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…” (Hebrews 1:3).
Who is He? Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. The foundation of the church is Jesus Christ. Not a particular church, not Peter or any other man, however anointed he may be. Jesus is the only one who satisfied divine justice, after having suffered on Earth for our sins, in order to restore to us the lost image, and bring us back to the Father. Let us give thanks to God for the inexpressible gift we have received, and let us pray that the whole earth be filled with His glory, so that we all may know, by the revelation of God, who He is…
