Questions From Jesus: “Who Do You Say I Am?” (Part III)

Sermon Title: Questions Asked by Jesus – “Who Do You Say I Am?”

Good News Statement: Jesus asks us questions to grow our faith

Summary: The questions Jesus asks us are not meant to tear us down but rather to build us into the disciples and church his creation needs

Preached: Sunday, October 18^th, 2026 at Dogwood Prairie UMC & Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSV): Matthew 16:13-20 Today’s scripture passage comes from the Gospel of Matthew. After denying sings and wonders on behalf of the Pharisees’ and Sadducees’ request and warning the disciples about the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees, Jesus wants to know who the disciples think he is. If Jesus were to ask you, “Who do you say that I am?” what would you say? Let’s read Matthew, Chapter Sixteen, Verses Thirteen thru Twenty. May the hearing and reading of this scripture add understanding and meaning to your life.

 

Peter’s Declaration about Jesus

¹³ Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴ And they said, “Some say John the Baptist but others Elijah and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ 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. ¹⁸ 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. ¹⁹ 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.” ²⁰ Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

The Word of God, for the People of God; And all God’s People said, “Thanks Be To God.”

 

 

Introduction:

Throughout his ministry here on earth—approximately 3 to 3.5 years as indicated by John’s timeline in his Gospel which explicitly mentions at least three different annual Passover feasts—Jesus asked about 307 recorded questions across the four Gospels. The Gospel of Matthew records 91 questions, Mark records 67 questions, Luke records 96 questions, and John records 50 to 53 questions.

Jesus enjoyed asking questions, but he also had a knack for not always providing an answer. It is noted that of the 183 questions asked to Jesus, he only answered three of them. Do you know which three he answered? First in Matthew 22:23-40 and Mark 12:28-31, Jesus is asked which commandment is the greatest to which he answered directly by quoting the greatest commandment to love God and neighbor. Second, when asked how to pray in Luke 11:1-4, Jesus answered directly by sharing the Lord’s Prayer. Third, when the high priest asked, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” while on trial in Mark 14:61-62, Jesus directly answered by saying, “I am.” Keep in mind, although Jesus only answered three questions directly that doesn’t mean he ignored the other 180 questions. He heard those questions, just like he hears your questions, and answered them in way that was most beneficial to the one asking the question. Said another way, rather than acting as a simple “answer man,” Jesus used questions and counter-questions to provoke deep thought, challenge motives, and inspire spiritual transformation.

Today, we continue asking Jesus questions. Most of the questions we ask Jesus deal with suffering, personal pain, and the reasons behind tragedy in the world. For example, the most frequently asked questions are as follows: “Why do bad things happen? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do I feel alone? Are you disappointed in me? Why do you love a broken world? Why is there so much evil? Who gets to go to heaven? What is heaven like? And How can I serve you better?” Be honest with yourself, have you ever found yourself asking Jesus any of these questions? Do any of them resonate with you? For me personally, I have found myself asking “Why do bad things happen? Why did this happen to me? And How can I better serve your mission?”

For the next couple of weeks, I want us to spend some time thinking about some of the questions that Jesus asked his followers and those whom he was healing. Out of the 307 questions Jesus asked, Biblical teachers often highlight seven major, profound questions. Those questions include: “What do you want me to do for you? Who do you say that I am? Why are you afraid, you of little faith? Who touched me? Do you believe I am able to do this? Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? And Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Each week will explore one of these questions and discern what it is that Jesus wants us to glean from his words. So, what question is Jesus asking you?

 

Body:

“Who Do You Say I Am?” This is the question from Jesus that we ponder today. But first, I know Christmas is only two months and seven days away—68 days away if you are doing the math—but this week, in relation to one of 307 questions Jesus asked during his earthly ministry, I caught myself drawn to a specific Christmas film. In 1994 (and even today), Tim Allen, or should I say Scott Calvin, posing as Santa Claus, brought excitement, wonder, and endless Christmas joy to millions of people. Do you know the movie? The Santa Clause! The Santa Clause is a fantasy comedy film about a divorced dad named Scott Calvin (played by Tim Allen) who accidentally causes Santa Claus to fall off his roof and disappear, leaving behind his red suit and a business card.

By putting on the suit and taking the reins of the sleigh with his young son Charlie, Scott unknowingly accepts the “Santa Clause”—a binding contract stating that whoever wears the suit must take over all of Santa’s responsibilities. Over the next year, Scott experiences strange physical changes like sudden weight gain, a rapidly growing white beard, a heart that beats to the tune of “Jingle Bells,” and an uncanny ability to know who is naughty or nice. Scott has to convince his skeptical ex-wife, her new husband (who wears some interesting sweaters), and a world of disbelievers that he is Santa Claus while rebuilding his relationship with his son just in time for the next Christmas. Have any of you seen this movie? Watching this movie during the Christmas season has become a tradition not just for my family but for millions around the world. It became such a hit that a sequel was released in 2002 and then a third was released in 2006 followed by a series released in 2022 on Disney+.[1]

Now you may be scratching your head and wondering what this has do with our particular question of today, so let me explain. In the original The Santa Clause, there is a scene where Santa is being questioned by an officer after being caught on Christmas Eve. The officer repeatedly prompts Scott—Santa Claus—to state his name, expecting him to say “Scott Calvin.” The officer says, “Name.” Santa says, “Kris Kringle.” The officers says again, “Name.” Santa says, “Santa Claus.” The officer asked one more time, “Name.” Santa says, “Père Noël, Babbo Natale, Pelze Nicole, Popo Xhou (zee-zho)…” Frustrated by Santa’s refusal to cooperate, the officer tells him, “Maybe a couple of hours in the tank will change your mind.” You see, the officer was wanting Scott Calvin to tell him that he was Scott Calvin and not Santa Claus, rather than paying attention to what Scott Calvin was telling him who he actually is. Each answer gave room for the question, “Who do you say that I am?”

The ultimate question of human existence is found in Matthew 16:15: “But who do you say that I am?” Today, we are diving into a pivotal moment in the Gospels where Jesus pulls his disciples away from the crowds to ask them the most important question they will ever face. It is a question that does not allow for neutral ground. The question is asked by Jesus and is “Who do you say that I am?” To understand the full weight of Jesus’ identity, we will look not only at Peter’s famous confession in Matthew but also at how Jesus defines himself through the seven “I Am” statements in the Gospel of John. So, today, I invite you to imagine that Jesus is standing before you and asks, “Who do you say I am?” Who is Jesus to you?

 

Movement One: Setting the Stage and the Question (Matthew 16:13-14)…

Before we get to today’s question, it’s important to set the stage. Matthew 16 begins with the Pharisees and Sadducees testing Jesus and demanding that he “show them a sign from heaven” (Matthew 16:1). Remember, the Pharisees and Sadducees despise Jesus: they don’t like him, they don’t like his ministry, they don’t appreciate how he is challenging the existing laws of the day and doing new things, and they certainly don’t agree with the miracles that he is performing especially on the Sabbath. Therefore, Jesus doesn’t beat-around-the-bush. He responds to their demand, “[Y]ou cannot interpret the signs of the times” (Matthew 16:3). As if that wasn’t enough, Jesus tells them, “An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah” (Matthew 16:4). The sign of Jonah draws us back to the three days and three nights Jonah spent inside a great fish before emerging and alludes to how Jesus would spend three days and three nights in the grave before rising from the dead. Frustrated and upset, the Pharisees and Sadducees left and went away (Matthew 16:4). So, the struggle against the world continues for Jesus: he did not give them what they wanted. Can any of you relate? Have any of you asked someone to do something or been asked by someone to do something and the outcome is not what you expected?

Then Matthew tells us that when the disciples reached the other side, they realized that they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus uses this mishap to explain the “yeast” of the Pharisees and Sadducees in Matthew 16:5-12. Just so that we are on the same page, yeast is a natural leavening agent, turning dense dough into light and airy bread through a living biological process. The bread needs yeast to rise. Jesus warns his disciples to guard against the “yeast”—the teachings, the lessons, the ingredients—of the Pharisees and Sadducees so that their ways do not rise. Upon this, the disciples don’t understand, so Jesus explains by drawing them back to the feeding of the five-thousand and to the feeding of the four-thousand and asking them how many baskets were gathered after the meal (Matthew 16:8-11). At this point, Matthew records, “Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the yeast of bread but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:12).

Following our text, we find Jesus beginning to show his disciples signs that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and on the third day be raised (Matthew 16:21). To this, Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him to which Jesus responded, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me, for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things” (Matthew 16:23). It was at this point that Jesus told his disciples, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). Not only is Jesus battling the Pharisees and Sadducees, and dealing with at times disciples who are lacking faith, but he is also sitting with his forthcoming death—the pain of great suffering, the torment of trials, and the excruciating heartbreak of the crucifixion. Jesus is getting close to the end of his ministry, and he wants his disciples to begin to realize who he is before time runs out.  

This leads us to the beginning of our scripture text today. Jesus takes his disciples to Caesarea Philippi, approximately 25 to 40 miles north of the Sea of Galilee. This location is highly strategic. It was a region dominated by pagan worship, littered with shrines to the Greek god Pan, and built up to honor the Roman Emperor as a god. Against this backdrop of worldly power and competing religions, Jesus asks: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 13:13). The disciples give the popular opinions of the day: “Some say John the Baptist but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets” (Matthew 16:14).

Now have you ever wondered why John the Baptist, why Elijah, or why Jeremiah? People thought John the Baptist had risen from the dead—an idea famously entertained by Herod Antipas in Matthew 14:2. Both Jesus and John shared a bold, urgent message centered on repentance and moral reform, and both operated with a fearless voice in the wilderness regions. As for Elijah, Malachi 4:5 prophesied that the prophet Elijah would return to earth before the “great and awesome day of the Lord” (Malachi 4:5). Elijah was remembered as a powerful miracle-worker, healer, and challenger of corrupt kings, matching the scale of the signs and authority Jesus displayed. Regarding Jeremiah, while there was no specific scriptural prophecy predicting the return of Jeremiah, the public connected Jesus to him through deep emotional and thematic—specific theme—parallels. Jeremiah was known as the “weeping prophet” who sorrowfully warned Jerusalem of coming judgment and temple destruction. Jesus similarly grieved over Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37-39) and faced heavy opposition from religious authorities. So, it makes sense that the people were thinking of these prophets.

Nevertheless, there is a lesson from this moment. Think of a masterpiece painting. If you ask a crowd of casual onlookers to identify the artist without looking at the signature, you will get dozens of different guesses. Some will guess based on the colors, others on the frame, and some will just guess the only famous artist they know. The crowd in Jesus’ day saw the miracles and heard the teaching, but they could only guess based on their historical reference points of who Jesus might be. They saw him as a recycled version of the past—a great prophet, but nothing more. The people were stuck in the past because that is what their beliefs, their rituals, and their traditions were set in. They couldn’t comprehend the newness of Jesus Christ; so, they used what was familiar to describe the present. If you think about it, the people saw Jesus as one fulfilling old wineskins but truth be told Jesus wasn’t meant to be placed in old wineskins but in new wineskins that are flexible and won’t burst (Matthew 9:16-17).

We find ourselves in the same situation at times. More often than not, we use what we gained from the past to identify something in the present. Sometimes that works, but there are other times when it completely misses the mark. The people weren’t completely wrong with their answer to who Jesus is, but they weren’t 100% correct either. Jesus wasn’t some prophet from the past living in the present. Jesus was a new prophet living in the present to help establish the future. It’s from the peoples’ answers that Jesus realizes that it is time for a few to know who he really is: it’s time to focus on the present.

 

Movement Second: The Unshakable Church (Matthew 16:18-20)…

 Second, before we get to the main point of this message, I want to briefly mention the last few verses of this passage. Because of Simon Peter’s confession, Jesus makes a profound promise: “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18).  The “rock” is the truth of Peter’s confession—that Jesus is the Christ, that Jesus is the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Son of God. Notice the phrasing: the gates of Hades. Gates are not offensive weapons; they are defensive structures.

In ancient warfare, a city’s gates were its weakest point under siege. The conquering army would bring a battering ram to smash through the gates to reclaim the city. Many Christians live as if they are huddled inside a fragile fortress, terrified that the world is going to break down their doors. But Jesus flips the script. The Church is the army with the battering ram, and the strongholds of evil, addiction, and despair cannot hold out against the truth of who Jesus is and the Church is called to do, which is keep moving forward. Jesus is saying that the Church will be on the march, crashing through the defensive gates of darkness, sin, and death to rescue the lost.

When John Wesley began the society known as the People Known as Methodists, it actually began as a movement. It began as a group of people putting their faith in action: moving from house to house, moving to visit the sick and the imprisoned, moving from town to town, moving to where the people were, and moving to where the message of Christ needed to be heard. They were breaking down barriers and passing through gates. The Church is not just a stagnant building—a structure composed of walls enduring the elements. The Church is the people; and the people should never be eager to sit still. People are on the move, living their life, completing agendas, taking trips, going on vacations, going to appointments, checking on family, friends, and neighbors, taking time to fellowship, and so much more. As long as the Church continues to move and have faith, there will be no gate it cannot prevail against. If the people, the Church, is on the move, then so is God.

That’s the Church Jesus is building on the Rock of Salvation. He isn’t building a church on the sand. He isn’t building a church made out of straw. And he isn’t building a church out of sticks. He is building a church that is solid, strong, and an image of his message and mission. He is building a church that has a firm foundation but is able to move and grow. The future of the Church has just been foretold to the disciples and it’s their job to make sure that it stands and keeps moving.

However, there’s a catch. Jesus ordered them, “Not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah” (Matthew 16:20). The disciples can’t tell anyone that Jesus, the one building the church, is the Messiah. Well, that’s not fair! Simon Peter has just identified Jesus as the Messiah—the Son of Man, the Son of God, the Anointed One—and he along with the other disciples can’t say anything about it. That’s not fair! Have you ever been told a secret or have you ever kept a secret? Sometimes the secrets we have all we want to do is tell because maybe it’s something good. A few years ago, I and my siblings kept a secret from my parents. We planned an anniversary celebration for them. They didn’t know anything about it. My sister and her family drove in from North Carolina and stayed at a hotel, I stayed at my brother’s house, and my other brother distracted them. We pulled it off, but my mom wasn’t too happy when she found out that the grandkids were in town and no one told her.

Jesus wants the disciples to keep a secret. That secret is who he is. Why? Because the time hasn’t come yet to fully reveal who he is. The disciples now know that Jesus is the Messiah, the one that Isaiah prophesied about, but they have to keep it to themselves. But, in the meantime, the church is still moving forward, which is not a secret. By what means are we a church that is moving forward? Are we keeping Jesus a secret?

 

Movement Three: The Great Confession (Matthew 16:15-17)…

Third, Jesus narrows the focus and offers the disciples a great confession. While conversing with the disciples, Jesus stops asking about the crowd and looks them in the eyes and says: “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15). Simon Peter step forward and declares: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Jesus responds by telling Peter that this truth wasn’t figured out through human intelligence (“flesh and blood”), but was revealed by the Father in heaven (Matthew 16:18).

“Who do you say that I am?” This is the ultimate question of the Christian faith, found at the very heart of Matthew 16:13-20. This revelation is the bedrock of the Church. But to fully unpack the weight of Peter’s confession—to understand exactly who this Messiah and Son of the living God is—we have to flip over to the Gospel of John. But before we get to the Gospel of John, I want to remind you of what Isaiah prophesied regarding the coming Messiah. Isaiah 9:6 states, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” The Message Bible translation says, “His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Wholeness.” As a Wonderful Counselor, Jesus shows wisdom, guidance, and supernatural insight. As the Mighty God, Jesus points to divine power and strength. As an Everlasting Father, Jesus reflects an eternal, protective, and caring relationship with God’s children. And as the Prince of Peace, Jesus highlights the ultimate author of internal and global peace, bringing wholeness to what seems broken. From the names listed in Isaiah, we clearly see how the names of Jesus symbolize what he does in our life: counsels us in our faith, protects us, cares about us, forms a relationship with us, and grants us peace. And it’s not just Isaiah who demonstrates this reality, but John does so as well.

In John’s Gospel, Jesus answers his own question. He doesn’t just wait for us to guess who he is; he reveals his divine identity through seven monumental “I Am” statements. When we weave these seven declarations into Peter’s confession, we see the full, breathtaking picture of the One we confess as Lord, the Son of the living God.

For example, when Peter says, “You are the Messiah,” he is confessing the One who sustains our very existence. In John 6:35, Jesus declares: “I am the bread of life.” The world tries to feed its spiritual hunger with temporary fixes, with treasures of the earth, but Jesus is the only true nourishment. To confess him as the Son of God is to recognize that our souls find their ultimate satisfaction and sustenance in him alone. Jesus is our nourishment. He is the manna from the sky, the quail on the ground, and the fish and bread in the leftover baskets. He is what feeds us. He is the daily bread we need to keep going.

Second, in John 8:12, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” Caesarea Philippi was a place steeped in pagan worship and spiritual darkness. Yet, in the midst of dark times, Peter saw the light. In the words of Dolly Parton, he saw the “light of a clear blue morning” in the presence of Jesus Christ. Following the Messiah means we no longer have to stumble blindly through the confusion or morality of this world. His truth illuminates our path, exposing darkness and guiding our steps. Psalm 119:105 assures us, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Jesus is the light of the world and light in your life and a light which no amount of darkness can cover.

Third, in John 10:7, Jesus proclaims: “I am the gate for the sheep.” Jesus tells Peter that he will build his church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. This church has a definitive entrance. Jesus proclaims later on in the Gospel of John, “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Jesus is the protective barrier and the exclusive entry point into God’s kingdom. Confessing him as Christ means recognizing that safety, salvation, and true belonging come only by walking through him. He is the gate upon which his sheep—that’s you and me—will walk through as we enter God’s kingdom. He is the one who will open doors for us and give us the encouragement to walk through them.

Fourth, in Matthew 16, right after this confession, Jesus begins to tell his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer, and die. Why? Because as he says in John 10:11: “I am the good shepherd.” A good shepherd does not run when the wolves come; he lays down his life for the sheep. And even when one of his sheep goes astray, that shepherd will leave the 99 in search of the one missing. Jesus is the Messiah who conquered death not by avoiding it, but by laying his life down for us on the cross so that we would be found by the good shepherd.

Fifth, Jesus promised Peter that death and Hades would have no victory over his Church. This is because the Head of the Church has authority over the grave. In John 11:25, Jesus reveals: “I am the resurrection and the life.” Peter confessed the living God. Our faith is not built on a dead philosopher, but on a risen Savior. Because he lives, those who believe in him will live also, rendering the “gates of Hades” utterly powerless. Because he lives, you can face tomorrow. Because he lives, your fears can be gone. Because he lives, your soul can be healed. Because he lives, you too can be resurrected. Because he lives, you have been saved. Because he lives, our church has hope for tomorrow. Because he lives, we are here today.

Sixth, when Jesus gives Peter the “keys of the kingdom,” it is a reminder that access to God is tied directly to the identity of Jesus. In John 14:6, Jesus states clearly: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Peter’s confession was not one truth among many; it was the truth. Jesus is the singular road to the Father, the definitive voice of truth, and the source of all spiritual life. Do you remember the story of the Samaritan Woman at the well from John 4? Jesus meets an unnamed Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well in the town of Sychar around noon. Jesus asks the woman for a drink of water which crosses deep-seated cultural divides because Jews typically avoided Samaritans and men did not publicly converse with women. Then Jesus gently exposes her personal history, noting she has had five husbands and is currently living with a man who is not her husband. But then Jesus tells her that while physical water leaves people thirsty again, he offers “living water”—a symbol of eternal life. Jesus is our living water. He is the source of life in all of us. Through him we find a way to God, we receive the truth of his word, and we are gifted a life of eternal living water.

Finally, Jesus tells Peter that whatever he binds or looses on earth will be bound or loosed in heaven. How can fragile human beings carry such kingdom authority? John 15:5 gives us the answer: “I am the vine; you are the branches.”

The Church only has power, authority, and fruitfulness when it remains strictly connected to Jesus. Apart from him, we can do absolutely nothing which is why we hear these words from Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Our confession of him must lead to a daily connection to him so that we can do all things.[2]

In John’s Gospel, Jesus makes it clear of who he is and what he does for us in our life. However, the question he asks to his disciples is a question that is still prevalent today. If Jesus were to ask you, “Who do you say that I am?” what would you say? Who is Jesus to you? Using scripture, you could say, Jesus is a savior. Jesus is a redeemer. Jesus is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Jesus is creator and sustainer. Jesus is the only begotten and beloved Son of God. You could say Jesus is the head of the Church, the Alpha and the Omega (the beginning and the end), a Master, a Teacher, a Cornerstone, or the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). You could say Jesus is the Lamb of God, the Word made Flesh (John 1:14), the Rock of our Foundation, the Bridegroom, the bright and morning star (Revelation 22:16), the image of the invisible God, the Son of Man, or the Great I Am. You could even say that Jesus is a carpenter. These are all wonderful answers, and I could offer more. Each and every identity previously mentioned is not just a title, but a reminder of what Jesus did and still does for us.[3]

But I have to wonder, who is Jesus to you? I am a strong believer that how we identify or describe Jesus reveals what we are seeking in our life at a particular moment. If you describe Jesus as a comforter, what sort of comfort do you need? If you describe Jesus as a healer, what needs to be healed in your life? If you describe Jesus as a carpenter, what needs building or even fixing in your life? If you describe Jesus as a savior, what do you need him to save you from? If you describe Jesus as one who wipes away tears, will you let him wipe away your own tears? If you describe Jesus as one who removes pain, what pain do you want to get rid of? If you describe Jesus as all happiness and joy, then how will you live with that joy down in your heart? Would you describe Jesus as a friend, as a confidant, as someone you can talk to? Would you describe Jesus as a challenger, as a motivator, as a means of inspiration? Would you describe Jesus as one who grieves with you, who suffers with you, who worries with you? Would you describe Jesus as merciful, as forgiving, as understanding and patient? Would you describe Jesus as being everything you need? Who is Jesus to do?

In the complementary book to season three of the American-Christian drama The Chosen, authors Amanda Jenkins, Dallas Jenkins, and Douglas S. Huffman, invite the reader to think about who Jesus is. In an exercise, they encourage the reader to close their eyes and open their hands to heaven and say, ‘Jesus, you are…’ Jesus, you are gracious. Jesus, you are merciful. Jesus, you are Lord. Jesus, you are all-powerful and perfect in every way…”[4] Prior to this, the authors note, “[Jesus] carries our burdens. [Jesus] transforms our hearts. [Jesus] delights in us.”[5] How would you finish the statement: Jesus, you are….

Jesus knows who he is. He didn’t have to ask “Who do you say that I am?” but he did. He did because he wanted to know if his disciples were beginning to believe in him. If you believe in Jesus, then you know that he is everything and more. He is what you need in life to live, to lean on, and to regain hope and faith. Who is Jesus to you? Who do you say that Jesus is?

 

Conclusion:

The question Jesus asked on the road to Caesarea Philippi still echoes across the centuries to us today. He is not asking you what your parents say about him or what your spouse says about him or what your friends say about him or what your neighbor says about him or what the world says about him. He is not asking what culture, media, or popular theologians say about him. He wants to know your answer to his question “Who do you say that I am?”

If we answer with Peter, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God,” then we are claiming him as our Bread, our Light, our Gate, our Shepherd, our Resurrection, our Way, and our Vine. We are claiming him as our healer, our comforter, our Prince of Peace, our strength, our redeemer and sustainer, our Savior, and so much more.

Although it’s not Christmas—it’s not even the Christmas season—I’m glad that the movie The Santa Clause came to mind. In just that two minute clip, we learned that Scott Calvin is Santa Claus and as Santa Claus, he is identified by many names—sort of like Jesus. Each name reveals who he is and who he is, is who people need him to be in order to experience the true magic of the season.

Therefore, I leave you with the words from the exercise mentioned earlier and I hope that as you fill in the blank that you take to heart that who Jesus is to you is what he is willing to do in your life every day to make sure you experience his fullness. This week, fill in the blank to this phrase, “Jesus, you are_________.”

Let it be so…

 

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, you are everything we need in life. Give us the encouragement and will to answer the question you asked your disciples and know that what we answer is what we need in life. In your mighty name we pray, Amen.

 

Benediction:

Church, if Jesus came to you today and asked “Who do you say that I am?” what would you say. May you be blessed knowing that who Jesus is, is exactly who you need him to be for you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, go forth answering the questions of Jesus. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.

 

 

 

[1] • The Santa Clause (1994) – Plot: Divorced dad Scott Calvin accidentally startles Santa Claus into falling off his roof on Christmas Eve. When he puts on the suit and takes the sleigh, he triggers the “Santa Clause” and legally has to take over the job. (Release Date: November 11, 1994)

• The Santa Clause 2 (2002) – Plot: After eight years as Santa, Scott discovers a hidden “Mrs. Clause” in his contract that requires him to get married by Christmas Eve or lose the title forever. He leaves a toy duplicate behind to run the North Pole while he rushes home to find a bride. (Release Date: October 23, 2002)
• The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006) – Plot: Scott faces family chaos when his in-laws visit the North Pole, and the mischievous Jack Frost schemes to exploit a secret “Escape Clause” to steal the mantle of Santa Claus. (Release Date: November 2, 2006)
• The Santa Clauses (Disney+ Series, 2022–2023) – Plot: Nearing his 65th birthday, Scott Calvin realizes he cannot do the job forever and sets out to find a worthy successor while preparing his family for life back in the normal world.

[2] Imagine a man lost in a harsh, barren desert. As dehydration sets in, he begins to see mirages—images of shimmering lakes and luxury resorts. The pagan gods of Caesarea Philippi, and the modern gods of money, fame, and self-reliance, are spiritual mirages. They promise water but leave you swallowing sand. When Jesus stands up and declares His “I Am” statements, He is the actual, bubbling artesian well in the middle of the desert. He doesn’t just promise refreshment; He is the refreshment.

[3] https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe/jesus/50-names-for-jesus

[4] Amanda Jenkins, Dallas Jenkins, and Douglas S. Huffman, An Interactive Bible Study (Season 3): The Way of the Chosen (Colorado Springs, Colorado: David C Cook, 2023), 82.

[5] Amanda Jenkins, Dallas Jenkins, and Douglas S. Huffman, An Interactive Bible Study (Season 3): The Way of the Chosen (Colorado Springs, Colorado: David C Cook, 2023), 82.