"Who do you say I am?" - Jesus

Matthew 16:13-19
The Message (MSG)

Son of Man, Son of God 
When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” He pressed them, “And how about you? Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter said, “You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out. And that’s not all. You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven.”

I've been thinking through these verses for a couple of months now and have a few takeaways. 

I love the whole setup of the conversation that Jesus initiates here.  He's had his disciples with him for quite some time and they have witnessed many miracles and heard him speak enough to definitively know he is the Christ.  After getting a feel for the word on the street (as if he didn't already know) I'm captivated by his question to the twelve: “And how about you? Who do you say I am?” It seems as if he's saying "I get that those people are not catching on yet, but you guys have seen enough by this point.  Where are you at?  You with me?" 

Peter was one of the first two disciples called by Jesus and has been very close to him.  I wonder if the other eleven were standing there thinking "Is 'Christ' the right answer?  I don't want to look stupid in front of everyone else."  Peter is spot on though and Jesus' reply to him is probably one of the greatest things the creator of the universe could say to you.  “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah!" Jesus says.  Yes!  And Jesus knows nobody from that wishy-washy crowd clued him in.  He was just told that they were all over the map.  No, Peter has been paying attention.  Peter knows the score.  Peter has been hanging out with the source of life and the source has plans for him.

The next thing Jesus says to Peter is such an awesome statement: "And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock."  How great is that?!  Sounds like "OK, Peter, you're right and now I'm going to clue you in on something that I know you don't know yet.  Buddy, you're solid.  You've learned my ways well.  I have big plans for you."  At this point in the story if it were me he just said that to it would note that I was at his feet weeping.

So Jesus throws Peter the keys to the kingdom and sets him up for a worldwide movement to gather believers for eternal life with Him in the presence of the Father in Heaven.

Here's the deal - Jesus wasn't just asking the twelve, “And how about you? Who do you say I am?” He's asking every one of us.  That's THE question!  And the thing is for everyone who answers like Peter did the reply from Jesus is exactly the same.   You can fill your name in: “God bless you, A.J.! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are A.J., a living stone."  From the foundation of the church built on Christ the Chief Cornerstone and Peter the rock, every believer is a living stone in walls of the church with a commission to carry on building across creation.

Are you in the crowd not sure of what you've heard and seen or are you working for the Master Builder now?

A.J.