Matthew 16:13-16

“He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’” vss. 15-16

Caesarea Philippi was located north of the Sea of Galilee at the headwaters of the Jordan River. It was famous for its temple to the Greek god Pan and at the time of Jesus, included a temple dedicated to the Roman Emperor, Augustus. Many wealthy Romans came there, not only to make offerings, but to soak in the waters of the springs that gushed from the grotto of the Pan temple. Presumably Jesus led his disciples there for a time of rest.

In that setting Jesus began an important conversation by asking the question, “Who do you say that I am?” And Simon Peter nails the answer by saying that Jesus is the long awaited Messiah. The true Divine Presence wasn’t a Greek or Roman god; it wasn’t the emperor; it wasn’t even the reincarnation of Elijah or John the baptizer. Jesus was, as Simon Peter put it, the Son of the living God.

Of course Peter didn’t realize the implication of what he had said, and he shows in his later actions that he didn’t have a clue about what a messiah would actually do. Sometime later the writer of the gospel of John describes Jesus more fully as the Incarnation of the Word of God, and his words have been even more helpful as believers continue their quest to understand who Jesus is for them. The question doesn’t have an easy answer, but it deserves the full attention of every faithful person.

Thought for the Day: Who do I say that Jesus is?