Clothesline 313 "Who Do You Say I Am?"

Most evenings Joel and I watch On Patrol: Live on television. The interaction between the officer and the person that has been pulled over is priceless. The driver, frequently inebriated, may utter a line or two like: “Do you know who my father is?” Or, “You have no idea who you’re dealing with!” And the big one is: “Do you have any idea who I am?” Well, Jesus isn’t inebriated, but that’s the question he asks Simon Peter today: “Do you know who I am?”

Jesus and his disciples are in Caesarea Philippi, a city dedicated to Caesar, filled with shrines to pagan gods, and overshadowed by the great rock face of Mount Hermon. It was a place where kings were honored, idols were worshiped and political power was displayed. Jesus brings his disciples here—not to escape the noise of the world, but to confront it. Standing in a world full of competing identities, rival loyalties and counterfeit gods, he asks: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” The disciples offer a list: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah—all good answers, honorable answers, but Jesus digs deeper, asking a second question—this time of Peter: “But who do you say that I am?”

This isn’t only a question for Peter. This is a question for the church and for every believer. Does the answer depend on your state in life or is it the same no matter what life brings you? Our answer should come from our faith, no matter what our circumstance.

Peter speaks with stunning clarity: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus immediately acknowledges that this declaration comes as a revelation: “Flesh and blood have not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven,” Jesus tells Peter. Peter has faith and the Father provides a revelation.

Peter’s response becomes our model, not because he’s perfect, but because he’s receptive. God speaks, and Peter listens. God reveals, and Peter receives. God calls, and Peter responds. All of this—everything about Peter—should be of enormous encouragement to us. Why? Because Peter is as human as we are, yet God chose him for an extraordinary responsibility. Jesus said: “You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church.”

This story leads to more detail, but the important message for us is that God assigns his tasks to the likes of Peter…and to us. We are tasked to grow the church of God, to bring others to faith in Christ, and to represent Jesus in every way possible. Sounds like an enormous task, but it really isn’t. We accomplish God’s work while he stands beside us, instructing, guiding, encouraging. With such help, we can accomplish anything!