Our Declaration: Jesus Is Messiah!

²⁷ Jesus and His disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, He asked them, “Who do people say I am?” ²⁸ “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say You are one of the other prophets.” ²⁹ Then He asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah (Christ).” ³⁰ But Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about Him. Mark 8:27-30 (NLT)

On Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem, Jesus and His disciples left Galilee and went out to the villages near Caesarea Philippi (Mark 8:27; see also Matthew 16:13). Jesus and His disciples were about 120 miles from Jerusalem in the northern part of Palestine. Caesarea Philippi was a Gentile territory and an especially pagan city known for its worship of many Greek gods. Pagan temples, various religions, and idols overflowed within Caesarea Philippi. Caesarea Philippi had been a center for Baal worship; the Greek god Pan had shrines there; and Herod the Great had built a temple there to honor Augustus Caesar. Standing in the shadow of a Gentile city, the disciples openly recognized Jesus as the Messiah and Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16; Mark 8:29; Luke 9:20; see also Mark 1:1)!

As Jesus and His disciples were walking to the villages of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do the people think I am?” (Mark 8:27, TLB; see also Luke 9:18). Matthew’s Gospel indicated Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13, (NLT). “Son of Man” was a title Jesus often used for Himself. The disciples answered Jesus’ question with the common view, “Some of them think You are John the Baptist . . . and others say you are Elijah or some other ancient prophet come back to life again” (Mark 8:28, TLB; see also Matthew 16:14; Luke 9:19). Even King Herod saw Jesus as one of the prophets (Mark 6:14–15; Luke 9:7-8). It was remarkable the number of different opinions the people held about Jesus though the same opinions continue to exist today.

In the first century, many people considered Jesus a prophet (e.g., see Luke 7:16; Luke 13:33; Luke 24:19). Jesus’ teaching resembled the teachings of these great prophets. Like other true prophets of God, Jesus proclaimed that God wanted our wholehearted love, alliance, obedience, faithfulness, and devotion to Him and not empty, dishonest, and half-hearted worship (Jeremiah 4:4; see also Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Isaiah 1:10-20; Isaiah 66:3; Jeremiah 6:20; Jeremiah 7:22-23; Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:21; Micah 6:6-8). This repentance meant a circumcision of the heart with an inside heart change and not just on the surface (see Matthew 5:1-7:29). Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:5 when He gave the most important commandment to “love the Lord your God with all your heart” (see Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27). Jesus called the people to love and trust God and be faithful to Him as the only true God (e.g., see Matthew 4:17; Luke 13:3-5).

Then Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say I am?” (Luke 9:20, NLT; see also Mark 8:29; Matthew 16:14). Jesus wanted to know His disciples’ opinion. With a bold confession, Simon Peter spoke for the disciples and answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16; see also Matthew 26:63-64; Mark 8:29; Mark 14:61-62; Mark 15:39; Luke 9:20; Luke 22:67; John 1:49; John 20:31). Messiah (a Hebrew term) and Christ (a Greek term) both mean “the Anointed One” (see also Psalm 2:2, 7). This declaration about Jesus was a strategic turning point in Jesus' public ministry. This pivotal turning point occurred approximately six months prior to Jesus’ death and resurrection that unequivocally proved that He is the Messiah and Son of the living God (Acts 2:22-24, 29-40; Acts 4:10-11; Romans 1:4).

¹ This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. Mark 1:1 (NLT)

Jesus is God’s full revelation of Himself in flesh for human understanding (Matthew 1:21, 23; John 1:1-5, 14, 18; Romans 9:5; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:15, 19; Colossians 2:9-10; Hebrews 1:3-4). Jesus' teaching and miracles clearly marked Him as different from all other people of the world. In His teaching and His miraculous deeds, Jesus gave full evidence to the people that He was indeed the Messiah and the Son of the living God (John 20:31; Acts 2:22, 36; 10:36-43). Jesus was God incarnate (flesh)! Prior to Simon Peter’s correct declaration of Jesus, there had been other prior confessions of faith about Jesus. Nathanael had confessed to Jesus, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God — the King of Israel!” (John 1:49, NLT). Moreover, the disciples had declared to Jesus, “Truly You are the Son of God” after He stilled the raging storm (Matthew 14:33, NIV). Furthermore, Peter had given a confession of faith when the crowds left Jesus after His sermon on the Bread of Life and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:69, NKJV). In fact, when Andrew had brought his brother Simon to Jesus, Andrew told Simon, “We have found the Messiah” (John 1:41, NLT). After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension to heaven, the Apostle Paul’s mission was to proclaim “to the Gentiles and their kings and the people of Israel” (Acts 9:15) that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of the living God (Acts 9:20, 22). 

Jesus warned His disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah and Son of the living God (Mark 8:29; see also Matthew 16:20). If Jesus was the Messiah and God’s Son, why did He warn His disciples not to spread the news about His identity? Yet, Jesus would reveal Himself to the world, after He completed His mission of giving His life as a ransom through His sacrificial death and resurrection (Mark 10:45; see also Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:6-7). The disciples did not fully grasp Jesus’ identity as Messiah and God’s Son until after His death and resurrection. Jesus’ purpose was not popularity and political rebellion but discipleship and ultimately the Cross (Mark 10:43-45). Many of the leaders had rejected Him, and Jesus did not want to be as known political messiah rather than a Suffering Servant (see also Matthew 16:20-25) and create a revolution against Rome. Besides, the people did not yet fully understand the kind of Messiah Jesus had come to be — not a military commander but a Suffering Servant (see Isaiah 52:13-53:12). Jesus’ ultimate mission was to be crucified and resurrected to build His church (Ephesians 2:20-21). Jesus builds His church upon the confession that He is the Messiah and the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:17-19).

Who do you say Jesus is? There is after all only one basic question in life: Who is Jesus? We must all move from curiosity to commitment, from admiration to adoration and make Jesus our personal Lord, Savior, and Messiah! All who confess Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God, are likewise blessed (Matthew 16:17). Most important, our correct confession of Jesus as Lord, Savior and Messiah will determine our eternal future (John 8:24; 1 John 4:1-3). Our correct confession about Jesus is a matter of life or death (John 8:21, 24; 1 John 2:18-27; 1 John 4:1-3). The only confession that brings salvation is a genuine confession from our whole hearts that “Jesus is Lord” (see John 14:6; Acts 4:10-12; Acts 10:43; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 12:1-3).

³⁶ “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” Acts 2:36 (NLT)

References

Disciple's Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 1988).

Life Application Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005).

Life Essentials Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2011).

Ryrie Study Bible (Chicago, IL: Moody, 1995).

Cabel, Ted. The Apologetics Study Bible: Understanding Why You Believe (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2012).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary – New Testament (Victor Books, 1989).