October 19th, 2025 - The Question

In Matthew 16, Jesus leads his disciples to Caesarea Philippi, a place surrounded by temples and monuments to various gods and rulers. Amidst this backdrop of spiritual competition, Jesus asks the disciples a question that echoes through the ages: “Who do you say that I am?” This is not just a question for Peter or the disciples, but for every person. In a world filled with distractions, idols, and competing allegiances—whether religious, secular, or personal—each of us must answer this question for ourselves.

Many people, even within the church, are tempted to define Jesus in terms that are comfortable or self-serving: a friend, a guide, a source of peace. While these are not wrong, they are incomplete. The heart of the matter is not who Jesus is to me, but who Jesus truly is: the Christ, the Son of the living God, Lord of all. This confession is not something we arrive at by our own wisdom or effort; it is a revelation from God, a gift of faith that opens our eyes to the reality of Jesus’ identity and authority.

Peter’s confession is celebrated, but Jesus reminds him that this knowledge did not come from flesh and blood, but from the Father. Even so, Peter’s understanding was still incomplete. When Jesus explained that being the Messiah meant suffering, dying, and rising again, Peter resisted. His mind was set on human things, not on the things of God. This illustrates that it is possible to have the right answer about Jesus, but still miss the fullness of what that answer means if our perspective is not shaped by God’s revelation.

There is a spiritual battle attached to this question. The enemy will attack both openly and subtly, sometimes even within the places we feel safest. Like Joshua and the Israelites at Gilgal, we can be deceived if we do not seek counsel from the Lord. The armor of God and a life of prayer are essential for standing firm in the truth of who Jesus is. Ultimately, the answer to Jesus’ question must be complete, Spirit-given, and lived out in every area of our lives. Jesus is not just a helper or an accessory to our plans—He is everything. Our lives, decisions, and worship must reflect His Lordship.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The question “Who do you say that I am?” is central to the Christian life and cannot be answered by proxy or tradition. Each person must confront this question personally, in the midst of a world filled with competing voices and allegiances. The answer we give shapes not only our beliefs, but the entire orientation of our lives. [07:38]
• 2. It is possible to have a partial or incomplete understanding of Jesus, even while using correct language. When we define Jesus primarily by what He does for us—friend, guide, helper—we risk reducing Him to a supporting role in our own story. True faith confesses Jesus as Lord, Savior, and the center of all things, not just a means to our own ends. [14:00]
• 3. Spiritual insight and confession of Jesus’ true identity are gifts from God, not products of human wisdom or effort. Like Peter, we must recognize that any revelation we have about Christ is the result of God’s gracious initiative. This humbles us, removes boasting, and calls us to continual dependence on the Spirit for understanding and growth. [19:35]
• 4. Even after receiving revelation, our understanding can remain clouded if our minds are set on human concerns rather than God’s purposes. Peter’s resistance to Jesus’ path of suffering shows that right answers can coexist with wrong expectations. Only by setting our minds on the things of God can we receive the complete answer and align our lives with His will, even when it challenges our preferences. [35:13]
• 5. The battle to rightly confess and live out Jesus’ Lordship is spiritual and ongoing. The enemy seeks to deceive and distract, sometimes even within the church or our places of safety. Victory comes not through self-reliance, but through putting on the armor of God, seeking counsel from the Lord, and persevering in prayer. Only then can we stand firm and give a true, complete answer to Jesus’ question. [44:16]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:27] - Introduction to Peter’s Journey
• [02:07] - The Question: Who Do You Say I Am?
• [04:22] - Caesarea Philippi: A Place of Spiritual Competition
• [06:01] - Modern Idols and Distractions
• [07:38] - The Personal Nature of Jesus’ Question
• [09:24] - Public Opinions About Jesus
• [12:13] - Shallow vs. Complete Answers
• [14:00] - The Lordship of Christ
• [16:45] - Peter’s Confession and Its Source
• [19:35] - Revelation from God, Not Human Wisdom
• [24:54] - Judging Jesus by Human Standards
• [26:59] - The Need for a Complete Answer
• [32:26] - Peter’s Incomplete Understanding
• [35:13] - Setting Our Minds on the Things of God
• [38:41] - The Spiritual Battle for Our Allegiance
• [41:21] - The Enemy’s Subtle Attacks
• [44:16] - The Armor of God and the Power of Prayer
• [45:48] - Final Challenge: Who Is Jesus to You?

Bible Reading

Matthew 16:13-19 (ESV) — 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, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Observation Questions

1. Where did Jesus take his disciples when he asked them, “Who do you say that I am?” What was significant about that location? ([04:22])
2. What were some of the answers people gave when Jesus asked, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ([03:13])
3. How did Peter answer Jesus’ question, and what was Jesus’ response to Peter’s confession? ([16:45])
4. According to Jesus, where did Peter’s understanding of Jesus’ true identity come from? ([19:35])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus chose to ask this important question in a place surrounded by temples and monuments to other gods and rulers? What message was he sending to his disciples? ([04:22])
2. The sermon points out that many people, even in church, describe Jesus as a friend, guide, or helper. Why might these answers be incomplete, according to the message? ([14:00])
3. Jesus tells Peter that his confession did not come from “flesh and blood” but from the Father. What does this teach us about how we come to truly know who Jesus is? ([19:35])
4. After Peter’s confession, he still misunderstood what it meant for Jesus to be the Messiah. What does this reveal about the difference between having the right answer and having a complete understanding? ([35:13])

Application Questions

1. Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” is personal and cannot be answered by tradition or what others believe. If you had to answer Jesus right now, what would you say? How does your daily life reflect your answer? ([07:38])
2. The sermon warns that it’s easy to define Jesus by what he does for us (friend, guide, helper) rather than who he truly is (Lord, Savior, Messiah). In what ways have you been tempted to see Jesus mainly as someone who helps you, rather than as Lord of your life? ([14:00])
3. Peter’s confession was a gift from God, not something he figured out on his own. How does this truth affect your attitude toward faith and spiritual growth? Do you find it humbling or freeing to know that understanding Jesus is a work of God in you? ([19:35])
4. Even after receiving revelation, Peter’s mind was still set on human things, not on the things of God. Are there areas in your life where you have the right “answer” about Jesus, but your expectations or desires are still shaped by your own perspective? ([35:13])
5. The sermon describes a spiritual battle for our allegiance, with the enemy sometimes attacking even in places we feel safe. What are some “idols” or distractions in your life that compete with Jesus for your attention and loyalty? ([06:01])
6. The story of Joshua and the Gibeonites was used to show the danger of not seeking counsel from the Lord. When was the last time you made a decision without praying or seeking God’s guidance? What was the result? ([41:21])
7. The armor of God and a life of prayer are described as essential for standing firm in the truth of who Jesus is. What practical steps can you take this week to “put on the armor of God” and seek God’s counsel in your daily life? ([44:16])