“But you,” Jesus asked them, “who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:15-16)
Who is Jesus? This may be the most important question ever. If you were to walk through Kaka’ako and ask people who Jesus is, you would get a variety of answers. You may get answers like he was just a person, an enlightened person, a historical figure, a selfless person, a marketing genius, or a prophet like Mohammed and Gandhi.
After traveling and ministering with his disciples, Jesus asked them who the people thought he was. They told him that they had heard the people comment, “Some say John the Baptist; others Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” (v.14) In reality, their answers weren’t much different than the ones that you would get today.
Then, Jesus asked Peter, “who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Yes – Jesus was excited to hear the right answer! He remarked that Peter could only say this because his Father had revealed it to him. Furthermore, this confession is the foundation of the emerging New Testament church.
Yes! Peter got it right. Jesus is none other than the son of the almighty God. He is more than an enlightened or selfless person, he is God! Any other person could have a great ministry and leave a historical record, but Jesus is God in human form. He lived a perfect life, died a cruel death to take the punishment for all that had sinned, rose and is alive today, and is able to save from eternal damnation those who come to the Father through Him.
If I met you in Kaka’ako and asked you, “Who is Jesus?” What would be your reply?