(Matt. 16:13–20; Mark 8:27–30)
And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying,
"Who do the crowds say that I am?"
So they answered and said, "John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God."—Luke 9:18-20
When Jesus asks His disciples “But who do you say that I am?” His purpose in asking was probably to give His them the opportunity to make clear in their own heads who they believed that Jesus was. The people around them had lots of opinions but Jesus especially wanted the hearts and minds of His followers to be certain in their belief in who He was. He wanted to prepare them for what lay ahead. His Galilean ministry was ending and He was about to begin His journey to Jerusalem where He would be crucified and their faith would be shaken.
And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."
But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death."
Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me."—Luke 22:31-34
He loved each of them. He prayed for each of them. And He wanted each of them to live with Him forever. Beloved…He does the same and wants the same for each of us. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He loves us, He prepares us for what lays ahead and as our Advocate, He prays for us.
As believers may the lives we now live unto God pose to others the very same question that Jesus asks His disciples here. Oh, Father, may our light so shine before men, that they see our good works and glorify You. May they want what we have and by Your Spirit confess in their own hearts and with their own mouths that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.—Romans 8:31-34
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.—John 3:16
But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.—Romans 10:8-10
