Who Do You Say I am?
The Case of Perception against Revealed Knowledge.
Perception is the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses. It is the outcome of a process where we take sensory information from our environment and use it to interact with it. Thus, environment and culture motivate and limit our perceptions and interpretations. This is because humans are socially conditioned not to break, but to go along with whatever everybody else is doing, even when what everybody else is doing is wrong.
Revealed knowledge, is a mystery accessible only to a select few. Scripture speaks of the mystery of the Kingdom being reserved for the chosen ones. What past/older generations longed to see but did not see, is revealed to this generation (Luke 8:10; Hebrews 11:13).
The question, “Who do you say I am” posed by Jesus to his disciples (Matt. 16: 15-17), strikes at the core of apostolic/church ministries in the aftermath of his death and resurrection. It is the question for you and me today. Any legitimate claim to being a minister of the gospel of Jesus depends on an understanding of who He is. Knowing Jesus is knowing the purpose of his coming to the world.
“For God so love the world that he gave His only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
That is it.
The Gospel of Mark vividly reflects the Jewish perception of Jesus in the following words:
“When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. Where did this man get these things? they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us? And they took offense at him” (Mark 6: 2-3).
Like the other guys in town, Jesus is a son of the soil, right?
For over three years, Jesus hung around with his disciples. He had spent most of His time teaching them “the mysteries” of God’s kingdom - healing the sick, raising the dead, and performing other miracles. He prepared and equipped them for the mission field and the challenges ahead.
As the time approached for him to lay down his life as a supreme sacrifice for humanity’s sin, Jesus summoned the disciples for a review - testing their understanding of him and his message to the world. He wanted to know how ready they were on the eve of his departure from them. Those of us who went through formal educational institutions know the tests and examinations we took and passed before we were deemed ready for graduation. His disciples needed to demonstrate their unique knowledge of the Master as the long-awaited Messiah, against the general perception of a people sold out to signs, wonders, and immediate material blessings.
The testing occurred within an existing framework:
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do the people say the Son of man is?” They replied, “Some say, John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others Jeremiah, or one of the Prophets” (Matthew 16: 13-14).
Such was the misinformation trending in the halls of public opinion. For the people out there, Jesus was no more than one of the other prophets known to them. Their understanding was motivated and limited by their experience and societal norms.
Then to the disciples, he turned, “But what about you“? He asked, “Who do you say I am”? He expected his disciples to know better. Then, Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (v.16)
Yeah! He got it.
Simon Peter hit the nail right on the head. His answer drew a contrast between perception and revealed knowledge.
Though the other disciples were outspoken about what the people say - that Jesus was a reincarnation of one of the prophets - they were quiet when Jesus asked the same question from them. Only Simon Peter had an insight - the revealed knowledge of who Jesus is.
Jesus replied,
“Blessed are you Simon, Son of Jonah for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood but by my Father in heaven.” “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (vv. 17,18).
One might be surprised that after over three years with Jesus, the disciples could not claim to know who Jesus was. They did not get it that he was the expected Messiah. But, given the historical antecedents of the Jews, the disciples might be excused for not identifying Jesus with the expected Messiah. They probably expected a military General who would deliver them from Roman imperial rule.
For over a century, the Jews were subjected to external invasions, exiles, and domination by the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the Romans. Prophets Daniel, Jeremiah, and Isaiah have all predicted the coming of the Messiah and a future King whose reign will have no end.
While awaiting the promised Messiah, Jesus appeared on the horizon with a message of peace on earth, and the beginning of God’s kingdom a.k.a. kingdom of heaven. Naturally, the Jews flocked to Jesus as he performed many miracles and fed the hungry in their thousands. But his message of God’s kingdom did not resonate with them. At best, they imagined, he was one of the prophets before him, and could not be greater than them.
A case of human perception against revealed knowledge - then and now!
Different interpretations have been assigned to the Lord’s statement: “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
Wrongly, some have interpreted this to mean that the church of Christ will be built on the person of the apostle Peter. Hence, some ministry founders arrogate to themselves, the status and role of Peter, the Rock, and think they can take on Peter’s mantle like Elisha did with Elijah.
But think about it; Jesus was playing on the word, Peter (rock) symbolically to underscore the significance of Simon’s confession, equating it to a rock-solid foundation on which his church will stand and grow.
Jesus makes it clear that the confession did not come from Simon but from His Father in heaven - a revelation from God. The confession, “Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God” is the foundation upon which the Church is built. Jesus, not Simon Peter remains the foundation on which the Church stands; He is the cornerstone that holds the parts together.
No one part is equal to the whole.
Jesus, the Christ - the One anointed to bring salvation to humanity, will always remain the Church’s central message until He comes back to establish His everlasting kingdom on earth.
Notice that the same Simon Peter whose confession was a rock - reflecting its significance, was later called Satan by Jesus, again reflecting the toxic potential of his words in opposing Jesus’ intentionality of going to die in Jerusalem (Matthew 16: 23).
Here’s the scenario:
When Jesus says “On this rock I will build” He uses a slightly different word: “You are Petros”, and on “this petra” I will build, drawing a line between Peter and the church’s rock. Jesus does not say “On you” I will build my church but on “this rock”. “This rock” is distinct from Peter, though connected to him.
We soon discover the difference between the man and the rock.
After granting the church, the keys to the kingdom, Jesus explains how he must die in Jerusalem (Matt. 16:21). Peter rebukes Jesus whom he has just called the Son of the living God, saying “This shall never happen to you” (Matt. 16: 22). In response Jesus chastises Peter: “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me.” (v.23).
Note the change. At first, Peter is the church’s rock. Now he is a tempter, a foe.
So Peter’s status depends on what he says.
When Peter proclaims Jesus as the Christ, he is a rock; When Peter forbids the cross, he is a stumbling stone. Peter is not the foundation of the church.
Jesus in Matt. 21: 42 will point to himself as the cornerstone citing Isaiah 28: 16 and Psalm 118: 22. In 1 Corinthians 3: 11, Paul identifies Jesus as the Church’s sole foundation. Later Paul writes that God builds His household on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone” (Eph. 2: 19 - 20).
Remarkably, until this moment Jesus refrained from telling his disciples about His coming death and resurrection. But having been with them for so long, the time was ripe for them to demonstrate their knowledge and faith in Jesus through confession and obedience. They needed to reflect in word and action, an inner conviction and the passion for Christ’s mission - marching forward against all human and spiritual barriers that the gates of Hades represent.
Peter’s confession - the revealed knowledge - is pivotal to Evangelism: “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12).
