Each one of us must ask ourselves the question that Jesus asked disciples. The first reading of it comes to us in Matthew.

Matthew 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

Jesus asked His apostles, “Whom say ye that I am?”

Who do you think Jesus is? When we look back in History, we can see clearly that Jesus is who He said he was, and He did all the things that the Messiah was foretold to have done.  Yet some of His followers and Pharisees and Sadducees, and Israelites were skeptical of Jesus.

We have no need of being skeptical of Jesus, because the evidence is overwhelming, Jesus has clearly been written about throughout the Bible and history reports and books confirm it.

We see here in the recount of the conversation between Jesus and His disciples written for us to read and based on this account we can make our decision. There are the records of the four Gospels. Matthew’s, Mark’s, Luke’s and John’s accounts with even more evidence though the Bible. How can anyone go through life without acknowledging who Jesus is.

We pick up the conversation in verse Matthew 16:13.

Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

Jesus asked them as a group, and this is their response…

Matthew 16:14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

First,  Why would we believer in Jesus ask the worldly people for the truth? They can not give it to us. The truth can only be found in the Bible.  Jesus knew that He was trying to help the disciples figure this out I am sure.

Elias– in New Testament is simply the Greek form of the Old Testament Hebrew name Elijah.

John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets, what a list.

Lets test the theory… John the Baptist baptized Jesus so it could not be him.

Elijah was caught up to heaven, and we know by scripture that he will be one of the two witnesses that return in end times.

Jeremiah –The Bible contains more information about his life and times than any other prophet. But with regards to how Jeremiah died, the Scriptures leave no record. According to the early church father Tertullian, the Jews stoned Jeremiah to death in Daphne (Tahpanhes in Hebrew), Egypt. Jeremiah’s “crime” was telling them truths they did not want to hear it. People don’t like the truth. And they don’t want t hear it.

We clearly see that Jesus could not have been any of theses men that were mentioned. But did you notice it would go hand in hand with the fact that the Jews killed their own people because they did not want to hear the truth..

Religious leaders at the time of Jesus that wanted Him dead, and stirred the crowd to yell, Crucify Him,! Crucify Him! Crucify Him!

Sadducees-The origin of this Jewish sect cannot definitely be traced. It was probably the outcome of the influence of Grecian customs and philosophy during the period of Greek domination. The first time they are met with is in connection with John the Baptist’s ministry. They came out to him when on the banks of the Jordan, and he said to them, “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Matt. 3:7.) Both the Sadducees and PhariseesWanted to kill Jesus. Two different people yet the same…

Pharisees- meaning “separated ones.” They were mostly scholars, scribes, and ordinary laypeople (not priests) who had a large following among common citizens. “Status.” They believed in the resurrection of the dead, angels, divine providence, and an afterlife. They valued both the written Torah (first five books of bible) and the Oral Law (traditions they believed God gave to Moses) ten commandments.

Matthew 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

Jesus asked them as a group, again, But whom say ye that I am?  And again, He turned to Peter and asked Him, But whom say ye that I am?  And Peter responded…

Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

This is a wonderful response and a worth one too. One, it is true statement.

Second, it gives honor and glory to Jesus that is due.  Here some of what was foretold in the about the Jesus the Messiah; Prophecies of Birth and Lineage, of Ministry and Life, of Suffering and Death.

Tribe of Judah –Genesis 49:10 Scepter

Line of David – Jeremiah 23:5-6

Birthplace of Bethlehem- Micah 5:2

Names-Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Born of a Virgin- Isaiah 7:14 & Matthew 1:22-23 “thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”

Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.  

Jesus said, Peter your blessed because man did not tell you but the God in heaven revealed it unto thee. Amen!

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Peter- “Petra” the rock will I build my Church, and we know from history that this was proven to be true because Simon Peter the fisherman became the Apostolic patriarch of the modern-day churches along the other apostles that became those fishers of men.

The evidence has been shown to you today who Jesus is the son of the Living God and it is clear. Now you with this knowledge must answer the question; Who do you say that I am?  Today is the day, and now is the time to make a decision who you will serve! Jesus is our Lord and Savior! Obedience is better than sacrifice! God Grace is sufficient for thee!

John 3:16 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.