Who is Jesus?

Matthew 16:13-16, “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? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus had been teaching and preaching all around the region. He and his disciples came to Caesarea Philippi a metropolis not only a major trade route but a mecca for all religious activity. Religions of all kinds found a home there. When Jesus arrived there was no place that had more elaborate religious significance than Caesarea Philippi. In the midst of the marble columns, golden idols Jesus came with a rag tag group of men talking about the Kingdom of God. As this group sat listening to Jesus he asked them a very startling and emotional question. “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” Quickly they came up with all kinds of answers. Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Then he asked them, “But whom say ye that I am?” Silence fell on the group. No one wanted to offer an opinion. This question began to stir something in the heart of Peter. His answer did not come without some hesitation. Everyone knew Jesus was the messiah even if he had not come with a mighty army or in pomp and circumstance. He spoke with a confidence they had never seen or heard before. Peter’s words shattered the silence, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Wow! Was Peter the only one who saw that? These men had all been walking and talking with Jesus they had seen everything he had done yet even though they had seen all this they still never saw Jesus for who he was. Many had looked at Jesus, knew about him but how many really knew Him? We are in a similar state today as were those who lived in Caesarea Philippi. We are engulfed in religion by every religion known to man and yet we are wandering in darkness.
Jesus is still asking this same question. “Who do you say that I am?” what will you tell him?
The answer goes to the very heart of every person. God looks on the heart so we all need to be careful how we answer. One day we all will have to stand before God Himself and answer another question, “What have you done with my son?”, how you answer that question will have eternal consequences. Today do you only see Jesus, know about Him or do you truly know Him?