“You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”

Towering above the landscape at Israel’s northernmost
border lie three summits, snowcapped for most of
the year, and the streams from them serve as the
headwaters of the Jordan River. In the shadow of Hermon’s
lofty heights lies ancient Panias, the pagan city devoted to
the Greek god Pan, the goat deity of the wild, shepherds,
and flocks. Today it is called Banias, but in Jesus’ day it was
Caesarea Philippi. What He and His disciples would have
witnessed upon visiting was a reddish limestone wall over
130 ft tall and over 230 ft wide. At the base was a cave from
which a large spring issued, with a strong flow. To the side
of the cave were the temples devoted to the ancient god.
This place served as the backdrop for the question Jesus
asked his disciples, “But, who do you say that I am?” In
rapid response, Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of
the living God” (Matt. 16:15-16). Don’t miss the setting—
this bedrock confession literally changed the world.

But how did Peter know this? Jesus said, “Blessed are you,
Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this
to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 16:17). How
had the Father revealed this to Peter? Peter had been with
Jesus! He had watched Jesus heal the sick, cast out demons,
turn water into wine, make the blind see, and raise the dead.
He had walked, talked, and eaten with Jesus. He had heard
Jesus’ teachings. Peter had witnessed Jesus’ interactions
with the poor, the rich, the foolish, and the wise. The Holy
Spirit could have inspired Peter to give the right answer, but
that would not have been necessary. His witness would have
been sufficient.

Jesus is the Son of the living God! Knowledge of this
could be ascertained by being exposed to the Word of God.
While the four Gospels of the New Testament are more than
sufficient to instill faith in anyone, the Holy Spirit provided
additional proof.

Consider the changes among the apostles. Before His
death, Jesus foretold that they would be scattered because
of Him (John 16:32). He knew Peter would deny Him and
that Judas would betray Him. These things happened as He
was being falsely tried. Only John was at the cross with His
mother (John 19:24). Yet after Judas was replaced, Peter
and the eleven stood before thousands and accused them
of killing Jesus (Acts 2). When Peter and John stood before the hate-filled leaders of the Jews, who warned them not
to speak in Jesus’ name, they said, “Whether it is right in
the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you
must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen
and heard” (Acts 4:19-20). Beyond the death of James (Acts
12), tradition holds that all the apostles, except John, died
horrible deaths for the sake of Jesus. What caused them to
change? Undoubtedly, the resurrection of Jesus led to a life
of confessed commitment to Him. Thousands in the first
century made similar confessions and stayed the course
until their deaths.

The promises Jesus made to His disciples helped them
maintain their confession. He promised He would always
be with them (Matt. 28:20). He told them, “I will not leave
you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18). He also
promised a crown of life to those who remain faithful to the
end (Rev. 2:10).

One’s eternal salvation is tied to the good confession of
Peter. Paul wrote, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus
is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from
the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes
and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is
saved” (Rom. 10:9-10).

The eyes of faith can see as clearly as the day that Jesus
is the Christ, the Son of the living God. The evidence
compels this declaration. The life of Jesus, the changes in the
lives of those affected, the promises, and the Scriptures of
Jesus express undeniable truths that, taken individually or
collectively, lead all rational people to acknowledge Him as
Lord of their confession.

-Scott Harp