Who Do You Say I Am?
Month 9: The Road to Jerusalem · Bible Story
Today's Scripture
Read together: Matthew 16:13-17
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 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.
Memory Verse
“Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.””— Matthew 16:16 (BSB)memorize this week
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Jeremiah 38-40
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Jeremiah lowered into a muddy pit, yet still speaking God's word — faithfulness under pressure.)The Heart of It
Jesus took His friends way up north, to a town called Caesarea Philippi. It was a place crowded with idols and shrines to other gods. Right there, surrounded by every wrong answer, Jesus asked the question that decides everything. "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" The disciples gave Him the popular rumors. Some said John the Baptist. Some said Elijah. Some said one of the prophets. People were happy to call Jesus great. But Jesus pressed in closer. "But who do you say that I am?" It's one thing to know what the crowd thinks. It's another to answer for yourself.
Peter blurted out the truth that changes a life. "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Not just a good teacher. Not just a prophet. Jesus was the long-promised Messiah, God's own Son. And Jesus told him something wonderful. Peter didn't figure this out by being clever. "Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven." God Himself opened Peter's eyes to see who Jesus really is. That same question still travels down every road and into every home tonight. Jesus is not asking the crowd. He is asking you.
Around the Table
Jesus asked His friends, "Who am I?" Peter said the best answer: "You are God's Son!" That's the most important thing to know about Jesus.
Let's do it: Point to yourself and say it out loud: "Jesus, You are God's Son!"
Lots of people called Jesus a great teacher. But Peter said He was the Christ, God's Son. Why is "great teacher" not enough?
Let's talk: What is the difference between knowing about Jesus and really knowing Him?
Jesus asked this question in Caesarea Philippi, a place full of false gods. He still asks it today, right where the world's wrong answers are loudest.
Let's go deeper: Picture a friend asking you, "Who do you say Jesus is?" What would you actually say, in your own words?
💬 Conversation Starter
Think of someone everybody thinks they know, like a famous person or an athlete. You'd really only know them if you spent time with them. How is knowing Jesus like that?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Some say Jesus never claimed to be more than a good teacher. But He accepted Peter's confession. He let Peter call Him "the Son of the living God," and He called it a revelation from the Father. A merely "good teacher" who let people worship Him as God would be neither good nor a teacher. Jesus left us no comfortable middle answer ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
Notice where Jesus chose to ask this question. Not in the quiet of Galilee, but in pagan Caesarea Philippi, in the shadow of a cliff lined with idol niches. He invites a clear confession precisely where competing claims are loudest. That is your home's situation too. Your children are forming an answer to "Who is Jesus?" whether you talk about it or not. Screens, peers, and a culture eager to file Jesus under "nice teacher" are all shaping that answer. Your job is not to manipulate a confession out of them. It is to keep the real question in front of them and to pray, as Jesus says here, that the Father Himself reveals the Son to their hearts. You can teach the facts, but only God opens the eyes. So teach and pray.
Draws on: D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to Matthew.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that You love to show us who Jesus is. Open the eyes of every heart in this family. Help us see that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. And help each of us answer Your question for ourselves. In Jesus' name, amen."
The biggest question in the world is not what the crowd thinks of Jesus. It's what I say.