Who Do You Say That I Am?

Read

Matthew 16:15-16 (ESV) "He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’”

Think

Kids are question factories. They don’t just ask one—they unleash an endless barrage. “Why don’t crabs have eyebrows?” “If I eat a watermelon seed, will a tree grow in my stomach?” “If animals could talk, which one would be the rudest?” Their curiosity is relentless, and let’s be honest, sometimes exhausting. But every once in a while, they hit on something profound. “Where do people go when they die?” “Is God real?” “Does Jesus still do miracles?”

Jesus, the greatest teacher of all time, also knew how to ask questions that made people stop in their tracks. One day, he turned to his disciples and asked the one question that changes everything: “Who do you say that I am?” Not what the crowds think. Not what tradition says. But you. Right here. Right now.

Peter, in a rare moment of clarity between his usual blunders, answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus affirmed that Peter didn’t figure this out on his own—God revealed it to him. Because recognizing Jesus isn’t just an intellectual exercise, it’s a reality that reshapes everything.

Who you say Jesus is determines who your Lord is. It defines where your trust lies, what shapes your decisions, and where your goals, purpose, and passion find their foundation. A.W. Tozer wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” If Jesus is just a good teacher, then his words are optional. But if he is the Christ, the Son of the living God, then his words are life itself. So, who do you say Jesus is? Not just in theory, but in the way you live, lead, and love. Your answer isn’t just a statement—it’s your foundation.

Apply

Who Jesus is to you isn’t meant to stay private. This week, tell one person—whether a friend, family member, or coworker—why Jesus is central in your life.

Pray

Jesus, you are the Christ, the Son of the living God, and I choose to build my life on that truth. Help me to trust you fully, not just in my words, but in my actions, decisions, and daily walk. Strengthen my faith so that my life boldly declares who you are to the world around me. In your name. Amen.