Whom Say Ye That I Am?
Our Bible passage, introduction to Sunday 2nd November service and hymns are below.
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Our principal verses are:
Mat 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?
Mat 16:14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 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.
Mat 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Mat 16:20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
Having spent some weeks drawing comfort from the Lord’s powerful and precious ‘I Am’ sayings it seemed suitable to invite a personal response among ourselves to the question Jesus asked of His disciples on the road to Caesarea Philippi.
Whom Say Ye That I Am?
Our Christian faith must be built upon a solid foundation of scriptural understanding if it is to be real, personal and useful to us in our life’s experience and fit us for eternal life. As we have seen, the Lord graciously condescended to identify Himself to His church in a series of beautiful ‘I am’ statements. What have they taught us about our Lord?
The opinions of men
It is clear from the disciples’ response to the Lord’s question, ‘Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?’ that there were many views as to the true identity of the Lord Jesus. The disciples were invited to share what they had been hearing. The common folk were convinced there was something special about Jesus of Nazareth but there was little consensus among them. Some said Jesus was a reincarnation of John the Baptist, some said Elijah. Yet others were of the opinion Jesus was really Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets. Then, just as today, there were many opinions as to who Jesus is.
The Son of Man
Note the particular way in which the Lord framed His question. He called Himself, ‘the Son of man’. This in itself is an important title and one the Lord Jesus frequently used to describe Himself. It contained in it an implicit pointer to the Lord’s human nature. He was after all, a real man, with real flesh and blood, with a real human nature. However, it also carried an Old Testament significance having been employed as a title for the Lord’s chosen servant, the Messiah. The psalmist said, ‘Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself’ (Psalm 80:17).
A follow-up question
In asking this question the Lord Jesus was not ignorant of the minds of men and women. He knew the hearts of those who gathered around Him. His inquiry was rather to open the way for another question altogether, one designed to bring His own disciples to a moment of truth, self-examination and personal confession of their faith in Him. It is a question we all should answer. Notwithstanding what others say concerning the identity of the Lord Jesus, Christ’s question to each of us is, ‘Who do you say that I am?’
A personal question
This requires an honest and serious answer. It matters little what others think and say of the Lord Jesus. It matters immensely what you, what I, think of Him. Who do we say He is? Those who have sat under a gospel ministry and received the testimony of scripture concerning the Lord Jesus Christ certainly ought to have a high opinion of Him. Yet it is not simply a matter of respecting the greatness of Christ, but of worshipping Him as God and confessing Him as such. This is the testimony the Lord sought from His disciples.
A blessed testimony
Peter spoke first, either for himself or for all the disciples; his testimony is very pleasing. He said, ‘Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God’. This response contains many important elements of true faith. It acknowledges there is but one living God. It distinguishes Him from all the idols of fallen man’s imagination. It confesses that Jesus is the Christ. He is the Christ of God. The true Messiah, anointed and appointed by God to serve His purpose according to the covenant of grace, the promises of scripture, and the prophesies of all the prophets.
One with the Father
It also reveals the relationship existing between God the Father and Christ the Son. John Gill points out, ‘the Messiah was not a mere man, but a divine person, the Son of God; not by creation, as angels and men are, nor by adoption, as saints, nor by office, as magistrates, but by nature, being his own Son, his proper Son, the only begotten of the Father, of the same nature with him, being one with him, and equal to him’. By this testimony Peter and the disciples confessed their faith that Jesus the Son of Man was also Jesus the Son of God and the anointed Messiah, Christ.
A knowledge of Christ
Upon this confession the Lord Jesus at once expresses how blessed Peter is to know this divine truth. Such knowledge does not come from man or by nature. It flows from a divine source. It cannot be received and believed except it is first revealed and communicated by God the Father. The Saviour calls Peter ‘blessed’ by God for being able to speak as He did. Every true believer is equally blessed of God who can testify of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The glory that will follow
The declaration that follows from the Lord concerning building His church, the gates of hell not prevailing against it, and possession of the keys of the kingdom, show the joy with which the Saviour viewed this testimony from Peter and His disciples. Here was evidence from God in heaven that Christ’s kingdom was formed, His victory was assured and His gospel would be carried by these men to the ends of the earth for the salvation of the elect.
Amen
Hymn 18
Glory and Grace in the Person of Christ. 2 Cor. 4. 6
I. Watts L.M.
1
Now to the Lord a noble song!
Awake, my soul; awake, my tongue!
Hosanna to the eternal name,
And all his boundless love proclaim!
2
See where it shines in Jesus’ face,
The brightest image of his grace!
God, in the person of his Son,
Has all his mightiest works outdone.
3
The spacious earth and spreading flood
Proclaim the wise, the powerful God;
And thy rich glories from afar
Sparkle in every rolling star.
4
But in his looks a glory stands,
The noblest labour of thy hands;
The pleasing lustre of his eyes
Outshines the wonders of the skies.
5
Grace! ’tis a sweet, a charming theme!
My thoughts rejoice at Jesus’ name!
Ye angels, dwell upon the sound!
Ye heavens, reflect it to the ground!
6
O may I live to reach the place
Where he unveils his lovely face,
Where all his beauties you behold,
And sing his name to harps of gold!
Hymn 19
A New Song to the Lamb that was Slain. Rev. 5. 6-12
I. Watts C.M.
1
Behold the glories of the Lamb,
Amidst his Father’s throne;
Prepare new honours for his name,
And songs before unknown.
2
Let elders worship at his feet;
The church adore around;
With vials full of odours sweet,
And harps of sweeter sound.
3
Those are the prayers of the saints,
And these the hymns they raise –
Jesus is kind to our complaints,
He loves to hear our praise.
4
Eternal Father, who shall look
Into thy secret will?
Who but the Son shall take that book,
And open every seal?
5
He shall fulfil thy great decrees;
The Son deserves it well;
Lo! in his hands the sovereign keys
Of heaven, and death, and hell.
6
Now to the Lamb that once was slain,
Be endless blessings paid;
Salvation, glory, joy remain
For ever on thy head.
7
Thou hast redeemed our souls with blood,
Hast set the prisoners free,
Hast made us kings and priests to God,
And we shall reign with thee.
8
The worlds of nature and of grace
Are put beneath thy power;
Then shorten these delaying days,
And bring the promised hour.
The Lord Jesus asked His disciples this question. Peter's answer was a wonderful testimony of faith. The question is still valid today. How do we answer this question?