Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:13–16)

Defining juncture in the training of the twelve—that’s what this is! The first moment of a risk: blasphemous if they were wrong, eternally life-changing if they were right. Some even go so far as to say this was the point where they entered into eternal salvation. Jesus later said, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). They had truly come to know who Jesus was, He was and is the Son of the living God.

Why is this so pivotal?  Because as Master Teacher He pulled back the curtains, He gave the twelve a back-stage pass, so to speak. Another time was the extended dissertation in the Upper Room the night before He was crucified, when Jesus took them into His most private counsel, preparing them for life without His physical presence. Here the Lord takes dead aim at their understanding of who He is. It was sort of an identity crisis, but not for Jesus. It was a moment of crisis for the twelve – what is the identity of this individual they were following? Who is He really?

This query appears somewhat mid-ministry for the mission of Christ.  Right after Peter’s response of faith, the confession of His conviction, Jesus begins talking about the church’s foundation of faith (Matt 16:17-20), His death (Matt 16:21-23) and the cost of discipleship (Matt 16:24-28). Then comes the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt 17:1-13), where they see His glory. None of this could happen until they confessed their faith in the Son of the Living God!

Enough time had passed, enough miracles and teaching had taken place to provide evidence of Jesus’ true identity. So no time is wasted with oblique or obfuscated debates, as so often happens today. Believing is an action word, a binary risk of everything because of the identity of Jesus Christ. He is either the Son of the Living God, or He is not.  This is not dead orthodoxy open for debate, against the philosophical-religious sophistry of modern “spirituality” that relegates such propositional assertions to oppressive religion. No, Peter believed in the “Living” God, who was active in the world. And He believed that Jesus was His Son. That settled it for Peter and the others. Does that settle it for you?

Lord, I pray that all who read this would be able to confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God—and have life everlasting.