When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:13-19)
Peter offered the definitive answer. Jesus Christ was the Son of God. Peter had not learned this from some other man, but from God himself. Exactly how this revelation may have been given to Peter is not stated, but the truth of our Lord’s identity is not a matter of doubt for Peter, nor should it be for us.
Everything we know about Jesus validates Peter’s confession. In addition to Peter’s confession, and the Lord’s own acknowledgment that he was the Son of God, we have the testimony of John the Baptist. Further, on at least three occasions the voice of God was heard from heaven proclaiming Jesus as his Son. Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament regarding the Messiah. And, what he did and said gave proof of who he was (John 5:30-39).
How important is his divinity? It was on the basis of his divinity that he would build his church. The church rests on the bedrock foundation that Jesus was the Son of God. There is no other foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11). The church was not built by or upon Peter. He was given the keys to the kingdom or church, which he used to open the gates to all (Acts 2, 10). He was not the first head of the church. The church has but one head, Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:18). There are many sincere people who still do not understand these fundamental truths.
Make no mistake; Jesus was the Son of God. Believe and obey him and enjoy endless bliss. Reject him and there is no hope.
