Who Do You Say I Am?

Scripture Text: Matthew 16:13–17

Key Verse: “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” — Matthew 16:15 (NIV)

Devotional:

Jesus’ question to His disciples in Matthew 16 was simple, yet piercing:

“Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
…“But what about you? Who do you say I am?”

It was a moment of testing—not of knowledge, but of conviction. Many had opinions about Jesus: prophet, teacher, miracle worker. But Peter’s answer stood out:

“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

We live in a time when opinions about Jesus are everywhere—on social media, in pop culture, podcasts, even church circles. Some call Him a moral teacher. Others, a revolutionary. To some, He’s outdated. To others, optional. But Jesus isn’t interested in trending narratives—He wants a personal answer from you.

It's easy to repost a quote or wear a cross. But truly knowing Christ is more than that. It’s like the difference between reading someone’s biography and having lunch with them weekly. One gives you facts; the other gives you relationship.

Let’s bring it home:

• You may know what your pastor or parents believe. But what do you believe?
• You may quote Scripture, but do you trust Christ in crisis?
• You may say He’s Lord, but is He your Lord—over your decisions, relationships, and dreams?

Peter’s confession didn’t come from intellect. Jesus says, “this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.” This shows us: real understanding of Christ is a spiritual revelation, not just an academic one.

Think of social media. You can follow someone, like their posts, and share their stories—but still not know them. A lot of people “follow” Jesus the same way—admiring Him from a distance but never engaging in relationship.

In a world full of influencers, Jesus isn’t looking for fans—He wants followers who know Him personally.

Reflection Questions:

1. If someone asked you who Jesus is to you, what would you say?
2. Has your view of Jesus been shaped more by people or by the Word?
3. What steps can you take to deepen your personal knowledge of Him?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I don’t want to know about You—I want to know You. Reveal Yourself to me in a way that transforms my life. Strip away every borrowed opinion and let my faith be rooted in personal encounter. Help me to confess boldly and live faithfully as one who truly knows who You are. Amen.