The air was cool as the smoke rose into the evening sky. Above the fire’s glow, the night ascended into darkness, while high above them the heavens were blanketed with the light of countless stars.
The smell of cooked fish and bread lingered from their meal. There was the chatter of voices broken with laughter, then moments of silence as the listeners leaned in to hear the words of the young rabbi.
His face filled with the warmth from the fire, he looked to his friends and posed a question. “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They look to one another perhaps wondering who among them would find the courage to answer his question.
They quietly reflect on the things they had witnessed. Sights so miraculous that their minds still struggle to understand what they had seen. Certainly, no man can do what he has done
Finally, one man looked to him and said, “Rabbi, some say the Son of Man is John the Baptist, others answered, “Some say, Elijah. Then several more join in, “Some say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
The teacher looked up at the night sky, the lights of heaven reflecting in his eyes and with a smile, he turned to them and said, “But what about you?” “Who do you say that I am?”
Looking to each other they shook their heads and they begin to whisper among themselves. Somehow, the answer seemed unfathomable to them. Then suddenly, one man stirred with a profound moment of spiritual knowledge jumpped to his feet and exclaim, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!”
And the teacher replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.
The Messiah
Jesus brought the apostles to Caesarea Phillippi only days before his last Passover. At this moment, he confirms that he is the Messiah and proclaims, "Upon this rock, I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it," and we are witness to this truth. One of the most profound questions we can consider is simply, "Who do you say that I am?"
Learn more: Matthew 16: 13-20.