You are the Messiah (Part 2)

      Jesus then asks the disciples a more personal question in verse 29, the key verse. Let’s read that together: “‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah.’ (v.29)”. Jesus challenges His disciples to come up with their own answer to His previous question. He asks all of the disciples this question, but only Peter answers it. As we read, Peter answers Jesus by saying “You are the Messiah (verse 29)”. We know that disciples were able to answer Jesus’ earlier question because they had heard what others had said about Jesus, so where did Peter get his answer to Jesus second question? Looking at Matthew 16, which records the same story, Jesus tells us where Peter got his answer. Matthew 16:17 reads “And Jesus said to him, ‘blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in Heaven.” This verse tells us two things; Peter got His answer from God, and that Jesus accepts Peter’s answer.
Why did Jesus ask the disciples this question? We know that Jesus cares about what people think of Him, and Jesus also cares about what His disciples think of Him. Jesus didn’t want the disciples to have the same view of Him that the other people did. Jesus is now asking how their relationship to Him differentiates their answer from the people. Jesus wanted to know what they personally say that He is. As we know, Peter answers “You are the Messiah (verse 29)”. We also know that this was the correct answer, because Jesus accepts Peter’s response. What does this mean however? In the time of Jesus, the Jews awaited the coming of a messiah. The word “messiah” means “savior”. It also means “one anointed or chosen by God”. All the Jews knew of a promised messiah, and they all had an idea of who that person would be. They thought that the promised messiah would save them by coming with power and authority. When they saw Jesus, they knew He was from God, but He wasn’t their view of who the messiah would be. Jesus didn’t take over the government by exerting His power and authority, as the people thought the messiah would. Peter probably had the same view of who the messiah would be, yet he was able to proclaim that Jesus was the Messiah. This was because Peter was inspired by God to confess that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. After Peter’s confession, Jesus warns them not to tell others about Him. Why is this? Jesus knew that if the people found out He was the Messiah, they would try to fit Jesus into their description of the messiah. They might try to make Jesus king by force, like they tried to do in John 6:15 which reads- “Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. (John 6:15)”. Jesus also told the disciples to not tell anyone because He knew the disciples would not be ready until He died and rose again. Jesus had not yet died on the cross and risen again, and the disciples still did not fully understand who Jesus was. Jesus did not want the disciples proclaiming that He is the Messiah until Jesus had finished His mission as the promised Savior.

      Now that the disciples knew that Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus began explaining to them how He would suffer and die. This bothers Peter, so in verse 32 “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke (Jesus). (Verse 32)”. It is easy for us to criticize Peter for rebuking Jesus, because we know that Jesus’ death and resurrection are necessary for our salvation. However, we must keep in mind the context. This is the first time Jesus is telling the disciples about His crucifixion, and recall that Peter now knows that Jesus was the Messiah. Peter believed that because Jesus was the Messiah He would liberate His people with great power, authority, and even by force. When he heard Jesus talking about being beaten and crucified, he didn’t see a powerful messiah, he saw a weak, defeated man. Peter respected and loved Jesus greatly, and did not want these things to happen to Him. He took Jesus aside out of respect for Jesus, so that Jesus would not be rebuked in front of the disciples. Right after this, Jesus turns back to the disciples and rebukes Peter in front of them. Does this mean Jesus doesn’t respect Peter? He even calls Peter “Satan” in front of the disciples. Of course we know that Jesus loved Peter, but He didn’t want Peter to have the wrong view of Him. He called Peter “Satan” because Satan did not want Jesus to complete His mission, and Peter unknowingly is acting the same way. Why did Jesus turn towards His disciples? Jesus loved not only Peter, but the other disciples also. He wanted them all to have the right view of Him, so He exposed Peter’s wrongdoing in front of all the disciples. What is amazing about Jesus’ mission to die on the cross and to rise again is that it is not a sign of weakness or defeat. In fact, it was the greatest sign of His power and authority. “But we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. (1 Cor. 1:23-25)”. Jesus did come with authority and power, but He did not come to save the Jews from the king, He came to save them from sin and death. He did not come to conquer the king, he came to conquer sin and death.

-Smart