The Way
Who Do You Say I Am?
A question asked beneath the rock where the spring bursts out
Story
The villages of Caesarea Philippi, at the foot of Mount Hermon, where a stream of the Jordan springs from beneath the rock. It was a long road north from Galilee. Jesus had been praying alone, and as he walked that road with his disciples, he slowed his pace and asked, who do people say I am? The disciples looked at one another.
Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah. Others say Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Jesus asked again. But who do you say I am? Peter answered. You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus said, blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. You are Peter, the rock.
From then on Jesus began to make it plain that he must go up to Jerusalem, suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law, be killed, and on the third day be raised. When Peter took hold of him and protested that this could not happen, Jesus turned and rebuked him sharply. Get behind me, Satan. Then he said to them all, whoever wants to follow me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
Walk this scene on the map →His Words
But you, what about you? Who do you say that I am?
Whoever wants to follow me must let go of self, take up their cross, and come after me.
What good is it to gain the whole world and lose your own life?
You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Mt 16:13–28 · Mk 8:27–9:1 · Lk 9:18–27
Background
Philip the tetrarch named the city in honor of the emperor; today it is Banias. The cave and temple ruins once devoted to the god Pan still remain, and one of the main sources of the Jordan River springs up here.
Pause and Reflect
Whatever others say about him, who do I confess Jesus to be?