“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Matthew 16:13

Son of Man was a favourite name that Jesus used for Himself. And this was a question about culture. Jesus was inquiring, “Tell me what people are saying about Me. What are the prevailing ideas about Me in your culture?”

Opinions about Jesus were all over the map. “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets” (16:14 ). There was no consensus or agreement.

You could hardly have two characters more different than Elijah and Jeremiah. Elijah was known for his triumphs and Jeremiah was known for his tears. The world never changes. It is always confused about Jesus.

Then Jesus asked the one question that really matters: “But who do you say that I am?” (16:15 ). The “you” is plural. Jesus was looking at His twelve disciples, and He was asking a question of the entire group.

Peter stepped forward and answered for himself, for the other disciples, and for all believers. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (16:16 ).

Do you think people today are as confused about Jesus as they were during the time of the disciples? What do people think today? Does this match what you think about Him?