According to the book of Matthew, Jesus had just finished feeding four thousand men, besides women and children, with seven loaves and a few little fish when He had a private conversation with His disciples at Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 15:32-38; 16:13). Despite all the teachings He had done and the miracles He preformed, He asked the disciples, “Who are the people saying I am?” to which they answered, “some say John the Baptist; some, Elijah; some, Jeremiah or one of the other prophets” (16:14, TLB). In other words, people were saying just about everything other than who He really was.

Jesus then turned the tables and asked, “But who do you say that I am?” We are not told if there was a pregnant pause as they contemplated the question, but we know that Simon Peter, my favorite disciple, replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (16:15-16, KJV).

The entire exchange affirmed an important truth. A person can have good thoughts of Christ, and yet not the right ones; a high opinion of Him, yet not high enough. The people had seen Jesus and the works He did. His life and ministry was as spoken by the prophets, yet even in His midst they did not know who He was. The disciples all agreed He was the promised Messiah, the Son of God, yet even in that declaration, they still missed all that Jesus was. Yes, He was the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14), but to those who believe in Him, He is much more than that.

While most Christians understand Jesus as stated by Peter, we too miss fully understanding all that He is to us. Scriptures teach that He is our Bread of Life, the Light of the world, the True Vine, Comforter, Friend, Healer, the Good Shepherd, Redeemer, Saviour, the Fountain of Living Water, Burden Bearer, Deliverer, Great High Priest, Provider, among many other things. Anything that the believer needs Him to be that is consistent with the Bible’s revelation of Him, He is all that and more! How our lives could be much different if we grasped this important truth?

Who is Jesus to you? Is He just the Son of God? I challenge you to get more intimately acquainted with Him; get to know Him better. There is no area of our lives that He is incapable of stepping into and making a difference. May He so reveal himself to you as you spend time in His presence.