And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
In the coasts of Caesarea Philippi the verse records the disciples answering Jesus when He asked whom men say that He the Son of man is. They report that some say He is John the Baptist, some Elias or Elijah, and others Jeremias or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. The same report is given as showing that many people regarded Him as a prophet, identifying Him in these different ways, but they did not agree on who He was. Those views were mistaken and incomplete, because they did not recognize Him as the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the living God. This report came at a time when the faith of many had failed and priests and rulers stood mighty against His followers. These popular opinions stood centuries after Isaiah had prophesied of the coming one called by the Lord from the womb and from his mother's bowels and mentioned by name, with mouth like a sharp sword, hid in the shadow of His hand and as a polished shaft in His quiver, and called my servant O Israel in whom He will be glorified.
Jesus already knew the thoughts of the people when He asked what they thought of Him. He used the report to press the closer question of whom the disciples themselves say He is, giving them opportunity to confess Him. He did this so that the faith they then expressed would be strengthened to remain firm through His coming trial of suffering, humiliation, abuse, and apparent degradation.
That question drew Peter's bold confession that He is Christ, the Son of the living God, a knowledge revealed not by flesh and blood or human wisdom but by the Father in heaven through the mysterious working of God's Spirit on the heart. No human power could degrade Him, for His Godlikeness would appear in every scene of humiliation and flash conviction into the hearts of priests and rulers, leaving a memory that would never be effaced from their minds.
In the coasts of Caesarea Philippi the verse records the disciples answering Jesus when He asked whom men say that He the Son of man is. They report that some say He is John the Baptist, some Elias or Elijah, and others Jeremias or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. The same report is given as showing that many people regarded Him as a prophet, identifying Him in these different ways, but they did not agree on who He was. Those views were mistaken and incomplete, because they did not recognize Him as the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the living God. This report came at a time when the faith of many had failed and priests and rulers stood mighty against His followers. These popular opinions stood centuries after Isaiah had prophesied of the coming one called by the Lord from the womb and from his mother's bowels and mentioned by name, with mouth like a sharp sword, hid in the shadow of His hand and as a polished shaft in His quiver, and called my servant O Israel in whom He will be glorified.
Jesus already knew the thoughts of the people when He asked what they thought of Him. He used the report to press the closer question of whom the disciples themselves say He is, giving them opportunity to confess Him. He did this so that the faith they then expressed would be strengthened to remain firm through His coming trial of suffering, humiliation, abuse, and apparent degradation.
That question drew Peter's bold confession that He is Christ, the Son of the living God, a knowledge revealed not by flesh and blood or human wisdom but by the Father in heaven through the mysterious working of God's Spirit on the heart. No human power could degrade Him, for His Godlikeness would appear in every scene of humiliation and flash conviction into the hearts of priests and rulers, leaving a memory that would never be effaced from their minds.