Who Do You Say That I Am? (Matthew 16:13–28 – Easter Weekend)

Hi Everyone,

This week’s passage is one of the most theologically rich and spiritually demanding moments we’ve encountered in Matthew so far — and it landed right on Easter weekend. That wasn’t planned by us, but clearly ordered by God. The timing was wild.

This is the moment Jesus not only foretells His death — but also calls all of His followers into death, too. It’s the clearest He’s ever been about the cross. Not just His cross — ours.

But there’s a promise attached. To His death. And to ours.

Let’s walk through it.

📺 Want to watch the full teaching? [Click here to view the April 19 lesson.]

🔁 1. Where We Left Off (Matthew 16:1–12)

Last week, Jesus was back in Jewish territory when He was tested by the Pharisees and Sadducees — two groups who normally opposed each other but found common ground in opposing Jesus.

They asked for a sign — not because they lacked evidence, but because they lacked belief.

Jesus refused. Instead of giving them fireworks, He gave them a warning.

We reflected on:

● The danger of religious voices that distort truth

● How spiritual pride and control quietly creep in

● That sometimes the most powerful sign is what God already did

Jesus reminded the disciples of what He had already done — feeding thousands, multiplying bread — and told them:

“Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Not bread.

Influence.

If you missed it or want to listen again, you can [listen to the full teaching here].

Takeaways:

● Not all religious voices are safe

● Don’t forget what God has already revealed

● God doesn’t always perform — but He always reveals

📜 2. Scripture Reading – Matthew 16:13–28 (ESV)

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples,

‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’

And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’

He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’

Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’

And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you,

but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,

and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,

and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’

Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.”

“From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem

and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed,

and on the third day be raised.”

“And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying,

‘Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.’

But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me.

For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.’”

“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me,

let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?

Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father,

and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death

until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.’”

🧠 Let’s Lay Some Context Down

📍 Where Are We? — Caesarea Philippi

Jesus is in Caesarea Philippi — a dark, pagan, idol-worshiping region filled with shrines and altars to false gods. It’s here, in the midst of all that, that Jesus asks:

“Who do you say that I am?”

That’s not a small question. That’s a dangerous question — especially in a place that swore allegiance to Caesar.

Peter speaks up:

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

That moment of revelation sets everything else in motion.

Jesus affirms Peter — but then tells the disciples, “I’m going to suffer and die.”

And more than that — “You’re going to have to carry a cross, too.”

This is the first time Jesus talks about His death directly.

But it’s also the first time He invites His disciples into it.

✨ Key Lessons & Takeaways (Expanded)

1. Good Friday Isn’t Just Jesus’ Death — It’s a Call to Ours Too

Jesus says:

“The Son of Man must suffer… be killed… and on the third day be raised.”

Then a few verses later:

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”

He doesn’t just tell them what’s going to happen to Him.

He tells them what’s going to happen to them.

That’s what Good Friday is.

Not just the death of Jesus —

But the death of self:

• Our control
  

• Our plans
  

• Our self-preservation
  

• Our version of the life we thought we wanted
  

🟦 Reflection:

What part of you needs to die for resurrection life to begin?

2. The Cross Comes with a Promise — So Does Yours

Jesus doesn’t stop at telling them He’s going to die —

He immediately speaks resurrection into the room:

“…and on the third day be raised.”

And then He applies the pattern to us:

“Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Jesus isn’t just talking about martyrdom here.

He’s talking about the kind of loss that looks like:

• Forgiving when it costs you pride
  

• Obeying when it doesn’t make sense
  

• Giving when it feels inconvenient
  

• Trusting God when you’re tempted to take control
  

There are going to be places in your life where obedience feels like dying.

Where God says, “Lay that down,” and your flesh says, “But that’s mine.”

Where surrender looks like loss — and you don’t yet see the gain.

But the promise is this:

“Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

That means resurrection isn’t just a historical event — it’s your spiritual inheritance.

God doesn’t just take what we offer — He transforms it.

What you bury in obedience, God raises in glory.

🟦 Reflection:

Where has obedience felt like dying lately?

What might God be getting ready to resurrect in you?

3. Easter Isn’t for Crowns — It’s for Cross-Carriers

This is the part of the story that hits different.

Peter has just confessed Jesus as the Christ — the Son of the living God.

He’s riding high. He’s had revelation.

And now he wants to lead… but without the cross.

Jesus says He must suffer.

Peter says, “Never, Lord. That’ll never happen to you.”

And Jesus doesn’t coddle him. He rebukes him:

“Get behind me, Satan. You are a hindrance to me.”

Why?

Because even sincere people can try to pull you off your God-given path.

Even people who love you can become a voice of resistance when they don’t understand the cost of the call.

Peter wanted a Messiah who would win — not one who would bleed.

But Jesus makes it clear:

There is no crown without the cross.

There is no glory without obedience.

There is no resurrection without suffering.

We’re living in a time where everyone wants purpose —

But not everyone wants to die for it.

Everyone wants the promise —

But not everyone wants the process.

Jesus isn’t calling you to comfort.

He’s calling you to carry something — and what you carry will change you.

🟦 Reflection:

Where have I been resisting the part of the journey that requires pain?

Have I been trying to celebrate Easter without actually walking through Good Friday?

4. The Question Still Stands: “Who Do You Say That I Am?”

At the center of this whole section —

before the cross, before the resurrection, before the rebuke —

is a question:

“Who do you say that I am?”

It’s not a question for the crowds.

It’s not a question for theologians.

It’s a question for you.

This isn’t a group project.

Jesus isn’t asking for doctrine — He’s asking for declaration.

Not just from your mouth — but from your life.

Because saying “You are the Christ” isn’t just a title — it’s a surrender.

It means you trust Him as King.

It means you submit to His ways.

It means you follow Him even when the road is uphill, narrow, and covered in splinters.

Peter answered the question right — but didn’t fully understand what it meant.

And many of us are the same way.

So let’s make space this week to sit with it:

“Who do YOU say that I am?”

🟦 Reflection:

What does your life — not just your lips — say about who Jesus is?

Challenge for the Week

Here are three questions to carry into the days ahead:

• Where is Jesus asking me to lay something down — and I’ve been holding on?
  

• Have I been trying to follow Him while avoiding the parts of the journey that feel like dying?
  

• What does my actual life — not just my beliefs — say about who Jesus is to me?
  

Let Jesus’ call remind you:

The cross always comes before the crown.

Surrender always comes before resurrection.

And clarity doesn’t always come before obedience — sometimes it follows it.

Love you all — grace and strength to you this week.

Let’s keep walking. Let’s keep dying. Let’s keep rising.

– Michael