In Matthew 16:13-16, Jesus asks His disciples two important questions: "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" and "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter responds with conviction, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
The term "Christ" means "Messiah," the Anointed One that the Jewish people had been expecting for centuries. They believed the Messiah would come to deliver them and establish God's kingdom on earth. However, Jesus did not come to set up an earthly kingdom; rather, He came to offer us a relationship with God, one that promises eternity in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus didn't come to make our earthly lives easier or to make us rich, but to grow the kingdom of heaven through our faith and obedience.
This passage challenges us to reflect personally: Who is Jesus in our lives? In our work, do we see Him as our guide and moral compass? In our finances, do we trust Him as our provider and steward? In our marriages and relationships, do we honor Him as the foundation and source of unconditional love?
Jesus asks each of us today, "Who do you say I am?" Let us answer with the same faith and conviction as Peter, recognizing Jesus as the Christ in every aspect of our lives.