Jesus did not merely let others define Him. He asked His disciples directly, “Who do you say that I am?”, and accepted Peter's confession, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” He took the divine name, I AM, claimed to be one with the Father, and called Himself the bread of life, the way, the truth, and the life. On the mountain the Father confirmed it, and before the high priest Jesus let the claim stand, knowing it would cost Him His life.
Not a summary of these passages: the passages themselves. Read them, then come back to the study below.
The study
What the Scripture says
1
The question
Jesus asked two questions. First, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” and the answers were all flattering and all wrong: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, one of the prophets. Then He made it personal: “But who do you say that I am?” No one can hide behind the opinions of others. The question is asked of every reader of the Gospels.
Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”When Jesus came into the coasts of Cesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus did not correct him; He blessed him, and said this was not flesh and blood but the Father revealing it. The confession is not a clever deduction but a gift. On it Jesus said He would build His assembly, and the gates of death would not prevail against it.
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 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. I also tell you that you are Peter,and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hadeswill not prevail against it. I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.”And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar–jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Jesus said to a hostile crowd, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.” His hearers knew exactly what He meant, because that is the name God spoke from the burning bush: “I AM WHO I AM.” When they picked up stones to throw at Him, they were not misunderstanding a metaphor; they were accusing Him of blasphemy. He claimed the divine name.
Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.”Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” and he said, “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
But he stayed quiet, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus said, “I am. You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of the sky.” The high priest tore his clothes, and said, “What further need have we of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?” They all condemned him to be worthy of death.But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.
In John's Gospel Jesus piles up I am sayings: “I am the bread of life”; “I am the way, the truth, and the life”; “I am the resurrection and the life.” To Thomas He said, “No one comes to the Father, except through me.” These are not the sentences of a good teacher describing God. They are the sentences of someone claiming to be the door, the food, and the destination.
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will not be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies.Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Six days after Peter's confession, Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John: His face shone like the sun and His clothes became white as light, and Moses and Elijah appeared with Him. A bright cloud overshadowed them and a voice said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.” Peter later wrote that they heard that voice themselves on the holy mountain. The Father's testimony settles the question.
After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves. He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light. Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him. Peter answered, and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let’s make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.” When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces, and were very afraid. Jesus came and touched them and said, “Get up, and don’t be afraid.” Lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, except Jesus alone.And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” We heard this voice come out of heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.”Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.