Decide Who Jesus Is and Whether You Will Follow Him
Welcome to Day 5 of our journey with Jesus. Today, we think about how we will respond to Jesus. The main truth for today is this: Jesus calls us to answer who he is and decide whether we will follow him. Let’s begin.
Current details of the journeyView the calendar, Episode and passage
Jesus in Action
Matthew 16:13–17
Step 5 of 5
Decide how you will respond to Jesus.
Als Jesus in die Gegend von Cäsarea Philippi kam, fragte er seine Jünger: »Für wen halten die Leute eigentlich den Menschensohn?« Die Jünger erwiderten: »Einige meinen, du seist Johannes der Täufer. Manche dagegen halten dich für Elia und manche für Jeremia oder einen anderen Propheten von früher.« »Und ihr – für wen haltet ihr mich?«, fragte er sie. Da antwortete Simon Petrus: »Du bist der Christus, der von Gott gesandte Retter! Du bist der Sohn des lebendigen Gottes.« »Du kannst dich wirklich glücklich schätzen, Simon, Sohn von Jona«, sagte Jesus. »Diese Erkenntnis hat dir mein Vater im Himmel gegeben; von sich aus kommt ein Mensch nicht zu dieser Einsicht.
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In Matthew 16:13–17, Jesus asked his disciples who they said he was. Peter gave a clear answer. This passage invites you to give your own answer, not just repeat what others say.
Watch: Who Do You Say Jesus Is? – Day 5.
Watch the companion video, then continue reading to examine the biblical testimony in its full context.
What Jesus Asked.
Jesus asked the disciples two questions. First he asked what other people said about him. The first question was about other people. The disciples reported what they had heard. They said some people called Jesus John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or another prophet. Then Jesus asked a second question. The second question was about the disciples. He said, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Peter did not repeat what others said. He gave his own answer.
The Answer You Give.
Jesus asks the same question today. The passage invites you to answer it. Peter said Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of the living God. The passage presents this as the answer. You can trust Jesus as the king God promised. You can trust Jesus as God’s own Son. This trust is not the same as agreeing with an opinion. It is trusting Jesus himself.
How Peter Knew.
Jesus said the Father had shown this to Peter. Jesus said, “This was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.” “Flesh and blood” means a human source. Peter did not discover the answer on his own. So the passage invites you to ask God to show you who Jesus is. Then you can give Jesus your own answer.
Jesus said the Father had shown Peter the truth. This is the Respond step in the Jesus365 Journey. The response is to ask God to show you, and to trust Jesus as his Son.
Consider this.
Complete this sentence without hiding behind vague language: “I believe Jesus is…” (Matthew 16:13–17) Why do you answer that way?
Take your next step
Write your present answer honestly. Then ask God to correct, deepen, or overturn it as you continue through Jesus’ words.
What This Means for Your Life.
Jesus does not leave His identity as a trivia question or a secondhand opinion. In Matthew 16:13–17, the issue is personal: who you say He is matters because it shapes how you live. If Jesus is only a teacher, you can pick and choose. If Jesus is only a Prophet, you can decide to accept or reject prophecies, but If He is the Christ, the Son of the living God, then His words deserve more than admiration; they call for trust, repentance, and allegiance.
One way to respond today is to write out your honest answer to the sentence, “I believe Jesus is…” Don’t copy a religious phrase you think sounds right. Name what you actually think, and then ask what has shaped that view—family, disappointment, research, habits, fear, or hope. If you are unsure, that honesty is not failure. It can be the beginning of real searching.
And if you already believe Jesus is who He claimed to be, remember that even Peter needed correction and growth. Following Jesus is not pretending you understand everything at once; it is being willing to let Him correct you.
Reflection question: What would change in your decisions this week if Jesus is not merely an idea, but the One with authority over your life?
