Matthew 16:13-20 New International Version (NIV)
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Jesus was clear on who he was. The question is, am I clear on who he is? Jesus accepted his identity. He was never pulled in different directions. The core of Jesus’ preparation of his ministry was meeting God in his secret place of his inner self. Are you meeting God in your inner secret place. When we meet God in solitude, we find our identity and grow in our knowing of God. Give glory to God by being yourself. Be yourself. Find your hidden true self in Christ and live out the life that comes from our Lord.
