Jesus asked, "Who do you say I am?"  Simon Peter answered, "YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD."  (Matthew 16:15&16)

This question and answer exchange between Jesus and Peter, although brief and almost easy to gloss over, is one of the most profound passages in all of Scripture. Pause for a moment and consider what God has revealed to Peter at this moment. It is the truth that Jesus is not merely a good man or a teacher or a prophet, but that he is the Christ...the Son of God. This is the very key to the Christian faith. How we as individuals answer this question posed by Jesus - that is, who we say He is - is foundational to our being saved or not. 

Jesus goes on to say to Peter that "on this rock I will build my church."  Although the name Peter is derived from the word "petra" or "petros," meaning "rock," some have misinterpreted Jesus as saying He would build His church upon Peter when, in fact, He is saying He will build His church upon Peter's declaration that Jesus is the Christ. This truth that Jesus is the Son of the living God is the bedrock of the Church, the Body of Christ.

In John 14:6, Jesus says, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Likewise, in Acts 4, Peter reiterates this truth before the Sanhedrin. He states that Jesus was crucified and raised by God from the dead and declares, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."  

"Thank You, Jesus, for not leaving us blinded to the truth about Who You are. Thank You, God, for giving us Your Word, which clearly outlines Your Son as the proper and only path to salvation and eternal life. May those who still don't know You or who are placing their hope in things other than the Name of Jesus come to see the truth. Help those of us who are Your believing children to be faithful in sharing the Gospel - the Good News of Jesus Christ - and may our lives be living testimonies of the grace and mercy and salvation that You have poured out upon us as a result of acknowledging and placing our faith in You, the Christ and the Son of the living God.  Amen."