When Jesus arrived in Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples two questions. The first was, “Who do men say that I am?” The second one was, “Who do you say that I am?” Their answers to the first question attest to the amazing life Jesus had lived before the Jewish nation. They saw Him as being equal to Jeremiah, Elijah, other prophets or John the Baptist. The esteem they held for such messengers of God was given to Jesus.
The answer to the second question was, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:18). He was more than a man! He was more than the greatest prophets God had already sent. Napoleon once said of Jesus, “I know men, and Jesus Christ is more than a man.” The disciples knew this truth. They had read of the prophets, heard John preached and they had been with Jesus for years. The only possible explanation to what they had seen and heard was what Jesus found in Peter’s answer. Jesus was truly the Messiah, the Son of the living God.
The church is built upon Jesus. While Peter’s other name was Cephas (this Aramaic word means the same as the Greek word, petros—a stone—see John 1:42), the church was not built on Peter. When Jesus said “Upon this rock I will build my church,” He does not use the Greek word for Peter, but another Greek word indicating a massive rock. The church was not built on Peter, but upon the massive truth that Peter affirmed when he said Jesus was the Son of the living God. Paul’s words showed this truth beyond doubt when he said, “No other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11). This truth is the foundation of the church, for if He is not the Christ, Christianity is a hoax!
The church is built on His deity. Peter affirmed this when he described Jesus as the Son of God. The Jews understood this phrase to mean that He was equal with God (John 5:18). The Jehovah Witness see Jesus as being “a god”, but the Jews knew that the phrase meant deity—equality with God.
The church is built on His origin. He existed before the creation of all things and became mortal by His virgin birth. It is remarkable how anyone can claim to believe in Him, yet deny His unique entry into the world. The virgin birth was a sign to all mankind of the coming of Immanuel (Isa. 7:14).
The church is of divine origin. Read the words of Jesus in Caesarea Philippi. The church is built upon the foundation that He is the son of God. Since he left the earth thousands of churches have begun, but their origin is traceable to humans. Jesus built His church. It is still on this earth. Let us labor to find it and become members of this church!