The Son of Man is God – August 23, 2026

One key truth: Jesus is true God. This is essential to our faith and salvation.

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:15-16

The Son of Man is God

Imagine someone stopped you on the street, pointed a camera at you, and asked, “Who is Jesus?” What would you say—with no time to prepare?

In 2017, a man walked around Central Park in New York City asking people that question. He received a wide range of answers:

• “He’s a man like you and me.”
• “He was a prophet and messenger of God.”
• “He was a marketing genius.”
• “He was enlightened.”

Some answers sounded respectful. Some were creative. But none went far enough. There are a lot of different thoughts out there about who Jesus is. There is no more important question in the world. How you answer has eternal consequences.

It wasn’t much different in Jesus’ day. He asked his disciples who people said he was.

“Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

People knew Jesus was extraordinary. They just didn’t understand how extraordinary he truly was. Sounds similar to what a lot of people say about Jesus today. But what about the disciples? Who did they say Jesus was?

“Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’”

That was difficult for many people to understand. How could God be a man? How could the creator of the universe walk dusty roads, become tired and hungry, and stand before them in the body of a man in his lower 30s?

The answer to those questions is one of the greatest miracles of all time. The eternal God humbled himself and allowed himself to be conceived and born of a virgin. He did this so he could keep God’s law in our place. He did it so that he could identify himself with us. He did it so that he could suffer and die as payment for our sins.

If he was simply a man, his perfect life could not count for everyone. If he was just a prophet, we would still be in our sin. If he was just more enlightened than most, we would still be separated from God.

So who do you say Jesus is?

Don’t simply repeat what your parents, pastor, or friends say. Make Peter’s confession your own: “You are the Christ. The Son of the living God.” You are my Savior.

Prayer:

Jesus, thank you for being my God and my Savior. Amen.