The Moment Everything Changed for Peter (And What It Means for You)

Mark 8:27–29

Jesus asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

There’s something powerful about the way Jesus asked that question.

Before He ever gave Peter a mission… before He gave him a new name… He asked him something personal. And He asked it on purpose.

First, Jesus Asked: “Who Do People Say I Am?”

Jesus already knew the answer. The disciples told Him:

“Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, still others, one of the prophets…”

It was all secondhand information.
Things they’d heard.
Nothing personal. Nothing life-changing.

And then Jesus shifts the conversation.

Then He Asked: “But What About You?”

“Who do you say I am?”

It’s the same question He’s still asking us today.

Because knowing about Jesus isn't the same as knowing Him.
Reading what others say, listening to podcasts, even growing up in church—it’s not the same as actually walking with Him.

Peter didn’t just repeat what the crowd was saying, he responded from a place of revelation.
He said:

“You are the Messiah.”

And Jesus was pleased with that answer—because Peter knew Him.

Revelation Led to Relationship. Relationship Led to Purpose.

In Matthew’s account of this story, Jesus responds to Peter’s confession like this:

“Blessed are you, Simon… I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” (Matthew 16:17–18)

Jesus was essentially saying:

Now that you see who I am… let me show you who you are.

That’s when everything shifted.
Simon becomes Peter.
And from there, Jesus begins to partner with him.

But it all started with personal revelation.
Not with a task.
Not with a calling.
Not with a strategy.

With relationship.

This Is Still How Jesus Works

God may use people in their process—but real clarity, boldness, and purpose grow out of relationship.

You don’t need secondhand faith. You need your own revelation.

You get to know Jesus the same way Peter did—by spending time with Him.
By walking with Him. Asking questions. Listening. Following.
That’s how relationship is built.

Because when you truly know Him, the mission is no longer something you strive to figure out—it’s something that naturally flows out of your connection to Him.

So What About You?

You might be wondering what God wants you to do.
But the better question is—do you know Him?
Not in theory. Not through someone else. But for yourself.

Because He’s not waiting for you to perform.
He’s waiting for you to see Him clearly.

A Prayer to Close With:

Jesus, I don’t want to live off of secondhand faith. I want to know You for myself. Help me spend time with You. Help me recognize You in my everyday life. Show me who You are—so I can walk fully in who I’m meant to be.