When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Mt 16:13-19)
There was a belief that Jesus was John the Baptist risen again. Herod believed so. And there would have been few more like him. John the Baptist was one of the recent prophets who proclaimed the coming of the Messiah. Jesus’ preaching and his activities were similar to that of John the Baptist. So people found it easy to slot Jesus into the image of John the Baptist.
Jeremiah was one of the prophets who was in Israel at the time of or just before the exile to Babylon. He warned the people of the inevitable destruction that was awaiting the people for their wrong beliefs and life style. Jesus’ preaching and activities modelled that of Jeremiah for some. Hence some other people believed that Jesus was Jeremiah come again to proclaim to the people of the impending destruction.
Messiah was the anointed one who was sent by God to redeem the people from sin and evil. People in general believed that Jesus was also one of the prophets who has come to prepare the people. In stead he was the Messiah. This understanding comes only through revelation. And this was given to peter and few of his disciples. What people believed was natural conclusions of what they see and here. Only revelation can show the truth and reality as it really is.
