Why did some people think that Jesus was John the Baptist, Elijah, and other prophets?
Because Jesus taught with such great authority and performed miracles. Some thought He was John the Baptist, who was murdered, but thought to have come back from the dead. Some thought He was Elijah, a prophet who never died, but was taken up into heaven in a whirlwind (see 2 Kings 2). Jeremiah was another great Old Testament prophet who lived about 600-700 years before Jesus’ day. (16) Why does Peter call Jesus “the Christ”? Christ is not Jesus’ last name! Rather, it is a Greek title that means “Messiah,” Hebrew for “anointed one” or “chosen one.” (17) Why does Jesus say Peter is “blessed”? Because the blessings of God simply come to all those who confess that Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God. In other words, if you believe in all that Jesus claimed about Himself, and in all that He did, you are blessed by God. God blesses believers abundantly. The believer has eternal blessings such as peace Psalm 29:11), wisdom Prov. 3:13), authority in the new Kingdom (Matt 5:3), comfort (Matt
