This question that Jesus asked His disciples is the same one we must ask ourselves today. Whom do we say this man, Jesus of Nazareth is? When He asked this of them He preceded it with a more general question regarding His identity. The question is important enough to appear in three of the Gospels (Matthew 16:13; Mark 8:27; Luke 9:18).
Matthew 16:13
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am (KJV)?
This question raises some issues that are very relevant today and continue to be questioned just as they were during Jesus first advent. This is the issue of who He is? This issue is of the utmost importance because of who God is and who Jesus Himself claimed Him to be.