August 23, 2020
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Thursday I awoke to the Cal Fire briefing to realize that our fire situation was much different than I thought. We had all experienced raining ash, yellowed skies and vibrant sunsets since fires sparked from the lighting storm. We talked about emergency kits in our gathering on Wednesday. Since then a member of our church and our staff have been evacuated. But hearing the CalFire report in our own county made the words being said so much more poignant and urgent. Wildfires burning 500 miles away do not create the same response as the one given in Santa Cruz County. I pray that each of you is safe and well.
The location of where words are spoken greatly impacts their affect. So it is with Jesus and where he said these words to his disciples. Jesus decides to ask his disciples an important question after arriving in Caesarea Philippi. Two of the three gospels tell this story here. But why here?
Caesarea Philippi is at the base of Mt. Hermon part of the Promised Land. It was the place that King Jeroboam led the Northern tribe of Israel to idolatry. This Greco Roman city was built around a deep cave that was the water source of the Jordan River and a sanctuary to the Greek God Pan was erected there. So there was a history of worshiping other gods in this place. Moreover, the very name honors Caesar and Roman authority just as Jesus is inquiring about who people say that he is. Authority, power and identity all seem to be wrapped up in this brief interchange.
I must note, this is the passage that the Roman Catholic Church stands on in support of apostolic succession; meaning that because Jesus built the church on Peter then all the leaders of the church in the unbroken chain of Popes can trace their authority back to Peter and more importantly to Christ. The idea is if Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom to Peter then those keys, as it were, passed down to each next generation. An interesting distinction with interpretation comes when the Reformers say that is was Peter’s faith and not Peter himself on which Jesus is building his church. Even the word church is unusual here. The word ekklesia appears only in Matthew’s gospel, never in the other three. Yet it is Christ’s assembly, Christ’s Church, that will be built on Peter or Peter’s faith. We have heard many times that Jesus gave Simon the new name, Peter, and it happened in this moment. Jesus continues the dialogue with Peter: “I say to you Peter (Petros) that on this rock (petra) I shall build my ekklesia (assembly; usually translated church).” Peter’s name reflects the description given- rock or stone or foundation. So whether it is Peter or Peter’s faith that is the foundation, it is clear that Jesus wants to build upon this moment.
Jesus just gave Peter a new name. I think you know names are important. Consider the fire names we hear. The one in Santa Cruz is CZU Lighting Complex Fire. Each part tells us something about the fire. First because multiple lightning strikes started this fire it is called a complex lightening fire. The CZU name comes from CAL FIRE and how they divide geographically along county lines: CZU is the combined San Mateo-Santa Cruz County region.
I want to let you know that our shower ministry is actively supporting evacuees in our area. It was at the County Fair Grounds on Thursday and showered 36 people and is stationed at Twin Lakes assisting those evacuees in between showering the homeless in our community. We truly are living up to our name- Shower the People.
Jesus asks two questions: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” This is a great starting off point. It feels like when you ask a question and you say you are asking for a friend; it is sort of once removed. Yet great answers are provided- John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or another prophet. They are covering their bases. Rightly so, Jesus is in that line of prophets, but he is also not one of many, Jesus is unique. This leads to the second question, the more personal question: “Who do you say that I am?”
You have to love Peter because he steps up and declares Jesus “the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Now remember the disciples had already proclaimed him the “Son of God” after Jesus calmed the storm and Peter walked on water (14:33). But we all know we say things in the moment, even pray to God in the panic. But it is the declaration when you are just traveling down the road that reveals your truth. And oh, what a truth it is! Peter testifies to Jesus being the long awaited anointed one and the Son of the living God. Here we are sitting in our homes, once removed for being evacuated from fires so I ask you: Who do you say Jesus is? There is no right or wrong answer. It is your truth about who Jesus is. You can answer that question in the chat. Type in and share who Jesus is for you. I’ll give you a moment to do that and then I will share them.
As you are doing that, let me say that as we saw last week, names are important to Matthew especially in all of the begats at the beginning of the gospel – which was the first time Jesus is called the Messiah (1:1). But this is the first time Messiah and Son of God are joined together, but it will not be the last. Tragically the only other occurrence of these two names being put together is at Jesus’ trial before the high priest. This identity will be the occasion of his being found guilty and sentenced death! (26:63-66).
Your answers to Who do you say Jesus is? ____ I hope this question abides with you this week as we are faced with more storms, just like the disciples, and our everyday lives.
In closing I want to point out one other thing. After Peter names Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of the living God, Jesus renames Peter as the rock, the foundation of his church. It is a two-way street. It is not only you naming Jesus, it is Jesus renaming you! What qualities and characteristics do you hope Jesus sees in you? How might your actions be a way of claiming Jesus in a new way in your life? So as you continue to think about who Jesus is for you in this moment, with fires burning, a pandemic raging, and politics clamoring, I encourage you to look for ways that claiming Christ’s identity and power in your life will be able to change you. Maybe not your name, but how you move through the world. The character by which you face all the struggles we are enduring right now.
I don’t know about you, but I have needed to lean into my faith, my hope, more as one thing after another presents itself in our lives. I admit I find fear all too easily these days. But fear is not the quality I want to define me. My prayer is that as I claim Jesus as the Messiah and Son of the living God, Jesus would rename me Hope, so that I could live more fully into the hope of my faith. But that is exactly what Jesus came to be- the hope of our living God walking the earth and showing forth God’s love so that Peter, and we, can see our God more fully revealed by our Heavenly Father. Amen.
