One August afternoon I was down in Monterey looking out at the ocean when a giant Humpback whale breached out of the water. This magnificent grey mammal thrust his enormous body cresting high before splashing back down into the sparkling blue water. The power, beauty and wonder of God’s creation erupted in that moment. Several people gathered around in hopes of seeing more of this playful overture, but the whale returned to its ocean home. Yet the memory of that experience remains with me, is imprinted on me. Living here, most of us have seen whale spouts, or a fin splash, or even gone whale watching, but nothing compares to that epic full whale breach. We are about to hear Peter share something on par with the wonder of this whale sighting. Something amazing, something life changing, something revealed to him by God.
READ Matthew 16:13-20
I visited the area known as Caesarea Philippi on my pilgrimage to the Holy Lands. It was towards the end of the trip, having already seen Jordan, Palestine and Israel. Caesarea Philippi is part of the Golan Heights, Syrian land occupied by Israel. It is located 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee. As the name implies, Caesarea means “City of Caesar” and was built by Herod the Great. The city does not remain, but within this area, we visited Mt. Hermon, which is the headwaters, the primary source of water, for the Jordan River. As you know, Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan, so this was a wonderful place to renew our baptismal vows. Most of us were pastors, so renewing our baptism, instead of baptizing others, was powerful. Mark and Cheryl Goodman-Morris were leading this trip. They were also my youth pastors who inspired and shepherded me into ministry. There I was at the Jordan River, listening to my mentor in faith, preach about the gifts of baptism. Being a beloved child of God, being adopted into the family of faith, bearing witness to who Jesus is, being claimed by God. The same voice that had sparked my passion for ministry, proclaiming God’s love for me 40 years later. Renewing my call and strengthening my faith.
This may sound sacrilegious, but hearing Mark preach, a formative and faithful voice of my youth, reminded me of Jesus hearing God’s voice at his baptism and affirming his call.
On the bus ride, I sat with Cheryl, Mark’s wife and the youth pastor who showed me it was OK to be a woman in ministry. She modeled how to be a woman in the pulpit. I had just had a tearful moment remembering my mother at the Sea of Galilee. Cheryl sat with me as I cried and affirmed the relationship, the family of faith that we all shared in our youth group. My mother was a leader of my youth group, along with Mark and Cheryl. Being loved and known within this group was how I discovered my faith. Caring people, honest relationships, deep shared experiences are how my faith was formed. How I came to know Jesus.
After Mark preached, Cheryl led us in a movement prayer, as we sang Spirit of the Living God Fall Afresh on Me. We paired up and used water from the Jordan to reaffirm our baptism and to feel the sacredness of this place. I guess that is why it was so startling to discover we were standing in an ancient space that was used to worship the Greek god, Pan. The abundant source of spring water, made this location desirable for many, including those worshipping the pagan god, Pan. We walked up to the cave where the spring water emerged, to see the sandstone wall with nocks and arches carved out so they could place images, idols of their gods, in the cervices of the wall. Where rock formations and carved walls hold meaning for another god. We do not know if this was the place, but this place is in Caesarea of Philippi where Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They answer with the greatest hits of faith heroes, John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah. Then for good measure throw in “one of the prophets” just to cover their bases. But then Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” You who have a relationship with me. You who have followed me, heard me teach, seen me heal, tasted bread I have multiplied. Who do you say that I am? Jesus does not want a pat answer, he wants a personal witness, a testimony from his followers and Peter obliges. Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
This is a whale breaching moment! This is an epiphany! This is the time God reveals who Jesus is and changes everything. Jesus is the Messiah! Jesus is the Christ, the anointed one. Jesus is the Son of the Living God! Yet after two thousand years, we are numb to what that revelation means. We know Jesus is the Messiah, but it has lost the awe, the wonder, the amazement of the fact that God has chosen to be born in human form, to become one of us, so that we can be in relationship with God. Our God is not one we make idols of and place in the crevices of rock walls. No, our God is a living God, one made of flesh and blood, who dwells among us. Peter’s answer points to this greater truth: as Son of the living God, this Messiah is also the one who is “God with us” (Mt. 1:23) (Working Preacher, Audrey West).
Jesus blesses Peter for seeing what God has revealed. For seeing Jesus as the Messiah. The same way that Peter named Jesus the “Son of the Living God,” Jesus names Peter as the “son of Jonah,” his earthly father. We can’t miss the irony of the whale connection. But then Jesus gives Peter his name saying, “You are Peter.” Jesus sees him, names him, and validates the truth he has just shared. This is the moment Simon sees Jesus as the Messiah and moment Jesus names him Peter. Honest, deep and life changing relationships and revelations.
Standing in Mt Hermon, surrounded by sandstone rock, I heard Jesus’ words differently. Yes, Peter and rock are similar Greek words, petros and petra, but I am not sure Jesus is naming Peter as the foundation of the Church. Dogma grew up around Peter being the rock on which Jesus will build the church. Peter was vital at Pentecost and claimed to be the first Pope. But what if the rock on which Jesus built the church, is really Peter’s confession, the revealed truth that Jesus is the Messiah. Peter’s confession is the rock, not Peter. Christ’s church is based on Jesus being the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.
Another highlight of my trip was visiting Petra in Jordan. A huge community with sandstone carvings where people lived and worshipped. To give you a sense of its scale, I walked 23,000 steps around Petra. Petra is where they filmed Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where Indi finds his father and the Holy Grail. You remember them riding horses through the snakelike walls and the ornately carved sandstone edifices. Petra means a mass of rock, something foundational. That is the perfect name for this location. So, Jesus saying on this petra, this rock, this foundation, I will build my church, he is not saying Peter a person, but on Peter’s testament that Jesus is the Messiah. Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God poured forth from him as a heartfelt declaration of personal faith. Since personal faith in Christ is the hallmark of a true Christian, those who place their faith in Christ, as Peter did, are the foundation of the church.
So, I pose Jesus’ question to you. “Who do YOU say that I am?”
Each of us can bear witness to the rock, the fact, that Jesus is the Messiah. We can bring our own experiences and relationships with people of faith to bear as we make our own declaration of truth. Our faith teaches us who we are and who God is. That is what happened with Peter. That is what happened to me in my youth group and was renewed at Mt. Hermon. And that can happen to you, as well. Jesus is asking you, “Who do you say that I am?” Amen.
