Matthew 16:13-20
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.
We’ve all heard that actions speak louder than words. Talk is cheap. Put your money where your mouth is! But that doesn't seem to be the case for Jesus. Here are these twelve men, who for the past year or two have followed him everywhere he has gone, done whatever he has said to do, and listened to all that he had to say.
They’ve left their jobs, they left their families, and they put off whatever hopes or dreams they had for their own lives. Yet, Jesus still feels the need to ask them, “who do you say that I am”. I’d say that by these actions, the disciples made it pretty clear who they thought Jesus was.
Was this question some sort of litmus test or pop quiz? One where, if the disciples answer right, Jesus will give them a privileged spot close to him in heaven? Or maybe Jesus will love them more than he already does. Yet, that seems kinda silly. Jesus had already chosen them, invited them to walk alongside him, and teach them. He already loved them. None of that is dependent on the disciples saying the exact right answer.
Or maybe, like in any sport or a job or anything you want to do well, this question was practice, a training session. Afterall, there would be a time when the disciples would no longer have Jesus by their side. So perhaps it was preparation for the day when someone asks, “who is Jesus”? Granted they just said to Jesus not but two chapters ago, “Truly you are the Son of God”. But, that was after Jesus calmed the storm they thought would kill them. Just like no one is an atheist in a fox hole, it’s easy to profess faith after your life’s been saved. But Lord knows it won’t always be that easy.
The location for this training is no accident, Caesarea Philippi. The town was one of the most beautiful and luxurious in all Judea. Mount Hermon towers above the city just to the northeast, giving mountain views throughout the whole village. During Jesus' time, the city grew and controlled the areas around it. It was a center for the Roman empire, a largely pagan city with temples dedicated to Caesar August.
And before that it had been a place of worship to Baal.
It bears the name of both Caesar, after Caesar Tiberius the current Roman emperor, and Philip, the governor of the area. Philip also happens to be the son of Herod the Great, who plotted to kill Jesus as an infant, killing the children in and around Bethlehem. Maybe when he was old enough, Mary and Joseph told Jesus why they were refugees who fled to Egypt and finally landed in Nazareth.
Maybe they told him how even as a baby he was a threat to the Roman empire. Maybe they told him to be careful and avoid Roman city centers. Apparently, Jesus didn’t listen well, because of all places, he chose a rather dangerous one to test not only the disciples’ courage, but more importantly their allegiance and their understanding.
Which is what makes Peter’s answer an astounding profession. “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” Messiah meant that Jesus was the anointed one, the one for whom they had waited, the one who would redeem and restore Israel to her former glory, toppling the Roman government. Adding fuel to the fire, Caesar was known as the son of God. Putting it all together, Peter’s incendiary declaration is in direct opposition to all of the Roman empire. Jesus is the anointed king and true Son of God, not Caesor, not Herod, not Philip. Talk about courage and allegiance!
But Peter’s answer isn’t quite right. Or at least how Peter understands Messiah and Son of God isn’t the same as Jesus himself, as is made abundantly clear next week. Yet, it’s okay that Peter doesn’t have a perfect understanding of Jesus. Jesus still rejoices at this first step, at the courage and allegiance with which Peter answers, and promises to make Peter the foundation of the church.
When’s the last time someone asked you that question, “Who is Jesus to you”? What did you say? How did you answer? Or more likely, how would you answer? My guess is that you can’t remember the last time someone asked you this question, if you've ever been asked before. Yet, it is one we all have to answer.
The question behind the question though might be “why are you here? Sunday after Sunday why do you gather in this place, say these words, sing these songs, and eat that bread and wine? Why do you follow this peasant from Galilee?
This is the most vital question for us as Christians. Not because our answer needs to be perfect or our understanding of Jesus flawless. God’s love for you is not dependent on saying the exact right words or praying a certain prayer or knowing everything there is to know about Jesus and the Bible. Like the disciples, you are already loved by God, invited by Jesus into this life of discipleship, and nothing you say or don’t say will take any of that away. Peter certainly didn’t have it all right; he rebuked Jesus, abandoned Jesus as his time of need, and yet God still used him as the foundation to build the church.
The question is vital because how we answer, “who do you say that I am” says an awful lot about how we live our lives.. how we respond to the grace freely given us.
In a cultural that pines for your attention, telling you that innumerable things are more important than being a part of a faith community: your job, sports, money, comfort.
Do we have the courage to say in word and deed that because Jesus is the love and grace that sustains me, following him and growing in faith are paramount for me and my family?
In a country ripe with political divide and resentment, will we in word and deed proclaim that because Jesus rules and reigns over every power, he belongs to no party and, that as his followers, our allegiance is first and foremost to him.
So many people, pastors, and organizations will try and answer this question for you. Even in a world where nearly every bit of information you could want is accessible at the touch of your fingertips, no one can answer this question for you, not google or youtube or even chatgpt.
You and I have to have our own answer for who is Jesus to me? So consider this your training, your invitation to practice. This is the place where we work with one another to grow in understanding. The place we discern who Jesus is for us here, today, in this place, and in the community. Because the world needs an answer, not only in the profession of our words, but with the actions of our lives.
Amen.
