Who Do You Say I Am?

Matthew 16:13-19

The Confession of Peter/Second Sunday after Epiphany ~ January 18, 2009

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. As we continue in this Epiphany season we focus on how Christ has been revealed to the world not only as a man but as the very Son of God. This text today shows us Peter's confession about Jesus. At this point in Matthew, Jesus has been with disciples for awhile. He has taught, preached, healed and traveled from town to town and is gaining "popularity.” So Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” It was a teaching moment and the disciples answer first with John the Baptist. At this point John has already been murdered and so some people say that Jesus is carrying on the “spirit” of John in His preaching and challenging the Pharisees. Others say that Jesus was Elijah or one of the prophets like Jeremiah. What they were seeing was a man who was teaching with authority like the prophets. Jesus is drawing crowds, proclaiming God's Word and appearing to be a powerful prophet of old. Many are in awe of the teaching and healing of Jesus, but the see him as a man.

Fast forward 2000 years and ask the same question again, “Who do people say Jesus is?” Has the answers changed? Not really. Many people see Jesus as a great teacher. You can find Jesus in history books alongside other great leaders and teachers. So doubt Jesus' existence and a true historical figure and maybe one in which the story has been embellished. Others will see Jesus as a great guiding light or gurus who's life modeled an enlightened path. And still others see Jesus as a great leader whose principles we can follow today for a better life.

The common denominator in all these answers to the question of who is Jesus is that He was a man. For the disciples and others in Israel 2000 years ago they saw a man. The physical eyes beheld someone who looked like them, and Jesus was a man. Today Jesus is listed with other great men of the past in our history. But He is only viewed as a man.

The Jesus takes the question to a more personal level. He asks His disciples, “Who to you say that I am?” Peter, being one of the younger disciple, I can imagine, raising his hand excitedly, “know the answer to this!” And he does by saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) He got the answer right and this is a radical answer. It is an epiphany answer for Jesus is more than just another human being, He is God. God and man together – this is new, this is radical! This is God at work in our world.

Now before we praise Peter for paying attention in “class” Jesus reveals something important about Peter's confession. This is not knowledge based on human wisdom or understanding. This is knowledge revealed by God alone. And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17, ESV) It is God the Father who has revealed who Jesus is to Peter, to the disciples, to all believers. It is the epiphany, the making manifest, the plan of God's salvation in Christ who is not only a “good” man, but He is also God!

This true knowledge comes to us through the power of the Holy Spirit who works through the Word to enlighten us of God's radical plan of salvation – Jesus who is man and God! That same Spirit continues to work in our hearts and minds to reveal to people who Jesus is and allows us to take the step of faith and to answer the question, “Who is Jesus?” more than just saying He was a man but to say He is also the “Son of the living God.”

Jesus then goes on to talk about something that will take place after His death and resurrection. Jesus talks about the Church, the people of God in the world and what kind of relationship God will have with us. “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18, ESV)

Now there are a few ways to approach what Jesus meant by “rock”. One way is to see the word-play with Peter and “petra” (rock in Greek) and to see Peter as a the beginning point of the Christian church. That in Peter we have the church continuing through-out the ages. And ti is very true that Peter really becomes and important leader in the Christian church as it begins to grow and spread after Jesus ascension. We can base our foundation, our heritage as the Christian church on the work of Peter and the other disciples.

Another way is to view the rock with a capital R and see it as a symbol of Jesus. In our epistle lesson this morning Paul refers to Christ as the Rock. And what a great image that God is our rock, our foundation. Jesus even shares the parable about a man who built his house on the rock, a solid foundation. And we confess and believe Jesus to be our foundation. Even our Old Testament lesson speaks of God as being a rock, a foundation.

But I think there is a third way to look at Jesus concept of “rock” in this passage. It isn't an either/or concept. It is not just Peter, not just Christ, but both. I believe the word-play points to Peter as a believer as being a rock. And the very fact that God is our rock and foundation is established in scripture. So it is both that make-up the church. The firm foundation is in Jesus Christ who makes us a part of this foundation. The church is God's people, strong and solid because Jesus is with us. The God/Man makes us a firm foundation. It takes both to be the church, the body of Christ, the firm foundation.

The church is not just founded on Peter and the succession of believers since then. The church isn't just Christ alone. But it is both believers and Christ together that make up the “rock” the foundation of true salvation. And this “coming together” of Christ and His people builds the church that not even the gates of hell can prevail! We are strong in Christ and part of the body of believers that stretches through all time and into eternity.

So Jesus question is a vitally important one for us and the world. “Who do people say Jesus is?” A man, a story, a guru, a leader? Or God Himself, wrapped in our human flesh, both God and man. And even more important, “Who do you say Jesus is?” That very question calls us to give answer to what God is and has done for the human race. It reveals how God is at work in our lives. And it draws us into a relationship with Him that creates a rock solid foundation on which we can base our whole lives. The question draws us close to God and invites us to ask the world, “Who is Jesus?” and then tell them, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!”

Amen.