08222020 – Matthew 16. 13-20
Jesus and His disciples are “out” on the road, trudging their way to Caesarea Philippi, a bustling port city. Picture a group of dusty travelers on a Middle Eastern Road, robes, sandals, walking sticks, talking -loudly as they travel.
These guys AND WOMEN are filled with hope. They have seen many, many MIRACLES and they have already heard TEACHINGS that have rocked their world. They walk with their heads held high.
These are not wealthy travelers but rather simple men, fishermen, tax collectors and sinners, and women who have captured a vision that “LIFE” is all about love, NOT a judgment, healing NOT retribution, forgiveness, and NOT punishment. It is a new way of looking at things. Life is about showing mercy and grace. Life is about care and concern for the other.
The rabbi in their midst has done the unthinkable. He has crossed boundaries of race, class, gender, and ethnicity. He has taught them all men are worthy of God. All are a part of his creation. He has “lifted up” both women and children alike.
To one direction lies the Holy City of Jerusalem, in another direction is Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea. Over there lies Greek-speaking-Hellenistic areas and that way are vast deserts and the lands of the ancient Assyrians.
“Power and the powerful” lies on all sides of them.
In typical-rhetorical-rabbinical-style—the rabbi asks them, “WHO do PEOPLE say the Son of Man IS?”
Was this some kind of test? Was he looking for a “canned answer” in “real-time” or was it “purely a rhetorical question?” (You know, the kind that you do not need to answer with an outside voice!)
Slowly but surely, they tell him that people are saying “ALL SORTS OF THINGS”—as people will tend to do. The rabbi had obviously attracted a lot of attention. People WERE talking. A LOT OF PEOPLE were talking.
Some say he is John the Baptizer, recently beheaded by Herod, and now, mysteriously-curiously, come back from the dead.
While others say he is the prophet ELIJAH—who was thought to return before “the end of time.” A sign of the end…eerily…
Still others say either “he IS,” or “he is LIKE” Jeremiah—another “one of Israel’s prophets” who had his “own tensions” with the AUTHORITIES and suffered mightily for it…Jeremiah, known as being the SUFFERING SERVANT…or the suffering PROPHET.
It seems “NO ONE UNDERSTANDS” exactly WHAT or WHOM they are witnessing. WHO is this, they ALL ask?
The “good news” is that people were TALKING, they were QUESTIONING, they were INTERESTED…they were WONDERING…they were watching, closely.
They have never seen “SOMETHING” or “SOMEONE” like this Jesus before. He spoke with AUTHORITY. He did miraculous healings. He routinely challenged the authorities. And he KNEW the ancient scriptures. Why he even challenged and took on the demonic world! He spoke with the WISDOM of the sages and the ages.
Much to their surprise the rabbi turns the question ON TO THEM, and asks “what seems to be” the question he wanted to ask ALL ALONG: “But what about YOU? Who do YOU say I am?”
And get this, THEY got it right! You know that SELDOM happens, right? I mean, seldom, if ever, right?
Peter-the-leader was the first to speak up, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God,” he said.
The rabbi COULD have asked this question anywhere. The locations were limitless.
He could have asked this “self-same question” in the TEMPLE, or on a MOUNTAIN TOP or in a BOAT by the sea.
But he CHOSE, he selected, he hand-picked, THIS PLACE. A city honoring Caesar. It was a global cultic city. A place known for its many gods. Here, the PAGAN world ruled, supreme. This is “the MISSION FIELD” …the land of the “ritually unclean.” Land of the GENTILES. The FOREIGNERS. Here, the HEATHEN dwelled. Here, no Jew, no Hebrew “worthy of the name” would set foot…and yet, here they ALL were…all thirteen of them…and some of the women followers and supporters, too!
HERE at one of the headwaters to the JORDAN RIVER at the base of Mount Hermon, the Rabbi poses “the million-dollar question.” This was a “defining moment” for it not only identified the Rabbi, but it would also define his followers, as well.
He WAS the Messiah, the anointed one, the Christ…and his followers were then, followers of the Messiah, the Christ, the anointed one.
The response by Peter would define THEM ALL. It would later define THE CHURCH, as well. WHO ARE WE? We are the present day, DISCIPLES, the STUDENTS, the FOLLOWERS, ADHERENTS of the Rabbi from Galilee, the Messiah, the anointed one, the Son of the Living God. That is who we are. That is who we represent. That is, in whose NAME we meet and gather. That is who we belong to. We are his. We belong to him. We identify with him. That is where the name “Christian” comes from…it is a PART of our identity.
But it is also a question that EACH ONE of us must ask and answer for ourselves…not once, but MANY TIMES as we journey through this life. WHO IS JESUS OF NAZARETH FOR ME? Allow this to be one of the defining moments in your life! FOR YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN.
But a still BIGGER QUESTION REMAINS: When do we start acting like one?
Amen.