Matthew 16:13-20

August 27, 2023

The Rev. Todd R. Goddard, Pastor

Rush United Methodist Church

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.

| Centering Prayer |

Fresh out of seminary

I was too wet behind the ears

To be able to distinguish the difference between

Caesarea Philippi and Caesarea Martima.

Can you?

Using Tiberius on the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel as a navigational anchor,

Caesarea Martima is 51.4 miles southwest of Tiberius,

A coastal Roman capital on the Mediterranean.

Warm, sandy beaches with a protected port fed by a massive Roman aqueduct,

Caesarea Martima was a place of trade, commerce, military might, and Roman power.

Pontious Pilate called it home.

In contrast,

Caesarea Philippi is 46.7 miles due north of Tiberius.

It was a cool mountainous outpost at the base of Mt. Hermon,

Noted as the spring water source of the Jordan River.

Caesarea Philippi was deep in gentile country.

Caesarea Philippi was the nexus of Baal idol worship and allegiance to Greek gods and myth.

At this location the first king of Israel, Jeroboam,

Led the northern kingdom into idolatry.

Flanking the grottos where Jesus taught

Were rock carvings and statutes

Of Baal, Pan, and what was believed to be the pagan gate of Hades.

For the observant Jew

Caesarea Philippi was where the devil did his work.

The only thing in common was the name Caesarea;

An ominous homage to where true power lay;

Before the throne of Caesar,

Emperor of Rome.

…

Jesus brings his disciples on retreat.

Today’s gospel is a lesson in leadership development,

Taught from the heart of darkness.

Jesus had recruited his disciples,

Students who he demonstrated his divine powers of

Healing the sick, cleansing a person with leprosy, casting out demons, fixing a withered hand.

Jesus had taught his disciples in beatitude and parable,

What it meant to live a life of blessings,

To bring salt and light to a bland, dark world,

Filled with sorrow and sin.

Jesus taught

To temper anger and a prohibition on divorce,

To love enemies, to be charitable to the poor, and to pray without ceasing.  

He taught them to sow seeds, harvest fruit, and to remove and burn weeds

As a sign and symbol for disciple making.

Jesus had demonstrated to his disciples

The awesome, unlimited power of God,

Stilling a raging storm, walking on water, and feeding four thousand with seven loaves and a few small fish. (15:14)

Jesus had also warned his new disciples,

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth,”

Jesus warned with messianic overtones,

“I have not come to bring peace, but a sword!” (10:34)

Jesus turns and asks the group,

“Who do people say I am?”

…

The bland as milk toast

group of non-committal disciples

lowered their eyes,

kicked some dirt,

and responded with the safe answer.

“Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” (16:14)

John the Baptist: dead.

Elijah: dead.

Jeremiah: dead.

Jesus was no more the resurrection of a dead prophet

Then he is the resurrection of George Washington.

Which brings us to the first lesson for today.

1. When it comes to your relationship with Jesus, don’t play it safe.

Token, semi-annual appearances at worship

Is no substitute for a living, breathing, growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

Christmas Eve and Easter appearances may appease the family

But reflect a hope that is built on nothing less than sinking sand.

When it comes to Jesus, don’t play it safe.

The Church is not an organization to financially support,

a building to be repaired,

a politic to be mastered,

or a ladder for the ambitious to climb.

Work, without faith, is dead;

Just as dead as John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, and the other prophets.

…

Jesus narrows the search

From “who do people say the Son of Man is?”

To looking Peter in the eye, asking,

“who do you say that I am.”

Messiah! Peter, boldly proclaims,

Making reference to

Not bringing peace,

But the sword he had armed himself with

In anticipation of the messianic apocalyptical consummation of history and time.

You are the

Son of the living God!

Peter, correctly contrast

The living, breathing Jesus

Standing surrounded by all things idols and pagans

Beside the very entrance to what was believed to be the gates of hell.

2. Which brings us to the second point in today’s gospel:

When it comes to Jesus, go big or go home!

Bold is the faith of Christ’s true disciples;

Fearing none,

Every thread of embarrassment or self-doubt squared away.

Timid is the faith of chaff

That is gathered, cast out into the darkness, and burned in the fire.

Make bold your faith!

Say is loud.

Say it proud.

Shout it from a mountain top that all the world might know:

Jesus is Messiah,

Our Savior,

From sin to salvation,

From life to eternal life,

From the dust of mortality to immortality.

Messiah has come!

We need not wait for another.

Jesus breaks with the synagogue down the street.

Jesus become the one who will endure

“and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” (16:18)

We have a winner!

Jesus is Son of the living God,

Alive, at work

In your life and mine.

Deny his presence and will

at your own risk.

Accept the reality of Christ for your benefit, and for mine.

It is as if Peter wells in song:

“Christ is alive, and goes before us

to show and share what love can do.

This is a day of new beginnings;

our God is making all things new.”

(Words by Brian Wren, “This Is a Day of New Beginnings”, UMH# 383, v.4)

….

“Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah!

For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you,

but my Father in heaven.” (16:17)

Simon Peter hadn’t heard it on the grapevine.

It wasn’t sent out in a Rush Tidings, printed in Our Faithful Followers, or printed in the bulletin.

He didn’t read it in the Democrat and Chronicle or the Hometown Sentinel.

Peter listened for,

Paid attention to,

The revelation of God.

3. Which brings us to the third lesson for today.

Be silent.

Watch.

Listen.

Discern

The words and will of God.

Be patient.

Wait for the Lord.

Scripture tells us no less than fifteen times to

Wait for the Lord.

Blessed is the one,

Earlier the subjects of the Beatitudes,

Here, Blessed is Simon Peter,

Who faithfully reported the Good News given to him

From Our Father, who art in heaven.

How often do I jump to conclusions?

Conclude without facts, and leap to judgment?

How often do I make assumptions?

Draw correlations without first listening for the voice of God?

How often do I ignore all warning signs from God, and

make decisions without first considering the unintended consequences of my actions?

Wait for the Lord.

Why?

Because the Lord is ready and willing to speak

To those who are willing to listen.

…

Ah, Simon Peter,

The follower,

Destined to deny,

Is transformed into rock,

A solid foundation upon which

Christ will build his church.

Which brings us to point number four.

4. If Jesus could use Peter to build the Church, imaging what Christ can do with you.

Peter: blue collar, common fisherman.

Peter: a bone-headed, open mouth, insert foot kind of guy.

Peter: Three times a liar – I don’t know him. I’ve never seen him. I’ve never followed him.

Peter: Three times the penitent groveller. Yes, Lord. You know I love you. Yes, Lord. I love you. Yes, Lord. I love you.

Peter: Barbequed and martyred by the hand of Nero, crucified upside down, set afire.

If there was room at the table for Peter,

There is room for you.

If there is room at the table for me, I assure you,

There is room for you.

Christ can take the most beaten down, beaten up, shot to … smithereens

Body, mind, or spirit,

And use you as a foundation for the building of his church.

This is why we have no throw-aways, cast-offs, or cast-aways in the church.

If Jesus can use Peter,

Jesus can use you.

…

To Simon Peter,

Jesus gives the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

Not everyone gets a set of keys;

Only Peter

The rock,

The foundation of the Church

Upon which Jesus builds,

And builds,

And builds.

To Peter

And to his anointed, ordained called to follow in his footsteps,

Is given the responsibility of stewardship of the Church,

To bind and to loose,

Decisions that transcend the boundaries of earth and heaven.

Which brings us to the fifth and final point in today’s gospel:

5. Respect and support the chosen.

The yoke born by bishops, presbyters, elders, and deacons is heavy and leads to the cross.

“Bind” and “loose” were common to Jewish legal phraseology

Meaning to declare something forbidden or to declare it allowed.

A key is used to lock or unlock a door.

The key given to me at my ordination is used to open the door to Christ’s forgiveness and redemption to people broken by sin and evil.

An open door shows the way to the cross of Jesus Christ.

That same key given to me

is used to open the door of salvation

To invite the world to enter.

Beloved, step from your grave

And into the light of eternal life.

That same key

Locks the door

Providing protection to the church

From wolves who seek to destroy everything which Christ has built.

Heavy is this responsibility.

Heavier still is this responsibility

As I discern and consider the call of the next generation of

Called and ordained clergy of tomorrow’s Church.

…

What does this interaction

Between Jesus and Peter mean to us today?

1. When it comes to your relationship with Jesus, don’t play it safe. Spice it up and be bold!

2. When it comes to witnessing for Jesus, go big or go home!

3. At the same time learn patience. Be silent. Be patient. Wait. Watch. Listen. See. Discern the words and will of God.

4. Imagine what Christ can do with you and through you.

5. Respect and support the chosen. Our job is to protect the Church;

to open the door to Jesus Christ;

and to invite you to accept his grace of forgiveness, redemption, and salvation.

Amen