Matthew 16:13-25
A Confession and a Reprimand
Through Peter's confession and Jesus's rebuke, this sermon examines the cost of discipleship and the constant struggle to see things from God's perspective rather than the world's.
Story
We’ve been together for about two years now. We have walked for miles on end. I’ve swallowed more dust in the last two years than sea water. That’s a distant memory. I still fish some, but not for pay. Andrew and I will fish some when we need some food, but I haven’t set foot in a boat to fish for so long now. Well, I am getting away from my story. Something fairly important happened just the other day. Frankly, it happened so quickly that I wasn’t sure what was going on at the time, but now that I replay it all in my mind things are becoming a bit more clear.
We had traveled to the northern regions of Galilee. Crowds were still following us. The twelve of us have seen things others have only heard about. We have been eyewitnesses for the last two years. Not much has escaped our attention. We finally get a bit of a break. We are never far from crowds but this day was a bit different. Alone just the thirteen of us, we stop on the side of the road and rest awhile. There is always talk. Most of the time the talk centers around what has just happened or what Jesus has just said. And we are always wondering what we are supposed to be doing with all this. Jesus keeps telling us to just be patient. Right now you are learning. Just pay attention and learn what you can. Easy words, difficult to do. Although Jesus answers all my questions, there is just this uneasiness right now. It’s almost like Jesus’s mind is elsewhere. Sorry, I’m getting away from the story.
Sitting there, Jesus suddenly asks us a question: Who do people say I am? This was not a question of doubt or of lack of confidence. Jesus never seemed to lack confidence in what he was doing or where he was going. He always seemed completely focused on what he was doing. Nothing got by him. He wanted a report. What are people saying about me? Some think he is John the Baptist come back to life. There are some who think he is Jeremiah resurrected. The name Elijah has come up frequently. With each answer he smiled. Not a smirk but a smile—like he was hiding something. It was a smile of acceptance and of knowing that something more was coming.
But who do you say I am? This is what he really wanted to know. The question hit us all like a ton of bricks. We have been with Jesus for two years. We had all sacrificed something for him. We certainly recognized that he was special. But who was he? I had already been thinking about that ever since Andrew, my brother, had told me that Jesus was the Messiah. From that point on I watched Jesus uncertain about Andrew’s claim, but certain that if he was a phony I would know it in short order. But after two years there is nothing phony about Jesus. He is more than special. Dare I say it—he is the Messiah.
No one spoke. It was like nobody wanted to admit the obvious or maybe everybody was afraid of the truth. We have seen things that you would find hard to believe. But it isn’t just the miracles that are convincing—it’s the teaching. I mean Jesus understands things about this world like no one I have ever heard before. He is a deep thinker. I sometimes have a hard time understanding him, but he always takes the time to explain. If you had seen what I had seen, heard what I have heard, experienced what I have experienced you would know that there is something more than special about Jesus. I don’t know how long it was between the question and my reply, but in that brief moment of silence I knew who he was. And there was no doubt that what I was thinking needed—no, must—be said. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
It was almost like Jesus was waiting for me to answer because just as the last word came out of my mouth, Jesus had a reply ready. He looked me straight in the eye and when Jesus looks at you, he goes beyond the surface. It is like he can look into your very soul. He told me that God had revealed that answer to me. I didn’t know that. But now that he said it I think I understand. All the things I had seen and heard and experienced had to come from God. Then he called me by my nickname. He’s the only one who calls me that. When he says it I feel special. No one has ever called me “rock”—only Jesus. He said that my faith would be the foundation of his church. That to me he would give me the keys of his kingdom. And right then and there whatever doubt there may have been was gone. I would die for this man—this anointed one of God. I would follow him and honor him with my last dying breath. And if you had seen what I had seen and heard what I had heard and experienced what I had experienced you would decide to do the same thing.
But in all the excitement of the moment, he was telling us to be quiet about this announcement. Somehow I knew what was coming. In the next breath he started talking about Jerusalem and the religious leaders and suffering and death. I didn’t want to hear that. As long as I was around no one was going to do that to Jesus. But sometimes you have to stop this kind of talk. So I decided to talk privately with him. After all, you don’t want to embarrass the Messiah. “Jesus, you need to stop talking like a madman. You are God’s son, the Messiah. We all believe this. I believe this. As long as I am around you will not die.” Standing there face to face—me all smiles, him all frowns—I was telling him about my loyalty and devotion. And just as quickly, he turned his back on me. And what he said to me made me both angry and afraid.
He wasn’t mean in his words. He didn’t spit them out, but there was no doubt about their meaning. “You aren’t thinking right. You think more like Satan than God. You are more concerned about this world’s thinking than about the things of God.” Those words stung. My motives were right. My ideas sound. But Jesus’s words cut deep. I would never want to be a Satan to him. I was only trying to protect him. I just think that the Son of God should be powerful not killed. I have a lot to learn.
Application
First, every person has to answer the question “who do you say that I am?” Like our teens, I spent my youth listening to sermons. Very few I remember, but then I don’t remember too many meals but I know that each one was important to my health and growth. At some point, the words that someone else was telling me about Jesus had to either become a part of my thinking or I had to reject them. Parents may be able to make you come to an assembly, but they can’t make a child have faith. Each person must decide who he believes Jesus is. Peter’s confession reminds us that choosing to follow Jesus comes with evidence. Others beside Peter heard, saw, and experienced a lot of things, but not all came to faith in Jesus.
Claiming to believe in Jesus as the Son of God isn’t the same thing as living for him. Some claim to have faith, but live life for their own selfish motives. But for those who come in faith to Jesus, the kingdom is opened wide.
Second, it is a constant struggle to see things from God’s perspective. None of us will do this perfectly and I don’t mean to imply otherwise, but as Christians we are called on to have in mind the things of God rather than of men. There is no secret to having the things of God in mind. Just think about what you want and then think the opposite. Of course, this is not always the case but our inner desires if not trained properly are more of what the world wants rather than what God wants. Living for God requires constantly seeking ways to diminish our thinking and finding ways to exalt God’s thinking.
Believing in Jesus as the Son of God brings a number of what this world sees as contradictions. But those who walk with Jesus understand that we are listening to another rhythm of life and it isn’t part of this world, but the rhythm of the next.
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