Who Do You Say That I Am, Matthew 16:13-20

This past Sunday's sermon covered the verses found in the Gospel of Matthew 16:13-20.  Here we find a story that is found in all three Synoptic Gospels, (though Mark and Luke exclude the perceived establishment of Peter as the 'rock' upon which Christ built His Church, in Greek the Ekklesia) this is the story where Christ first asks who do the people say He is and then He asks the Disciples "But who do you say that I am".

It's a rich text but, I chose at the end of the sermon to turn it around and ask the congregation, "but who do we say that we are".  The answer to that question should be of course, that we are the followers of Christ.  But as the followers of Christ, we need to remember our calling.  We are not called to battle over overly simplified concepts, nor are we called to over complicate the words of Christ, we are called to love one another.  I personally, don't see either the left or the right in this Country doing a particularly good job of 'loving' these days.  Too often we are lumping others into generalized categories rather than seeing them as individuals and recognizing that their concerns (both those on the left AND those on the right) do in fact have merit.

As I say in the sermon; "Do our actions identify us as followers of Christ.... As we read these words today, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God", let us remember who it is that we follow... let us remember who it is that we advocate for... who it is that we represent in this world, let us be His hands and His feet for a hurting and wanting world."

Matthew 16:13-20 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah,[a] the Son of the living God.” 17 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. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter,[b] and on this rock[c] I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19 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.” 20 Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was[d] the Messiah.[e]

Footnotes:

a) Matthew 16:16 Or the Christ
b) Matthew 16:18 Gk Petros
c) Matthew 16:18 Gk petra
d) Matthew 16:20 Other ancient authorities add Jesus
e) Matthew 16:20 Or the Christ

The warning at the end of the Scripture was a warning for the Disciples in their time, not ours... we need to daily proclaim the reign of the risen Messiah.  Let us proclaim it loudly through our actions, by loving each other and by being in dialogue with those with whom we disagree.  Let us seek to caution and to calm those who attack and demean those with whom they disagree, whether it be on either side of the ever widening divide.  Once you call someone Satan, or evil, a fascist, or a communist, or pronounce that your opponent is sick or condemned to Hell... well then all hope for reasoned conversation is gone.  Let us, the followers of Christ throw off those blinders, these gross misrepresentations of those with whom we disagree... and seek to find the love and grace that resides in Christ.

Matthew 5:43-48 New International Version (NIV)
Love for Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Let us simply love one another...

Be a blessing to someone today!

In His Unending and Unlimited Love,
Roy