Pentecost 15 - Year A (previously Pent14.A)
August 24, 2008
Matthew 16:13-20
It wasn't the reason I decided to marry Laura, but part of what helped me to realize I could spend the rest of my life with this woman was the way she and her parents sat around the dinner table and talked theology. Yes, theology. Remember, I was in my final year of seminary - Laura was in her first. Getting married would mean a two-clergy couple. So, when I met her parents for the first time, I was delighted that we sat around the table and talked about the stuff which I knew would consume every hour of my work-week.
I was excited, as were they (I think,) until we began to run aground on the issues of theology where my ideas and theirs weren't quite in sync. Case in point – today's Gospel lesson. I think it was six years ago, when I preached on this text, that the dinner conversation got a bit testy. Bottom line – upon what is it that Jesus says he will "build his Church"? Is it Peter, the disciple? Or is it the confession made by Peter?
I am slow to back down from a firmly held position. But, as I prepared for this morning's proclamation of the gospel, I realized that when taken in context, Jesus pronouncement in Matthew 16:18 has more to do with what Peter says than with who he is. It is the confession of Peter, his ability to recognize Jesus as the Christ; it is his willingness to stake his life on such a proposition; this is the "rock" upon which Christ's church is to be built.
The issue here is faith. Peter finds the courage to model it. The rock, for which Jesus has been looking, is the firm foundation established in the lives of those who see and hear and believe.
I don't know how many of you have your bibles with you this morning. If you do, a quick scan of the material leading up to this morning's selected Gospel text would reveal the path Matthew has been lying down to get here. It is a path which traverses insightful preaching, great miracles, and an ability to see into the hearts and minds of others. The suggestions made by the disciples, when asked, "Who do people say that I am?" retrace the events of the previous three chapters. Jesus isn't satisfied with the names they mention; and neither are we satisfied by the acts of ministry capable by anyone less than the Messiah.
The disciples start with John the Baptist. A good start. John was very popular and effective. While the official records of the Roman government never mention Jesus, there are records which speak of John. He caused quite a stir with his preaching and his message. His life was cut short – latterly. His head was cut off. To think that Jesus might be another John the Baptist was a tribute to him.
Jesus had shown some of John's skill. While there are no stories of Jesus preaching the riverside and inviting hearers to be baptized, Matthew's 13th chapter is chocked full of things Jesus taught. The crowds who come out to hear him are impressed. They are moved by his words. But skill as an orator isn't enough. Jesus goes back to his childhood home and the people there won't accept him. An indication, perhaps, that no preacher can have the desired effect on everyone.
The disciples also suggest that Jesus might be Elijah. Elijah spoke God's word when it needed to be spoken. Elijah was also at the center of several of the Old Testament's greatest displays of God's power and strength. Remember the encounter at Mt. Carmel when the prophets of Baal and Elijah have their show-down. It is Elijah's prayers which result in the fire coming down from the heavens, consuming his sacrifice – and the prophets of Baal in the process.
An amazing miracle to behold. But not completely satisfying. Might the mention of Elijah here be an explanation of the material contained in the middle verses of Matthew 14. Here, Jesus feeds the 5,000 with the five loaves and two fish. A great show of power and might – but not completely satisfying. No miracle will ever be able to effect the permanent change desired. Only a Messiah can save us.
Great preaching; the working of miracles – how often do we find ourselves speaking of such things when we talk theology? And yet, neither of these are enough. They help, but they aren't going to keep Peter from sinking.
And, remember, that he does sink, at the end of Chapter 14.
That is the story of Jesus walking on the water. The disciples, who are comfortable in a boat, think they are seeing a ghost. When Jesus tells them not to be afraid, it is he, Peter says, , "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." Jesus tells Peter to come. He does fine for a few moments, then he begins to sink. Jesus reaches out his hand and saves him. In explaining why Peter was not able to walk on the water with Jesus, Jesus says to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" The story is not about Jesus' ability to walk on water. It is about the "little faith" of those who surrounded him. Matthew's story line builds and builds in such a way as to make faith the outcome of the wonderful teachings Jesus offers as well as the amazing miracles he performs.
When Peter is finally able to blurt out, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God," the story has reached its intended climax. It is the confession of Peter upon which the Church is built. It is our ability to confess with him which adds further stones to the foundation of the Church.
The Church is built up, not with eloquent sermons nor with the working of tremendous miracles. The Church is built up when sinking souls like Peter finally have the ability to set aside their fears and confess Christ as Lord.
If you are finding it difficult to imagine yourself deciding to make a similar confession, make sure that you read the second half of verse seventeen. It is from verses like this that Martin Luther gleaned his insistence that we do not "come to faith" but are given faith. Jesus tells Peter, "Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven." Faith, itself, is a gift, given to us by God. It is God's act, God's revelation, which makes possible our confession. We can't arrive at the critical juncture by mustering up our courage and conviction. We are able to share in the confession of Peter when the work of God is completed within us.
If you come back next week, you will be allowed to see that making the confession once doesn't mean that the deal is sealed. In Matthew 16:21 we begin the story in which Peter, the one who confess Jesus as Messiah, will refuse to accept Jesus' warnings as to what this will mean. It isn't an easy road – placing our confidence in this Jesus and then following him to the end.
But we are encouraged to begin, with an acknowledgement of our tongue, of our confidence in Jesus as the one for whom the world has been longing. Allowing the faith planted within us to break forth into the light of the day; confessing with Peter that in Jesus we have found the one who is for us that embodiment of the living God. Make the confession. Hold to the conviction. Then sort of going along for the ride, waiting to see where God will take us.
Amen.
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