Who Am I?
Matthew 16:13-20
Who do you say that I am?
That single question is probably the most important question in all of scripture. Who we perceive Christ to be determines all else about how we practice our faith as followers of Jesus.
As the disciples think about all the responses they have heard, we see how fickle human perception can be. As the crowds watched Jesus work and wander among them, they saw many things. Some saw a prophet--the authoritative voice of one full of God, correcting the ills of the world, refocusing the people on God at center, and reminding all of the essential nature of life. Some saw a reincarnation of a reformer--Jesus continues the sermon of the Baptist, retooling the practice of faith, and challenging the authority of the established church, bringing faith back into the hands of the people. Still others saw only a teacher--someone simply leading us to a better way.
Then, there is Peter.
He blurts out his confession of faith--Jesus is the Messiah--the promised savior of Israel who will bring the eternal kingdom of God to earth here and now.
Even as Jesus explains the full import of Peter's confession, one cannot help but know that in Jesus' mind, he is saying--Poor Peter--you really have no idea what you're talking about. But for this one moment, he lets Peter feel the blessing of a faithful response.
We are in a moment when collectively we are considering the nature and purpose of power. As we watch the state of our union unfold in reaction to an unpredictable President, Jesus' question looms large--Whom do we see? And as with Jesus, we see a lot of things. Some see a dangerous demagogue, liable to launch a devastating war on the earth. Some see a buffoon who simply acts on impulse. Some see a repulsive icon of bigotry. And some see hope, even now, in his sheer unpredictability. Some see a champion of their cause. Some see a voice that speaks for them as they feel silenced and cast aside.
We see a lot of things.
But do we see the presence of God with us?
Do we see God at work here and now, continually calling us to see beyond our own self-fixated humanity? Do we hear God still calling for justice and righteousness over the din?
Because we see and hear so many things, we are divided. We grow intolerant of differing views because we are afraid of them--we are afraid of the consequences they will reap; we are afraid of violence; and we are afraid of instability. In our fear of one another, we are liable to quick action that does more harm than good, and may well simply deepen the divides.
Listen for the voice of God.
That call to righteousness asks us to focus on God at the center of all being. And in that center is Christ--the embodiment of compassion that heals all hurts, meets all needs, and offers mercy to all hearts.
That call to justice asks us to open to one another--radically so--even to the point of risking reaching across the divide to touch someone other than ourselves. Jesus met no strangers. He intentionally sought those left out, left behind, and the objects of scorn. He brought them into the circle. He welcomed them. And he led his disciples to welcome them among them. He sat Simon the Zealot and Matthew the tax collector next to each other. He sat with a Samaritan woman. He cared for a Syro-Phonecian woman.
He asks us to follow.
He does so because he knows in this is our hope.
So, who do we say Jesus is? Do we find his open stance annoying? Do we find it too hard? Do we hear the hope within it? Do we see it as our way out of the darkness that envelopes us?
I pray we will answer well.
Who do you say that I am?
That single question is probably the most important question in all of scripture. Who we perceive Christ to be determines all else about how we practice our faith as followers of Jesus.
As the disciples think about all the responses they have heard, we see how fickle human perception can be. As the crowds watched Jesus work and wander among them, they saw many things. Some saw a prophet--the authoritative voice of one full of God, correcting the ills of the world, refocusing the people on God at center, and reminding all of the essential nature of life. Some saw a reincarnation of a reformer--Jesus continues the sermon of the Baptist, retooling the practice of faith, and challenging the authority of the established church, bringing faith back into the hands of the people. Still others saw only a teacher--someone simply leading us to a better way.
Then, there is Peter.
He blurts out his confession of faith--Jesus is the Messiah--the promised savior of Israel who will bring the eternal kingdom of God to earth here and now.
Even as Jesus explains the full import of Peter's confession, one cannot help but know that in Jesus' mind, he is saying--Poor Peter--you really have no idea what you're talking about. But for this one moment, he lets Peter feel the blessing of a faithful response.
We are in a moment when collectively we are considering the nature and purpose of power. As we watch the state of our union unfold in reaction to an unpredictable President, Jesus' question looms large--Whom do we see? And as with Jesus, we see a lot of things. Some see a dangerous demagogue, liable to launch a devastating war on the earth. Some see a buffoon who simply acts on impulse. Some see a repulsive icon of bigotry. And some see hope, even now, in his sheer unpredictability. Some see a champion of their cause. Some see a voice that speaks for them as they feel silenced and cast aside.
We see a lot of things.
But do we see the presence of God with us?
Do we see God at work here and now, continually calling us to see beyond our own self-fixated humanity? Do we hear God still calling for justice and righteousness over the din?
Because we see and hear so many things, we are divided. We grow intolerant of differing views because we are afraid of them--we are afraid of the consequences they will reap; we are afraid of violence; and we are afraid of instability. In our fear of one another, we are liable to quick action that does more harm than good, and may well simply deepen the divides.
Listen for the voice of God.
That call to righteousness asks us to focus on God at the center of all being. And in that center is Christ--the embodiment of compassion that heals all hurts, meets all needs, and offers mercy to all hearts.
That call to justice asks us to open to one another--radically so--even to the point of risking reaching across the divide to touch someone other than ourselves. Jesus met no strangers. He intentionally sought those left out, left behind, and the objects of scorn. He brought them into the circle. He welcomed them. And he led his disciples to welcome them among them. He sat Simon the Zealot and Matthew the tax collector next to each other. He sat with a Samaritan woman. He cared for a Syro-Phonecian woman.
He asks us to follow.
He does so because he knows in this is our hope.
So, who do we say Jesus is? Do we find his open stance annoying? Do we find it too hard? Do we hear the hope within it? Do we see it as our way out of the darkness that envelopes us?
I pray we will answer well.
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