In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Throughout the Gospels we see Jesus involved in situations where a number of profound questions are asked. Questions such as Pilate asking what is truth, or what is power, and today our Gospel leaves us with another when he asks his disciples, ‘But who do you say that I am?’
On the face of it, it seems to be quite a simple question, Jesus wants to know how the disciples view him, and it is Peter who answers on their behalf. ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’
There at Caesarea Philippi this would have not only been a bold statement but also a risky one, as this region had tremendous pagan religious connections where many of the world religion were on display, which would have made this profession a dangerous one to make.
It was with this danger in the background that Jesus chose to ask one of the most crucial questions of his ministry. We could speak of Jesus as prophet, holy man, teacher, or spiritual leader, and few will object. But speak of Him as Son of God, divine, of the same nature as the Father, and people outside of the Christian faith will line up to express their disapproval.
Nevertheless we find in our reading today the profession of Christ as the messiah, the verbalisation of that which the disciples had likely suspected for some time.
However, this confession although significant in itself, is not the most profound part of our scripture. Jesus then went on to say, ‘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’
For centuries Christians have argued over what Jesus meant when he said this, if we were Roman Catholic then it would be an easy answer, as they believe that Jesus was commissioning Peter to become the rock of faith, and build his church, this is how Peter became the first pope.
But what if Jesus words were meant in another way, a way which is much more profound, and holds a different significance for all who profess Christ as Lord?
We all know that Jesus would often speak in parable and analogy, and perhaps this is one of those times, when we need to look deeper into the words, and not just take them at face value!
The conversation that prompted these words wasn’t a private one between Jesus and Peter, he was talking with the twelve, and Peter was the one who answered Jesus question on behalf of them all.
Could it be that the rock that Jesus will build his church upon is in actual fact the truth that reveals to us that Jesus is the Christ?
If this is so then it has ramifications for each of us. Christ wasn’t just preparing one person for the task of building his church; he was preparing the way for countless Christians across the centuries to personify and embody this calling.
It is with this in mind that we turn our attention to Paul’s words in the passage from Romans that we heard. ‘so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another’
As the Gospel teaches us that our belief lies in the cornerstone, which is Christ, then the epistle shows us that the church, the people of God are not autonomous individuals who work alone, rather that we are called as one people to work together to continue the work that has been handed down from one generation of the church to the next.
But carrying out the work alone is not enough; it’s only a part of the whole. As Christians we are called to help and support each other. But it could be argued that there are other secular institutions and organisations who do the same for their members, and they would be right.
So what separates us from the activities of these secular bodies? The answer lies in the meaning behind the words of our Gospel, The church is built in unity through people confessing together that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. That is the foundation of the church, and all of our activities
In Ephesians it says. ‘For you are…built upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.’
The cornerstone or the bedrock of the church is Jesus Christ himself. And upon that bedrock are the apostles. Those unlikely, uneducated Galilean men, fishermen, tax collectors, who left everything to follow Christ, are the foundation stones of the church.
In First Peter he said "You have come to Christ who is the Living Stone.” After that he essentially says, "And you are built upon him as living stones upon living stones."
That is to say, Jesus Christ is first. He's the First Living Stone, the bedrock. Upon him is built first, the apostles, then all the first century believers, then the second century believers, and so on all the way up to today and in time beyond.
Here's where we become part of the story. When we confess our faith in Jesus Christ, we become living stones, joined into that great church which Christ is building.
We’re not Christians because we came together as church this morning, or because we were baptised, or because of what we do or say, these are all part of living out our life of faith. We are Christians because we like those who have gone before us, have confessed our belief in Jesus Christ, and then held true to that belief through every part of our lives in all that we do 24 hours a day 7 days a week. We need to remember that in this holy place of sanctuary and prayer it’s easy to have faith. It’s when we turn off the service, or leave church and step out into the world that faith kicks in, and it’s at that moment of pure realisation that we can, if we haven’t already, become a living stone ourselves, and part of the living and active body of Christ.
But what does it mean to be the body of Christ in the world today?
It means that we are the flesh of Christ, in the world.
Each of us is Christ’s body in the world.
We are the eyes of Christ
and see the work of God all around.
We are the ears of Christ
and hear the sounds of Christ all around.
We are the mouth of Christ
and speak the words of Christ’s
compassion to those around us.
We are the heart of Christ,
and share the emotions of Christ
with everyone we meet.
We are the hand of Christ,
and we stretch out our hand,
which is Christ’s hand to help others.
We are the legs of Christ
and those legs carry us to those in need.
We are the feet of Christ,
and we help others to walk in Christ’s ways.
Yes, we are literally and symbolically the body of Christ,
the flesh of Christ in our world.
It’s no easy task, and the responsibility that we share is great.
Martin Luther said that we are little Christ’s. That people see in our lives a little piece of Christ. It’s a wonderful description of us, but it also speaks to us of the burden we are all charged with the responsibility of carrying.
Jesus meant to build a church, to leave behind a company, a people who would work together, because it is very difficult to follow him alone.
We need traveling companions on this journey of life to follow him: people to talk to, and argue with, people to love and care for, people who will believe and sing and pray on the days that we don’t have the strength, people with whom to be signs of God's kingdom, a light in the city, the church of Jesus Christ.
Christ didn’t come to build a church of division, where we argue with one another about petty little things, complain because something isn’t to our liking, or over who is the first or most important.
He came to build a church at one with itself, in love and encouragement that would continue the work he set for us to do, in short a church in unity. Remember the words he gave us at the last supper – ‘I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’
As we profess our faith in Christ, the messiah, the son of the living God, we need to remember that our purpose, our faith is in the Rock, the cornerstone, who came to earth and lived among us, so that we may learn how to be one body, so that we may be examples to everyone, in everything that we do. Not for our own gratification, no, but rather, to his praise and his glory. Amen.
