According to Hegessipus, an early Christian historian - Peter, having been urged to flee by the Christians in Rome, was on his way out of that violent city, when he saw a vision of Jesus. Peter asked the Lord where He was going and the Lord told him that He was on His way to be crucified again. That was the end of the vision, and Peter understood it to mean that he was to return into the heart of that tumultuous place, because martyrdom, for Christ’s sake, was waiting for him there.
Peter remembered:
He must have remembered, as he walked back into Rome that morning, another morning when he had encountered the risen Lord on the shore of Galilee. With the sun just beginning to rise - Jesus called to Simon, who was in his boat. Peter, could not contain himself, dove into the water – and swam to shore. Jesus welcomed Peter back as a disciple – this sometime after Peter had denied the Lord three times – and there, Jesus fed Peter, and warmed his body with a fire – and Peter’s heart with His words. Then, Jesus told Peter about the kind of death that he would die – the death that would propel him finally and forever into the arms of God.
Now in Rome – years later – walking the dusty streets toward that moment – Peter must have thought back over his own years of faithful service to Jesus. This Peter, a man recognized by all as one filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit. This Peter, who had walked the far dirtier streets of the towns and villages around Jerusalem. Those streets had been strewn with people – on mats and crutches, sick of heart, body, and soul, those who were outcast and those who were dying. All of them edging in, trying to get close enough so that Peter’s shadow might fall across them, and heal them.
He probably recalled some of those moments
– trials before the religious officials, whippings, the many nights in prison,
– the baptism of the Holy Spirit – preaching from roof tops one morning when more than three thousand heard the good news about Jesus – and believed it!
An Origin of Faith
All of these events had to have an origin of faith. Somewhere along the way, Peter’s life changed dramatically - when he believed that Jesus WAS / IS the Son of God. A life lived so powerfully for God had to have a beginning in a confession of belief, as does every life lived for God.
I wonder if Peter also thought back to THAT beginning. I can imagine that he did. I can imagine that he recalled that morning with a mixture of gratitude and regret. Regret for not having understood clearly enough who Jesus was to save him from some later mistakes. But thankful to God for allowing him to begin to understand – thankful that God allowed this faith – faith in Jesus – to be birthed inside of him.
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That, it seems, came in the region of Caesarea Philippi, when Jesus stopped their movement – their journey toward Jerusalem to pray – and to ask Peter and the rest of the disciples a very important question. A question that was to have tremendous significance in the lives of the disciples. The very simple question that Jesus asked them, “Who do you say that I am?”
This is THE central question – one that Jesus posed many times – in many ways – and that people are still answering – two thousand years later – all over the world.
- Simeon, in the temple, just after Jesus birth – answered this question by praising God for allowing him to see with his own eyes – The Savior of the World.
- Some Jews in a synagogue in Nazareth, years later – in answer to that question – tried to cast Jesus off of a cliff just outside of town.
- Judas, answering that question – became thirty pieces of silver richer – and eternally poor.
- Saul – answering that question became Paul – the self proclaimed slave of Jesus Christ!
- Stephen – answering that question became filled with the Holy Spirit and preached the most passionate sermon in history – before being stoned to death – while pleading for the forgiveness of his murderers.
The list could go on and on . . .
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“Who do YOU say that I am?”
Before asking Peter and the others who they thought Him to be – Jesus asked them “who do men say that I am?”
That is a pretty non-threatening question – it invokes no authority over your life to answer that one – “Who do men say that You are?”
“Well – some say you are Elijah – some are even saying you’re John the Baptist come back from the dead – or another prophet – perhaps you are even the prophet”
There is no need to respond with one’s own heart – with one’s own actions – to commit yourself - to place yourself under the authority of Jesus to answer that question is there?
So long as the question of the identity of Jesus is discussed at the level of the intellect at the level of the academics - there is no claim on the heart, there is no claim on the life. But the creator of the world – the one who formed us together in our mother’s wombs – will not be satisfied with a place in the conversation of critics – He always lays claim to the heart.
Now the Question turns to the Disciples:
Now the question has turned to the disciples, and Jesus’ eyes lock with Peter’s. “What about you? Who do YOU say that I am?”
This is not a question asked by your typical, everyday Rabbi. Even the question itself makes a statement – there is something much more important about me – wrapped up in my identity – than most people realize.” There is a claim, even in the question - to divinity – it may even be an echo of the creator’s words to Moses – “tell them that I AM has sent you.”
What will you do – with my claim, what will your life response be to my question / statement?
What about you, Peter?
“What about you, Peter? Who do you say that I am?”
Not long before, Peter remembered, the disciples and Jesus had been on the sea – when a fierce storm broke out. So awesome was this storm that seasoned fishermen were terrified that they might all perish. The waves continually swept over the bow and into the boat – the little craft could not be bailed out fast enough. The winds thrashed – threatening to capsize them – the disciples were helpless, and fearful, and in death’s grip and . . . Jesus was sleeping.
Master! Master! They cried. We’re going to drown! Jesus arose and steadied himself against the mast, stretched out his had and simply rebuked the wind and the sea . . . and it stopped. Everything ceased, and the only sound was the steady drip, drip, drip, from the sails and beards and clothing and that of still rapid breathing. They were amazed, they were afraid – and someone finally broke the silence and asked the question that was on everyone’s mind – “Who IS this? That even the winds and the water OBEY Him?”
What about you, Peter????
“What about you, Peter?” Now away from the pressing crowds, in peaceful solitude, on solid ground, without a storm cloud in sight – “Who do you say that I, the Son of Man am?”
¬A Clear Affirmation
And Jesus gaze stayed fixed on Peter. What was needed now was a clear affirmation – FROM WHICH THERE COULD BE NO TURNING BACK. Not just an emotional response in time of crisis. No this was the time for confession from the heart.
The Road Ahead:
The difficulty of the road ahead demanded a heart confession.
The road ahead, the road to Jerusalem – with Jesus would demand it.
The road back to the upper room to wait with the disciples – after Jesus had been crucified and after Peter had denied Him – that road demanded it.
The road to Lydda, and Sharon, and Joppa and all the coastal towns where Peter would preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ demanded it.
Finally, the road that Peter was now on – to the place of his own crucifixion, somewhere outside of Rome – demanded it.
I Believe that You are the Christ:
“I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Never had Peter answered so important a question. This response, this heart –born confession gave Peter and the others a starting place to come to understand what it means – that JESUS is the CHRIST.
“I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of the LIVING God.”
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In Relationship to us:
I have thought of this story in relationship to us this week. We are faced with a very uncertain year.
There is no question that Pastor Holley is the shepherd of this church – given by God to lead us, love us, mentor many of us. And , now we begin what, Lord willing, will be no more than a year – without that shepherd. (Our pastor was deployed to Iraq as an Army Chaplain). But then, the church has never been dependent on anyone other than the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Who do you say that I AM?”
Not, what do you think about your interim pastor . . . not, who is currently on the church board, . . . for that matter, not even – who is the president of the United States.
All of those things are important – they all have their place – they all may be rightfully asked –
Still, the central thing – for Peter – as he lived out his life – of falling – of coming up short – always of getting up and loving God – the central question of his life was “Who do you say that Jesus is?”
The central Question for us:
The central question for us is still – Who do You say that I, the Son of Man am?” Present circumstances can never change the central question. The answer to that question is what guides all of life.
Paul in Prison:
I wonder how folks in Philippi felt at the news that Paul – their own father in the gospel – was in prison. I am not sure how they felt – but Paul felt this way about it: “I want to report to you, friends, that my imprisonment here has had the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered. All the soldiers here, and everyone else too, found out that I’m in jail because of this Messiah. That piqued their curiosity, and now they’ve learned all about Him. Not only that, but most of the Christians here have become far more sure of themselves in the faith than ever, speaking out fearlessly about God, about the Messiah.”
Paul Absent / Christ Present:
– Paul was absent from the community in Philippi – Christ was present with them. Paul was imprisoned, perhaps in Rome, Christ was free! No church built around a preacher can survive – and I tell you that for most preachers that is a welcome truth.
– “I am the one in prison,” Paul might have said, “yet Christ is not – Jesus is the Savior of the church – Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Our pastor has said as much himself – and he knows the truth of it as well as anyone.
– “Meanwhile,” Paul went on to write, “live in such a way that you are a credit to the message of Christ. Let nothing in your conduct hang on whether I am there or not. Your conduct must be the same, whether I show up to see things for myself or hear it from a distance. Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people’s trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition.”
Christ is the center – the Message is the focus.
Back to Peter:
Peter needed to know who He believed Christ to be in order to move forward – to shift his gaze forward and trust in the Lord – and He could do that – He could look forward because He knew what he believed about Jesus Christ.
We are at a Cross Road:
We too are at a cross-road – I am sure that there have been many of them in the history of this church. This is definitely one of them. It is a critical period – and the focus now must be – not on licking wounds or jostling for position (as I am tempted toward) – the focus is now – as it always has been – on answering THE QUESTION – its not about me – “who do I say that Jesus, the Son of Man, . . . The Christ is?”
Peter and Crucifixion:
Tradition tells us that when Peter reached the place where he was to be crucified – he requested only that they crucify him upside down. He did not deem himself worthy to even die in the same way that Jesus died. Here, in his death, just as in his life – Peter’s kept the main thing – the main thing.
His gaze - fixed on the Author of his faith
His heart - firmly rooted in God
His identity – Christ Jesus.
Peter’s Life – living it out:
All of Peter’s life – after confessing Jesus as Lord and Christ was an exercise in living out that confession out.
What is important for you and me is to know that a life changing relationship with God begins with the answer to a solitary question – “Who do you say that I am?”
The rest of life is a journey – with God – living that confession to the end of this age.
Conclusion:
I suppose that journey is filled with cross-roads
– opportunities to sort out again exactly what we believe
– opportunities to affirm that Jesus is our shepherd
- opportunities to decide again if we will continue with the journey
What are our options?
Stay behind in Caesarea Philippi – where we know what to expect – where Christianity isn’t such a costly thing –
You know – not witnessing – pushing our own agendas – being content and respectable and lifeless.
-Or-
Keep moving forward – take up our crosses – get involved personally in spreading the Message – continuing to put self to death and giving room for God’s Spirit to possess and lead us.
Who do you say that I am?
