September 6, 2020 - Grace-Tucson Sermon

Matthew 16:13-20 [Pent 14—CWS A]

Pastor Ron Koehler

Grace—Tucson, AZ

September 6, 2020

Dear Friends in Christ, I’d like you to think of a big question that you have asked or been asked. You know, something more life-altering than “Would you like fries with that?” I’m thinking of questions like, “Will you marry me?” Or “Is it cancer, doc?” Or “Are we really going to have a baby?!” These are big questions and the answers to them are life-changing.

Questions like these bring lots of emotions and discussions. And they often involve promises: “Yes, I will marry you!” “I promise; we’ll give you the best care.” “We are going to love that baby SO much!”

When you think about it, what kind of question could be bigger than these? Maybe you can come up with some that would fall into the “really important” category, but there is one that is bigger than all of them, and this is it: “But you, who do you say that I am?” Coming from the mouth of Jesus—true God and the world’s Savior—this is the question of a lifetime!

Today we hear Jesus ask that question of his disciples. We also get to hear the answer given by Peter. Big question—big answer! And in the discussion that followed, Jesus made a promise. It’s that promise that we’re going to key in on this morning, because in it we find that it was not just for Peter, not just for the first disciples, but it is a promise for us to trust too. It’s a Powerful Promise that brings us peace and comfort.

Jesus Guides His Church with a Powerful Promise Jesus had recently taught a crowd of 5,000 then miraculously fed them. A bit later, he did the same with a crowd of 4,000. He had healed a deaf and mute man in the city of Tyre and a blind man in Bethsaida. Now he and his disciples were traveling in the area some 20 miles north of the Sea of Galilee, away from the big crowds and those troublesome Pharisees. He was able to now spend some time with his disciples and teach them.

Even though Jesus had performed miracles and preached and taught the people, there was still confusion about him. The Pharisees, in all their stubbornness and unbelief, couldn’t— or wouldn’t—see Jesus for who he was. They asked Jesus for a sign, but hadn’t he just done many miracles? In the face of their unbelief, he told them that they would not get what they wanted.

Most of the crowds were looking for a “meat and potatoes” Messiah, one that would supply them with all that they wanted and make them into a great nation. They even tried to take him by force and make him their king. Despite Jesus’ fame and popularity, the people were still in darkness about who he really was.

But as frustrated as Jesus must have been with the Pharisees and all the people, imagine how he must have felt when it came to his disciples, his closest friends and followers. Even at this point—into the 3rd year of his public ministry, the disciples still didn’t get it. You only need to read the verses prior to our lesson to find out how much they didn’t understand!

Very quickly, what happened was that the disciples had brought almost no bread along with them. As they talked, Jesus warned them about what he called the “yeast of the Pharisees.” Then they said to each other, “He’s saying that because we forgot the bread.” Jesus knew what they were saying, and you can sense his frustration and disbelief when he said, “You of little faith! Why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you brought no bread? Do you still not understand? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand and how many basketfuls you picked up? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand and how many basketfuls you picked up? How is it that you do not understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:8-11).”

And so, as I said, Jesus takes this time alone with his disciples to teach them some more, because there was much they didn’t understand. He begins with two questions.

First he asks, Who do people say the Son of Man is? Jesus wants them to air some of the popular opinions about him—not to be swayed by a public opinion poll, but so that they would begin thinking about their personal answer to the question. Wanting to do away with any doubts or misconceptions they might have, he then put them on the spot with the question of a lifetime: But you, who do you say that I am?

If you were the kid that never raised your hand to answer in school…or the one who stays away from Bible Study at church because you think the pastor is going to single you out and put you on the spot (we don’t) …can you imagine how the disciples felt?!

Would their answers offend their friend? What if they got it wrong? But some of you are bold; you couldn’t keep your hands down in class—you tried to answer everything! You have something in common with Peter then! He always had something to say!

Sometimes it was terrible (the “get behind me Satan” incident), sometimes it was okay but not well-thought out (the Mount of Transfiguration), and sometimes it was good, like this time. Actually, his answer here was great. Perfect even. And Jesus, his teacher, let him know it.

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter made a powerful confession, that Jesus is the Christ—the Messiah, the One anointed

by God—the Son of the only true and living God. This is the kind of confession that a sinful person could never make on their own—It can only happen if God puts it in their heart and mind. And that is exactly what Jesus said happened. Peter saw Jesus in action, listened to him teach, and God stitched together those experiences with the promises about the Messiah Peter knew from the Scriptures to create faith and understanding in Peter’s heart. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

A powerful confession from Peter was followed by a Powerful Promise from Jesus: I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overpower it. Now, if you thought that Jesus was saying that Peter, the obvious leader and spokesman among the Twelve, would be the man Jesus would use to build his church upon, you wouldn’t be the first. You’d be wrong, of course, but others have thought this—and many still do today. This is a sad thing, and here’s why: that understanding robs this promise of its power.

To begin with, it is a wrong understanding of God’s exact words to say that Peter was the rock God has built his church on. Even if you’re not a big fan of grammar, you’ll appreciate it being handled properly when it comes to something so important as God’s Word. The name Peter means “rock,” so it may seem like “on this rock I will build my church” means that Peter is the foundation. But the grammar of it all doesn’t allow that.

The only possible thing “rock” can refer to is the confession Peter made. You see, “Peter” means a rock, like a pebble or a stone. The word “rock” used here is a different word—specifically a solid rock formation, a fixed, immovable rock. Then there’s other stuff like the gender of the words that makes it impossible for “rock” to refer to Peter.

But that’s enough of a grammar lesson. Let’s get to the promise that is attached to the foundational “rock” Jesus was talking about when he used this play on words.

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” That’s the rock-solid confession of Peter that is the foundation of the Christian faith. Jesus is the Christ. “Christ” is not Jesus’ last name, it is a title that means “anointed one.” Jesus was the One anointed by the Father to save a world full of sinners from damnation.

The Son of God would humble himself and become also the Son of Man. He would put himself under the God’s holy law and live it perfectly. He would allow sinful people to put him to death, fully knowing that his pure life would serve as a sacrifice to God for all sin as he died. But death did not contain him. Just as he defeated sin, he defeated death on Easter morning. And so he lives! The promise of Jesus to us all is that we will live with him eternally if we trust in his work for us.

Jesus is the anointed Savior. That is what Peter confessed! Jesus is the basis of our faith. The Church of God rises up as it is built on Christ. When you think of this, it seems really silly to even consider that the Church has Peter and his successors as the foundation of the Christian Church! A sinful man supporting the weight of Christianity? That could never be! But Jesus, the perfect Son of the living God and the Son of Man, the sacrificed, but risen Lord? Yes, absolutely!

It is about this foundation that Jesus makes a Powerful Promise about his Church: the gates of hell will not overpower it. And how could they?! Jesus has defeated sin and death—which is where Satan and hell gets their power. Sin is Satan’s tool, and eternal death for sinners is his goal. He will be successful in turning people away from Christ and suffering for eternity with those people in hell. But it doesn’t have to be that way for people. Jesus invites all people to see that they are forgiven and to believe that he is the One who conquered death so that they might live eternally with him in heaven.

And there will be many who do believe! The Powerful Promise of Jesus is that Christ’s Church will always stand—right up until the end of this world’s existence. It will not go away. It will not be defeated. And it will continue to exist as God’s people live with him for all eternity. This encourages us in our faith as we see the pressure a sinful world puts on Christians. This gives us comfort and peace.

So remember this promise when you hear about the persecution of Christians—or feel it yourself.

Remember this promise when governments take positions that oppose Christianity and make things hard on God’s people.

Remember this promise when you see Christianity’s numbers shrinking and the worship of false gods—or no god at all—on the rise.

Remember that throughout the history of this world, God has always retained a remnant of believers, his Church. You can read about it in the Old Testament.

You can see it in the New Testament. You can take in that truth through the symbolism of Revelation’s people who are “sealed” for salvation.

The Church will stand. It will stand on Christ until the day he returns to meet her and call his people to heavenly glory for all eternity. May you find peace and comfort and hope in the Powerful Promise of Jesus today. Amen.

Now the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

13 When

Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But you, who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell[a] will not overpower it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he commanded the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.