Who Do You Say That I Am?

Jesus is Lord

Matthew 16:13-20

Rev. Tim Callow

Preached Sun. August 23rd, 2020

History knows the rise and fall of many names. Ramses. Sennacherib. Tiglath-Pileser. Nebuchadnezzar. Alexander the Great. Julius Caesar. But few names are as consequential or as compelling as that of Jesus the Christ. This strange Jewish artisan from ancient Palestine turned the world upside down without great wealth, or a large army. His power was not in his incredible violence or fierce strength, but in his humility and weakness. His authority did not come from legions of soldiers, but from the power of his teaching and example. He died, being crucified as a heinous criminal. But his disciples say he lives forevermore.

Who is this strange figure who left his imprint on history? Who is this itinerant preacher many call Lord? Jesus asks his disciples this morning, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” That is, who do the crowds think I am? As Jesus commonly called himself “the Son of Man.”

The crowds of Jesus’ day were as confused as many today. “Some say John the Baptist,” that is, the great preacher and prophet who had just recently been beheaded by Herod. John claimed his preaching was preparing Israel for the coming of the great King who would redeem them from their sins and oppression. “But others Elijah.” Elijah was the great Old Testament prophet who stood up to the sinful King Ahab. The prophet Malachi prophesied that Elijah would return before the great King, the Messiah, would return. The two answers are very similar. So some would say Jesus was clearing the way for the restoration of Israel.

But those weren’t the only people Jesus was being identified with. “Still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Jeremiah was the weeping prophet, who proclaimed the coming destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of Babylon. If Elijah was coming to proclaim the triumphant new reign of God, a new Jeremiah was coming to proclaim the destruction of Jerusalem for failing to live up to God’s covenant. Or, perhaps Jesus was some other prophet who was calling the people back to the Lord. So some would characterize Jesus as an apocalyptic prophet, proclaiming the end of the world as we knew it.

Still today we might add other things people say the Son of Man is. Who is Jesus? Why, he’s a great moral teacher. While other teachers may have accumulated rules upon rules Jesus gets to the heart of the matter and distills all morality to the universal command to love. Not just to love God, not just to love ourselves, but to love one another. Still others may say that Jesus was a great revolutionary. He stood up against the oppressors of his day, challenging the pharisees and Sadducees in the market places, standing up for the poor and downtrodden, calling Judea to release debts and stand up to Rome. Which is why he died, they say, a traitor to Rome. Or perhaps we may be told he was simply out of his mind. A strange man in a strange time who thought himself to be God, and who fooled others into thinking he was some miracle worker.

There are all sorts of images of Jesus out there. Jesus the prophet. Jesus the teacher. Jesus the revolutionary. Jesus the friend. Jesus the fool. Who doesn’t want to claim Jesus? All images have their own truth to them, as well as their own distortions. If Jesus were a mere prophet, how come so many people follow him? If Jesus’ thing was teaching us to love one another, why did he die? Sure seems pretty obvious that we should love each other, pretty innocuous too. Why would the Romans care about some guy preaching on the lilies of the field and the power of love? Don’t they have better things to do? And if Jesus were a revolutionary, why does he have such spiritual power? It can be hard to figure out what’s what, or what we can believe.

“But who do you say that I am?” Jesus then asks the disciples.

Peter responds emphatically, courageously, with no ambiguity. "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

All the other answers are stuck on the human horizon. But by the grace of God Peter can see the divine horizon. Who is Jesus? He is not a prophet pointing to God’s work, but he is very God acting in the world. Who is Jesus? He is not a mere teacher, he is truth itself. He is our model, he is what we live for. Who is Jesus? he is not a revolutionary, but he is the revolution. He has come to turn the world upside down, by dying for our sake that we might have life.

Jesus is the promise of God, who came to free us from the bondage of sin that we may know life, joy, and peace. Jesus is the one who taught us the way to a fulfilling life not in power over others, but in love with them. Jesus is the one who went willingly to the cross, to die in our stead, to free us from death’s grasp, that we would join him in his resurrection. And for all who turn to him he offers mercy, forgiveness, and a share in his life.

What Peter is saying that Jesus is the King. The King of Israel, a King and Lord for us as well. He is the Lord who turns the world upside down, because his authority does not come from the might of armies, but the strength of his love. He is the son of the Living God, the one who acts, the one who heals, the one who saves. That is why there is such a buzz about him. And that is why so many follow him.

Jesus is God’s gift to us. The gift of new life. The gift of peace. The gift of a future. The gift of joy. That is why Jesus tells Peter, “"Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.” Jesus may be the son of God, but Simon is only the son of Jonah. The reason why the crowds may not know who Jesus is, but Peter does, is because God has revealed it. God has gifted it. For those of us who know, we know because God has opened our eyes.

God opened Peter’s eyes in the catching of a multitude of fish, and through months and years of journeying. God opened John Wesley’s eyes at a prayer meeting where he felt his heart strangely warmed and knew that Jesus died for him, even him. That this Jesus, was his Lord. Has God opened your eyes? Has God revealed to you who this Jesus is? Not a mere man. Not a mere teacher. Not a mere revolutionary. But Lord. But salvation. But a peace that surpasses all understanding. The one who forgiveness your sins, who gifts you with his love, and who strengthens you in that love so that you may know peace?

Who do you say Jesus is?