Peter Confesses that Jesus is the Messiah

Though the populace does not yet grasp Jesus’ true identity, in Matthew’s Gospel at least, the disciples are beginning to see. Sometime earlier, the disciples had seen Jesus walk on water in the midst of a storm, provoking them to worship Jesus and say, “Truly you are the Son of God” (Matthew 14:22-36). But now, in a peaceful setting, Jesus asks his disciples directly, “Who do you say that I am?” Perhaps speaking for them all, or perhaps speaking only for himself, Simon Peter states his belief — his confession — that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. Jesus responds by blessing Simon, proclaiming that his confession, his understanding that Jesus is the Messiah, is the work of God, who has revealed this to Simon. But … has God revealed everything about Jesus and his vocation to Simon? Evidently not; for not long after this, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must suffer. Peter didn’t see this coming. He didn’t understand, or didn’t what to. Jesus rebuked Simon Peter for being a “stumbling block,” even calling him “Satan” (Matthew 16:21-23).

Like Peter, we also struggle at times to fully realize the titles and identity of Jesus. The challenge is three-fold: understanding, believing, and sharing. The three of these are each unique aspects of following Christ, and each important. How can we learn from Peter’s honest conversations with Jesus and the lesson he learned from Jesus setting the record straight about our focus (16:23)? We quickly see that Jesus cares much more about our focus on the concerns of God, rather than human concerns. This is namely why the Church is important. It helps with this mission that Jesus has set before us and calls us toward. The church is the Holy Spirit-filled community of people who find a key priority in the concerns of God, regardless of what the world offers.

• Rev. Jimmy Decker | 05/07/2023 | 9:30 Traditional

• Rev. Jimmy Decker | 05/07/2023 | 11:00 Contemporary