Sermon for August 24th

Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” At first, they have trouble answering. You shouldn’t be surprised if you do too. “Who is Jesus anyway?” Many Christians get wrapped up in looking to the “experts” who write books or get interviewed or write commentaries or start cults. Many people in the world are willing to admit that there really was a Jesus who was crucified in the 1st century, but they would argue that Jesus was probably just another Jewish prophet. Jews and Muslims say that Jesus was a prophet too—a great and important prophet in fact!—but nothing more than that. Some theologians argue that Jesus was one of the first feminists. My grandma says that Jesus is God. Some people I know would say that Jesus is simply a figment of my imagination. Who is Jesus anyway? It is difficult to discover that answer just by listening to who other people say that he is.

But what are our other options? “Who do you say that I am?” Jesus asks his disciples. This personal relationship with Jesus is obviously very important. After we answer the question of who other people say that Jesus is, I guess this is the next place to look. But sometimes, people get a little too involved in studying their own personal relationship with Jesus. Unfortunately, all too often, our answer becomes a reflection of what we need or want Jesus to be.

For instance, there was a time, not too many months ago, when Jesus was, for me, a shelter. I hid under his wings against the destroying storms thundering all around me and I prayed that he would just protect me until it was all over. This is biblical imagery, of course, but is that all that Jesus is? A hiding place? Some people talk about how Jesus was a subversive—just like them amazingly enough!—and they talk about how God spoke to them one day while they were reading their Bibles and said, “Get off your duff and march on the capital!” Jesus says, “Who do you say that I am.” And we sometimes even get it right . . . mostly, but we miss a lot of other things at the same time.

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!” What a wonderful confession. Peter is perfectly right of course, but that doesn’t seem to keep him from getting it all wrong a few verses later. Jesus tells his disciples that he must die, but Peter doesn’t want that to happen to his Messiah. First he is called the rock on which the church will be built and, in what must seem like a moment, he is told, “Get behind me Satan!” This doesn’t give me much hope for my personal confession I must admit. Do you think you would fare much better?

Throughout the gospel of Matthew, the question of Jesus’ identity keeps getting mulled over, questioned and discussed. Is he just a miracle worker? Is he an amazing prophet? Is he a god? Is he the Son of God? Is he the Messiah? But even after everyone gives their answers, Jesus has something important to say. “I tell you, you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church.” “Who do you say that I am? The Messiah? You’re right! Thanks be to God! And now let me tell you who you are! That’s right Peter, let me tell you who I think you are.” Which do you think means more to Peter? Who Peter thinks Jesus is or who Jesus thinks Peter is?

We don’t know what to think about Jesus do we? On the one hand, rationally, we have trouble knowing who to turn to and where to look in order to know who he is. Should we call him God, just a prophet, or a figment of our imagination? Then, when the rubber hits the road, we confess who he has been for us. A shepherd. A comfort in trying times. A friend, all our sins and griefs to bear. A rock that we beat our heads against. But after we hear all these answers and answer the question ourselves, we are left in the same predicament. Are we right? We are always waiting to hear that next part: who or what does Jesus think we are? Lost of found? Friend or foe? Sheep or Goat?

You see, as I was preparing this sermon, I didn’t want to tell you who I thought Jesus was because you might just want to agree with me, since I’m your pastor and all, and try to weasel out of your own personal confession, which you are all going to have to make before Jesus eventually. Another option I had was to tell you what everyone else thinks thinks about Jesus so that you might make up your mind, but then I wondered whether you’d believe someone else or, for that matter, whether those other people were even right in the first place?

Then I considered tapping into your feelings and experiences and talk about who Jesus has been for you up to this point in your life. A friend during the hard times? A pain in the neck? An obstacle? Or maybe just a tough idea to wrap your mind around?

Finally, I decided that I couldn’t count on any of these options because they were all based on what I thought, or what someone else thought or what you thought. There was always a loophole, always a problem . . . I couldn’t be sure that I was speaking the truth. So, I turned to the only authority I know where I could be sure that what I was saying was the truth. I turned to the Bible and decided that I would let you know who God thinks you are and let that suffice.

Take a moment and ask God this question: “Who do people say that I am?” Of course, for each of you this will be different, but let me throw out a few guesses if I may. People might say that you are a hard worker, right? Or a lazy good-for-nothing. Maybe you wonder if people say that you are stupid, or maybe annoying, or hardheaded or good-looking or kind?

Now, ask this question with me, “Jesus, who do you say that I am?” “Jesus, who do you say that I am?” Now that is an interesting and important question to have answered. Who does Jesus say that you are? Study your Bibles and you’ll find that Jesus has much to say about you. I’ll let you know some of what I found out. Jesus says, “You are a sinner. You are a liar. You are a cheat. You are an adulterer. You are mine. You are my child. You are my beloved. You are forgiven.”

I would like you to consider for a moment what the Christian life might look like if we stopped focusing so much on who other people say that Jesus is and if we stopped focusing so much on who we think Jesus is ourselves. I would like you to consider what your life might look like if you stopped focusing on who other people say that you are and if you stopped focusing so much on who you think you are yourself. I would like you to hear again who Jesus says that you are: Jesus says, “You are a sinner. You are a liar. You are a cheat. You are an adulterer.” What else is there to say but, yes, Jesus this is all true. Forgive me. You are perfectly right and I am completely wrong. Jesus also says, “You are mine. You are my child. You are my beloved. You are forgiven.” What else is there to say but, yes, Jesus if you say so. You must be right. I’ll take your word for it. You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God after all. I guess I’ll have to believe you. And if you find yourself saying this, consider yourself blessed. For it is not because someone made you or you had to say it, flesh and blood did not reveal this too you, but your Father in Heaven has revealed your faith for you.