One method of teaching is to ask questions and help a student discover
things that they may already know. The idea is to examine each part of the
problem with questions in isolation, eliminate bogus answers, then see if
they can put it together correctly. This helps them to review, and think
through the answers, and sharpen their focus and understanding. This works
fine for questions of this world, but fails in respect to questions about
the True God due to our fallen nature. HE must reveal Himself and build us
as individuals, and as a church.
After all the miracles, Jesus wanted the 12 to realize with their heart
and soul and mind and life what His being the Christ (Son of God, Son of
Man) on earth truly meant, so they traveled to Caesarea Philippi, an
especially pagan area, so they would be isolated - away from their Jewish
roots. Then (perhaps in the vicinity of a Pan garden of Roman idols -
Ederscheim III-XXXVI) Jesus helps them examine the parts by questioning
them, and helps His students, AND US, understand with greater depth what is
going on.
We Confess, but Christ Builds
There are thousands of false and imperfect answers to the question:
"Who is Jesus?" Many first century mainstream people had some nice
impressions of Jesus, even that He was God-sent. Perhaps a great man raised
from the dead! But mainstream theologians had some other opinions.
Sadducees felt Jesus was a lunatic; Pharisees felt He was a false prophet.
He was either mad, or bad - not God!
People in the mainstream of the twenty-first century aren't so
different. Jesus is often reduced to a good man, or an example to follow.
That reduces the followers of Jesus to being viewed as only concerned about
morality and rules-how-to-live; or correcting some social injustice. Quite
often when Jesus is mentioned in civic events. This is the Jesus most
people refer to - and THAT is not the authentic Jesus.
Now it's important to remember our churches teach the Bible is Holy -
that is, without errors. Mainstream theologians of our day, our learned
Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees, say the Bible is incorrect in many places
and can't be trusted. They say the Bible is full of holes and is a "holey"
Bible. Any part they don't like, they ignore or make fun of it. So they
say any claims of Jesus being more than just a man are very mad, or very
bad.
These are answers of the sin-filled heart, and of sinful reasoning.
These are bogus; wrong answers.
So, Jesus asks, "who do YOU say I AM?" The Christian church stands or
falls on that answer. If He is a man only, Jesus was a simple martyr and
should be forgotten.
But Peter confesses here the heart of the matter. The entire history of
the Jewish people written about in the Old Testament pointed to a time when
God's promises of salvation would be fulfilled. Jesus is that Man.
The eternal God, the Word, would take on flesh and be one of us and live
like us (Immanuel, John 1:14). Not only would He be 100% man, He would be
100% God at the same time - the Son of the Living God. He would be Anointed
("Christ" in Greek) with the Spirit and power. He would suffer and die for
our sins (Isaiah 53, Psalm 22). Peter says: YOU, Jesus, are the answer to
ALL of the promises of the LORD God.
How did Peter know that? Did he decide that on his own? No. Was he
smart enough to put pieces together? No. Did someone tell him the answer?
No. JESUS says, "Blessed are you (by God!). for this (answer) was revealed
to you by My Father in heaven."
For you Greek scholars, Jesus says that Simon bar Jonah is a Petros - a
masculine noun meaning large rock or boulder. And on that Petra - feminine
noun meaning cliff - Jesus will build His Church. So the other disciples
made a bold confession of who Jesus is, but Peter's confession was boulder!
(pun of the week).
On that CONFESSION, Jesus is builds His Church. What confession? That
Jesus is the Promised Christ who died for all the sins of the world. For
every sin you've ever done or will ever do, Jesus died for you.
What confession? We proclaim Christ crucified in our worship, in our
hymns, in the sermon, in the prayers, and in all we do in this service.
What confession? Our confession is how we live as forgiven children of
God each day and actively showing that forgiveness and love to others. Out
of faith in Christ, we are given power to show HIS love in daily life.
We confess; but JESUS builds His Church. The church is not a building. It
is a group of people who believe in Jesus Christ. Snazzy music, warm-fuzzy
feelings, and formulas or programs don't build Christ's Church. God does.
Jesus builds; not us.
With Luther we say, "it is NOT by my own reason or strength that I
believe in Jesus Christ or came to Him; but it is the Holy Spirit who called
me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, He fully sanctifies and He
keeps me in the true faith."
Yes, "O LORD, (YOU) open now my lips: and my mouth shall pour forth
Your praise." Faith and the Christian Church are NOT the result of flesh
and blood, but of the TRIUNE God working in the hearts, minds, and souls of
people.
HE builds us up every time we hear or read His Word. HE builds us
personally whenever we are involved in Word and Sacraments. HE builds His
Church when we are gathered in His Name on Sunday mornings and Thursday
afternoons.
We confess, but it is Jesus Who is building HIS CHURCH. The Christian
Church does not belong to one political party, one religious group, or one
person. It belongs to Jesus. The Church is His own possession: He bought
it with His holy precious blood and innocent suffering and death.
Because it is His, not ours, we can be certain that since God has
promised that "the gates of hell will not prevail against it" - Satan is a
loser. Death can't overcome it. The devil can't win; no human can defeat
the Church. The whole world may hate the Church for following Jesus.
People will try to squash it by altering parts of the Bible or change its
teaching, or even murder Christians. But in the end, Christ's Church will
triumph.
I didn't say "Saint Peter of Newell" will succeed. I did not say the
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod will expand and have great success. I said
Christ's Church. Christ's Church is made up of people of all times and
places who have faith and love in His salvation alone.
But that IS what we confess here: Christ crucified for all our sins.
Jesus, our Savior and Salvation. So we can be confident that Jesus is
building His Kingdom in, among, and thru us. We confess Christ, and He
builds His Church and His Kingdom...
<<pause>>
Because most people then (and even the 12) did not understand what all
that confession meant, Jesus warned His Disciples not to tell others He was
the Christ.
We twenty-first century disciples who live on the other side of the
Cross do NOT have that ban! In fact, we have the opposite: tell the Good
News of Jesus Christ to all the world!
May our Triune LORD work greater faith in each heart here thru His
powerful Word and move each one of our lips and lives to boldly confess
Christ crucified. May Christ build up His church in us, among us, and
through us - here in Newell, and around the world!
To God be the glory forever! Amen.
___________________________________________________________________________
'CAT 41 Sermons & Devotions' consists of works that are, unless otherwise
noted, the copyrighted property of the various authors; posting of such
gives members of this list implied consent for redistribution _with_
_attribution_ unless otherwise specified by the author, as well as
for quoting or use in a congregational setting
_with_or_without_attribution_.
Note: This list's default reply is to the *poster*, NOT the list.
Do *not* reply to the list with your comments, but to the poster.
Subscribe? Send ANY note to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Unsubscribe? Send ANY note to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Archive? <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/>
For more information on this or other lists offered by Confess And Teach
For Unity, you can contact the CAT 41 list administrator at:
Rev. Fr. Eric J. Stefanski <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
