Matthew 16:13-20
The question of faith
It came at a crucial time in our Lord’s public ministry. His focus
was set on Jerusalem. Where He would complete the work of redemption. Jesus
was set to suffer many things for the world’s salvation. Our Lord is at a
critical location in His ministry. Caesarea Philippi was a Gentile city. Built
by Herod’s son, Philip. In honor of Caesar. Caesarea Philippi – A city
dedicated to the great Caesar. Funded through the taxes Philip had raised.
Jesus stood in a pagan region. Where false deities and their
adherents flourished. Critical also were His companions. The disciples were
personally selected and taught by Jesus. They had viewed almost all aspects of
His public ministry.
The Lord asked two important questions. At this moment. In this
location. And of His disciples. The answers to the questions were important. For
them. And also for His followers today. There can be no doubt that Jesus was
aware of the gravity of the question being asked. Today let’s consider the two
important questions of faith.
I. The
first question was addressed to the disciples, “who do men say the Son of Man
is?” (V.13)
A. The response was
varied. And no consensus existed among the answers. John the Baptist was
considered so great a contemporary figure. Some felt he would rise from the
dead. Elijah, the great prophet of old, was looked upon as the peak of the
prophetic line. And his return would signal the coming of the Messiah. Jeremiah
was considered another signal of the Messiah’s impending return.
B. Our Lord heard
the verdict of the people. He was named among the great company of the prophets
of the Old Testament. Truly these were extraordinary men. But, these were
“flesh and blood” interpretations of
who the Son of Man was. Each was built on a false and imperfect premise that
strived to understand men and events from a perspective of human logic and
contrast to God’s revelation in the Scriptures.
C. Today the
world’s responses differ little from those found in Matthew’s Gospel. At the
basis of them all - is human reason riddled with sin. People choose a
classification of Jesus that fits with their needs and desires at the moment.
To them Jesus is just another spiritual guide seeking loyalty. The fickle
people of our time find no comfort in the claim that Jesus is the greatest
among great men.
II. The
second question was addressed once again to the disciples. “But you, who do you,
say I am?” (V.15)
A. Jesus asked for
a confession of the lips that stems from a conviction of the heart. Peter, ever
the spokesman for the Twelve, responded with these words; “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (v.16) Jesus was
the long-expected Messiah. The one God had promised since the fall of mankind
into sin. He was the Savior of the world whose mission was the defeat and
destruction of sin, death, and the power of the devil. This was no mere human
elevated to the highest category of honor. This was God Himself who defined
simple human descriptions.
B. God revealed who
Jesus as to Peter. Such understanding was not transmitted from one person to
the other as secondhand information. One who is much greater than flesh and
blood revealed the identity of the Messiah to Peter.
C. Today, the faithful of God
continue to confess, “I cannot by my own
reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him.” Through
Word and Sacrament, Christ, the Son of the Living God, is ever revealed to
mankind.
III. And
now the second critical question is addressed to each of us, “You, who do you
say that I am?”
A. We can answer
the question only through the intervention of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The
Spirit’s means are Word and Sacrament brought to the troubled heart of the
sinner. The saving faith freely given by God leads each one of us to confess by
faith: “You are the Christ, the Son of
the Living God.”
B. The source of
our confession and our actions is the faith God give us. Because Jesus is the
Christ, your sins are forgiven. Because Jesus is the Christ, You are empowered
to live a new life. Because Jesus is the Christ, You have the sure certainty of
eternal life.
Words –755
Passive Sentences –18%
Readability – 72.5%
Reading Level – 5.7
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