Title: By faith Christ Jesus is confessed!
Text: Matt. 16:13–20
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Prussian king Frederick the Great was once touring a Berlin prison. The prisoners fell on their knees before him to proclaim their innocence -- except for one man, who remained silent. Frederick called to him, "Why are you here?" "Armed robbery, Your Majesty," was the reply. "And are you guilty?" "Yes indeed, Your Majesty, I deserve my punishment." Frederick then summoned the jailer and ordered him, "Release this guilty wretch at once. I will not have him kept in this prison where he will corrupt all the fine innocent people who occupy it."
Today in the Word, December 4, 1992.
To proclaim the truth of who Christ Jesus is and what he has done … you have to know the truth of who Jesus is and what He has done. This is made know to you by the power of the Holy Spirit working through the word so that you can by faith, trust and confess Jesus Christ.
15 He [Jesus] said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
From the region of Tyre and Sidon and the encounter with the Canaanite woman from last week, Jesus and the disciples move to the east and a bit south towards the area of Caesarea Philippi again working their way back towards Galilee. As noted last week the disciples missed some of Jesus’ teaching. They saw the 5000 fed; saw Jesus and Peter walk on the water and the wind and the waves calmed by Christ on the Sea of Galilee; saw steadfast faith from a woman who was not one of the Jews, God’s chosen children, which resulted in her receiving healing for her daughter’s oppression by a demon – immediately. Now, as they continue on in their journey Jesus asks the disciples a question.
13 … he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
Jesus asks the disciples a question as a group. They all had been missing some of His teaching and what he had revealed about himself, even saying at one point “truly, you are the Son of God.” Matt. 14:33b. They, along with the people, had seen the signs and miracles done along the way and Jesus asks them, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
Well, the responses vary. “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” The disciples had heard some of the talk among the people. They thought maybe that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead or that one of the prophets from long ago had returned.
Luke 1:17 tells us:
17 [John] will go before Jesus in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
The people got some of what was proclaimed understanding that John, Elijah and Jesus are connected in some way. So Jesus asks the disciples directly:
“But who do you say that I am?”
Now I want you to understand the importance of the question Jesus asks and the answer that Peter gives. It can’t be answered by human wisdom.
Ill.
If I asked you this same type of question about myself, “Well you might respond that some say you’re Russ their childhood friend they grew up with in Allen Park, or Russ their co-worker for many years at Evola Music in Bloomfield Hills. Some might say someone they attended St. John Lutheran Church in Rochester with while others might say a member of Peace Lutheran Church here in Waterford.
But to that same question directed to you all here, “But who do you say that I am?” One might speak for themselves, in answer for the group and say.
“You’re our pastor.”
The answer doesn’t mean that only one member in the church understands who I am and that I've been called to serve as pastor here. But in some way when the truth has been stated, the others know, understand and agree. If I asked what day is it today? Someone might respond that it is Sunday, the 24th of August. No one else would need to reply.
This though is known by human wisdom. But to the question Christ Jesus asked about himself, it is only known as it is revealed by the working of the Holy Spirit and by faith working through the word.
By faith Christ Jesus is confessed!
Today, [Sunday] the word of God, connected to the water of Holy Baptism brought to faith little Gibson Brown … and though he is unable to answer as Peter did, his confession is the same.
Some might say that the evidence of the confession – you are the Christ the Son of the living God - is the sign and the evidence of faith. It is, but we as Lutheran’s also trust the word of God and the promise.
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matt 28:18-20
We are to follow Christ’s command and promise, and make disciples by baptizing and teaching. Parents teach their children by singing hymns and songs to them or as we rock them to sleep and read them Bible stories and lessons. We then bring them to Sunday school and Church so they can be instructed and learn what this faith, that they have been given, means and so it doesn’t just die away from them from lack of feeding, or by our own sinfulness, the sinfulness of others and the working of the devil.
To grow big and strong, Gibson is going to need to be fed and cared for physically. And to know this Jesus in whom he trusts he’ll need to grow spiritually as well staying connected to him.
Luther says in his writing on, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church, which is a big title that simply means the church held captive:
“For the word of God is powerful enough, when uttered [when spoken], to change even a godless heart, which is no less unresponsive than an infant.”
It is God who brings to faith and it is faith that says as Peter did:
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus commends Peter!
“Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah!
And he tells Peter where the source of this confession comes from:
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter [which means rock], and on this rock [which means the rock of Peter’s confession of faith] I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Jesus does not build His church on Peter’s person but on Peter’s confession which is your confession too and Peter faith is nothing more than your faith and little Gibson Brown’s faith, given by God through the word so that Jesus Christ will build His church and His kingdom against sin, death and the devil.
Finally Jesus is speaking to the disciples says:
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
The keys are given to the church and administered by those called to serve in the place and by the command of Christ. That is why when the pastor says, “I forgive you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” you can trust that you are forgiven as if Christ himself were speaking the forgiveness to you directly.
Receive the forgiveness of the Lord. Joy in his word and sacraments which bring faith that trust is Christ and confesses Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
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