Saturday, February 04, 2006
Who Do You Say That I Am?
Jesus was quite fond of asking His disciples questions. Probably the most important question that He ever asked them, Simon got right. While discussing what people were saying about the ministry of Jesus, He turned the question inward and asked the twelve, "Who do you say that I Am?"
It's one thing to say what the word on the street is. It's quite another to declare what you believe the truth to be about someone. People had differing views on Jesus. The religious leaders thought of Him as a troublemaker or deceiver influenced by demons. Generally, the common people held Jesus in high regard. Some thought He was a great prophet like Elijah or Jeremiah. Others thought He was the second coming of John the Baptist. Many were confused what to make of Jesus because He taught with such authority. Yet He did not act like a typical Rabbi.
Jesus did not ask this question because He was unaware of what people were saying about Him. No, He asked the disciples this question so that they would wrestle with it and come up with their own proclamation of who He was. Although many of the people respected Jesus as a prophet or man of God, few likely would have been so bold to declare Him the Messiah.
To this most important question, Simon responded, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." For once, Simon hit the mark. When asked this critical question, Simon got it right. Influenced by the Holy Spirit, Simon declared what many dare not say. More than just the Messiah, Simon proclaimed the divinity of Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus was more than just a prophet. He was God with skin on.
Jesus said that Simon did not think this up on His own. He did not learn this from any other man either. Simon received the truth about Jesus from the Father in heaven. He went on to say, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Jesus called Simon by the name (Peter) that He gave Him. Peter literally means little rock. Jesus had not used this name since they first met. But He used it here to make a point. Simon's confession contains the truth and basis for God's Church. It will guide Simon and the other apostles as they are vessels in the hand of Christ to develop the early church. No matter what the enemy does, God wins.
Some have interpreted that Simon himself is rock or foundation of the Church. But Simon explained in his later letter that Jesus alone is the cornerstone and foundation of the faith. Simon's confession of Christ and his process of becoming a lively stone in the house of God result from the work of Jesus on His behalf not any effort by Simon or any other man. Jesus clearly informed His disciples that He will build His church not men. God uses men but the power behind the transformation comes completely from God.
Jesus was speaking to more than just Simon in this situation. His comments were directed to the disciples specifically and all the saints who would later follow in their footsteps. Simon had no preeminence over the rest of the apostles, which he neither assumed, nor was it granted by Christ. Christ is a rock that is higher than any apostle. God alone is the strong tower of the Church not any human successor to Jesus.
More than just give the disciples a mission, Jesus gave them authority and a promise that the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church. Jesus offered to Simon and His other followers the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Jesus gave them the Gospel and the ability to share the good news to others so that they could freely enter into God's kingdom. These men have been charged with stewardship and a mission. Simon is not the door-keeper of heaven to let in, nor keep out, whom he pleases. Jesus holds the keys to hell and death. Simon and the other disciples are just instruments for God's purpose.
Knowing the drain that religious practices and legalism could have on the Gospel, Jesus also gave the disciples the authority to establish new guidelines. He referred to the concept of "binding and loosening," which is widely used in the Talmudic writings. These men would have understood Jesus' statements to be about declaring what is lawful and what is not. Jesus was not giving these men the power to control who can enter the kingdom of heaven. They are not to create new truth or another Gospel. Jesus was simply freeing them from the previous religious requirements and traditions, many of which never came from God in the first place. Christ gave the power of binding and loosing to his disciples so that they could be free to focus on the most important things.
Remember where they were when Jesus began this discussion. They were in Caesarea Philippi, a heathen town named for the ruling king. This village is at the extreme northern point of Palestine. It was named for Herod's son Philip, who was an egotistical ruler and self-proclaimed god.
Located at the base of Mount Herman near a source of the Jordan River, it would have been a great place to go away to retreat from the masses. Yet, it was also an odd place for Jesus to select. This town had become a stronghold of idol worship and pagan rituals.
Cut out of the rocks at Caesarea Philippi were several pagan temples. The region had become particularly known for Baal and Pan worship. One of the temples receded into a large cave. At the back of the cave was a deep, black hole into which animals were thrown as sacrifices to gods of the underworld. This cave became known as the "Gates of Hell." It was thought to be a passageway to the underworld, and Pan was its guardian.
This city symbolized the spiritual confusion that permeated the culture of first-century Galilee and the wicked rulers who governed the region. In this setting, Jesus chose to ask His disciples the hardest question they ever had to answer. Jesus challenged them to believe in the kingdom of God and the spiritual power of the Church. And He did it in a place that they would not forget.
Never one to seek publicity for His own purposes, Jesus told the disciples to keep secret His true identity as Messiah. He did not want them proclaiming it until the right time. Jesus again models out the importance of the mission. His ego is not imporant. Only the will of The Father matters.
The twelve disciples had great news. It was official. Jesus was the Messiah. But they couldn't tell anyone. This made the message burn even deeper into their hearts. One day, they would be released to proclaim who Jesus was to whoever would listen. And when that day came, they would be ready because they had been with Jesus.
It's one thing to say what the word on the street is. It's quite another to declare what you believe the truth to be about someone. People had differing views on Jesus. The religious leaders thought of Him as a troublemaker or deceiver influenced by demons. Generally, the common people held Jesus in high regard. Some thought He was a great prophet like Elijah or Jeremiah. Others thought He was the second coming of John the Baptist. Many were confused what to make of Jesus because He taught with such authority. Yet He did not act like a typical Rabbi.
Jesus did not ask this question because He was unaware of what people were saying about Him. No, He asked the disciples this question so that they would wrestle with it and come up with their own proclamation of who He was. Although many of the people respected Jesus as a prophet or man of God, few likely would have been so bold to declare Him the Messiah.
To this most important question, Simon responded, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." For once, Simon hit the mark. When asked this critical question, Simon got it right. Influenced by the Holy Spirit, Simon declared what many dare not say. More than just the Messiah, Simon proclaimed the divinity of Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus was more than just a prophet. He was God with skin on.
Jesus said that Simon did not think this up on His own. He did not learn this from any other man either. Simon received the truth about Jesus from the Father in heaven. He went on to say, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Jesus called Simon by the name (Peter) that He gave Him. Peter literally means little rock. Jesus had not used this name since they first met. But He used it here to make a point. Simon's confession contains the truth and basis for God's Church. It will guide Simon and the other apostles as they are vessels in the hand of Christ to develop the early church. No matter what the enemy does, God wins.
Some have interpreted that Simon himself is rock or foundation of the Church. But Simon explained in his later letter that Jesus alone is the cornerstone and foundation of the faith. Simon's confession of Christ and his process of becoming a lively stone in the house of God result from the work of Jesus on His behalf not any effort by Simon or any other man. Jesus clearly informed His disciples that He will build His church not men. God uses men but the power behind the transformation comes completely from God.
Jesus was speaking to more than just Simon in this situation. His comments were directed to the disciples specifically and all the saints who would later follow in their footsteps. Simon had no preeminence over the rest of the apostles, which he neither assumed, nor was it granted by Christ. Christ is a rock that is higher than any apostle. God alone is the strong tower of the Church not any human successor to Jesus.
More than just give the disciples a mission, Jesus gave them authority and a promise that the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church. Jesus offered to Simon and His other followers the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Jesus gave them the Gospel and the ability to share the good news to others so that they could freely enter into God's kingdom. These men have been charged with stewardship and a mission. Simon is not the door-keeper of heaven to let in, nor keep out, whom he pleases. Jesus holds the keys to hell and death. Simon and the other disciples are just instruments for God's purpose.
Knowing the drain that religious practices and legalism could have on the Gospel, Jesus also gave the disciples the authority to establish new guidelines. He referred to the concept of "binding and loosening," which is widely used in the Talmudic writings. These men would have understood Jesus' statements to be about declaring what is lawful and what is not. Jesus was not giving these men the power to control who can enter the kingdom of heaven. They are not to create new truth or another Gospel. Jesus was simply freeing them from the previous religious requirements and traditions, many of which never came from God in the first place. Christ gave the power of binding and loosing to his disciples so that they could be free to focus on the most important things.
Remember where they were when Jesus began this discussion. They were in Caesarea Philippi, a heathen town named for the ruling king. This village is at the extreme northern point of Palestine. It was named for Herod's son Philip, who was an egotistical ruler and self-proclaimed god.
Located at the base of Mount Herman near a source of the Jordan River, it would have been a great place to go away to retreat from the masses. Yet, it was also an odd place for Jesus to select. This town had become a stronghold of idol worship and pagan rituals.
Cut out of the rocks at Caesarea Philippi were several pagan temples. The region had become particularly known for Baal and Pan worship. One of the temples receded into a large cave. At the back of the cave was a deep, black hole into which animals were thrown as sacrifices to gods of the underworld. This cave became known as the "Gates of Hell." It was thought to be a passageway to the underworld, and Pan was its guardian.
This city symbolized the spiritual confusion that permeated the culture of first-century Galilee and the wicked rulers who governed the region. In this setting, Jesus chose to ask His disciples the hardest question they ever had to answer. Jesus challenged them to believe in the kingdom of God and the spiritual power of the Church. And He did it in a place that they would not forget.
Never one to seek publicity for His own purposes, Jesus told the disciples to keep secret His true identity as Messiah. He did not want them proclaiming it until the right time. Jesus again models out the importance of the mission. His ego is not imporant. Only the will of The Father matters.
The twelve disciples had great news. It was official. Jesus was the Messiah. But they couldn't tell anyone. This made the message burn even deeper into their hearts. One day, they would be released to proclaim who Jesus was to whoever would listen. And when that day came, they would be ready because they had been with Jesus.
