Isaiah 51:1-6 Romans 11:33-12:8 Matthew 16:13-20
Grace Mercy and Peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text today is the Gospel lesson just read especially these words from Jesus. “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” Thus far our text.
Dear friends in Christ. “Who do you say I am?” Jesus asks the disciples. Jesus asks us this question today, who am I? This question embodies everything that we believe as Chrsitians, and especially as Lutherans. Everything we believe teach and confess is supposed to tell us who Jesus is, and what it is that he does for me.
So what is the answer to this question, who is Jesus? The world has given many answers to this question, and many of them are based upon our own understanding, our own research and our own preconceived notions. Some say Jesus is a nice guy who was misunderstood. Some say Jesus was a great philosopher, teaching us peace, love and harmony in our worldly relationships. Some say Jesus was just a criminal whose followers made up stories about him. Islam says Jesus was a prophet who came before the true prophet Mohammed. And if none of these were bad enough, recently, in the news, I have even heard that Elton John said Jesus was just a misunderstood gay man.
What about you dear friends in Christ. What about you, who do you say that Jesus is? I have spoken with people in our town who have said Jesus is a false teacher. I have spoken with people who have denied that Jesus actually cares what we do son long as we are a “good” person. And so what about you. Who do you say Jesus is? The answer to this question determines for us all of eternity, all of salvation, and all of forgiveness together.
So what is the truth? And how do we know? Jesus tells Peter today in our text that he got the answer to this question right. Who is Jesus – He is the Christ, the son of the living God. But how did Peter know? How could Peter have been sure? Was he a good guesser? Did he have some sort of secret knowledge that revealed who Jesus was? Was he smarter than the other disciples, and smarter than we are? Friends no, Jesus says Peter knew not because of his own flesh or blood, not because of his intellect, but rather because God the Father revealed it to him.
God revealed Jesus to Peter as Jesus walked on water a few weeks ago. God revealed it to Peter as Peter ate from the miraculous feast of Jesus, not once, but twice. God revealed Jesus identity as Jesus spoke the very words of God, Blessed are the poor in spirit, the peacemakers and more. God revealed who Jesus was to Peter in everything that Jesus did to care for those around him. And these things revealed the truth about Jesus boldly and clearly, that Jesus was the Christ, the savior promised to Adam and Eve, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
And so Peter boldly confessed his faith, the faith given by God, that Jesus really is God after all. Peter kept this confession, even despite of a few hiccups where he was confused in his life. Peter kept this faith all the way to Rome, where he was crucified for believing that faith he had confessed, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
It is not flesh and blood, it is not our own intellect that reveals to us who Jesus is either. It is the very working of God. Yes, in this world we are faced with thousands of differing interpretations of who Jesus is. Is he a nice guy or a lunatic, did he really exist at all? What should we think of Jesus? God tells us clearly, revealing Jesus in the same miraculous gifts that he did for Peter.
God reveals Jesus to us today as we eat and drink the very body and blood of Jesus. There, in mere bread and wine we come into contact with Jesus, and miraculously know who he is. God reveals Jesus to us as we hear the living Word of God in the scriptures, the word that tells us what Jesus did and why he came, that we might be saved. God reveals Jesus to us as we gather together in remembrance of our baptism, where we died and were raised with Jesus forever and ever.
And so we can confess that same faith as Peter, that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God, not because it makes sense, not because we are smarter than the average bear, not because we are holy, but rather because God has revealed it to us.
We confess this faith every week when we gather here around the gifts of God, and as we speak the Apostles and Nicene Creed. “I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord,” so similar to Peter’s confession, you are the Christ, the son of the Living God. But our confession doesn’t stop there, for we confess that this Jesus came to earth for me and for my sin. This Jesus went before Pontius Pilate and was crucified. That he shed his blood so we might not need shed ours. We confess that he then raised again on the third day, just as we too will do in him. In these words, we also confess that we believe Baptism really does work salvation, and that it is necessary for our salvation.
When Peter made this confession, just as he did in our text, he confessed all these things just as we do today. And because the believing Peter, the faith-filled Peter made this confession through Gods grace and through God’s gifts, Jesus says, Blessed are you. Dear friends, in this faith we share with Peter, blessed are you. Blessed are you for death no longer has the last word for you. Blessed are you because you are no longer held to be guilty for your sin. Blessed are you because everything you have done wrong, everything you have failed to do that you should have, every things that is wrong with this world for you is gone forever in Jesus. And in Him, and Him alone, you have the promise of eternal life forever and ever with Him in his kingdom. Whatever sins are forgiven here in this place are forgiven you in heaven. And so in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus, your sins are forgiven.
This is the corner stone of the church, the faith that leads us to confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, that he has died for me, and that in him we have eternity. This is our faith. This is our hope. This is our gift of God, and this is what we confess to believe as Christians. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Blessed are you who believe this by God’s grace. Amen.
