Bible Text: Matthew 16:13-20 | Preacher: Rev. Jenn Geddes
There is a cautionary tale regarding what to say or do during a Children’s time told at all seminaries to potential clergy early on in their studies. The story goes, Rev. Patterson was coming down the chancel steps as the children joined him at the front. Rev. Patterson begins to ask questions, much like I did today. He says, “Can you tell me, what is small, likes to eat nuts and has a big bushy tail?” As per usual there is always one child in the group with all the answers and as Rev. Patterson waits for this little girl to answer he sees that her face is contorted. “Susie do you know the answer?” He asks. Susie looks and says, “Well it sounds like your talking about a squirrel. But because we’re in church and you’re the one asking us the questions. I think the right answer is Jesus?” The moral of the story being that Jesus is always the right answer.
When we would host, “Open church” events at St. Andrew’s in downtown Victoria the purpose was to invite any and all people to come in and see our space, see the church. It was easy to share with them the stories of history and architecture. That it was built in the Scottish Baronial style in 1889. That the stained glass windows at the back were in memory of Robert Dunsmuir, a financial contributor in the early days of the congregation. But every once in awhile people would ask, but what do Presbyterians believe? A legitimate question. If they were Roman Catholic or Pentecostal or had some other church upbringing it was easy to make the distinctions by basically telling them why we were different. But more often than not they had no basis for comparison other than perhaps media assumptions. How do we describe the apostle’s creed? The salvific actions of Jesus? The reformed tradition? How would you answer the question, What do you believe?
This morning instead of it being someone coming in off the street who is curious about the church it is Jesus himself who asks, “What do you believe?” Last week we encountered the Canaanite woman, the only one thus far to proclaim that Jesus is the Messiah. If you recall Jesus isn’t as receptive as we might think to the woman giving him that title but eventually through dialogue both the woman and Jesus have a realization. I wonder if it is during the experience with the Canaanite woman that some of the disciples have their own epiphanies. Wait, you mean to tell me that this guy we have been following, really IS the Messiah?!
For weeks throughout the Gospel of Matthew Jesus has been travelling on the road leaving behind him a trail of miracles, feeding over five then four thousand or curing the Canaanite woman’s daughter. But in amongst those stories of miracles Jesus has been teaching. He has debated the law with Scribes and Pharisees, taught his followers about the difference between words and deeds. Like most teachers, every once in awhile he turns to his disciples and decides its time for a pop quiz. He asks them what they have learned thus far, taking stock of how much they have retained. Often he is disappointed by their lack on absorption.
Even earlier in the chapter that was read this morning Jesus says, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Taking what he says literally the disciples murmur among each other, “It is because we have not brought bread.” Jesus looses his cool, “Are you kidding me?! Have you not been paying attention! I’m not talking about BREAD. I’m talking about teachings.” I imagine Jesus storms off while the disciples slowly slink behind him. Due to the fact that Jesus often spoke in parables, allegory or similes it is important even for us as modern day interpreters to remember that a literal reading of Scripture was not always what Jesus intended. After awhile Jesus begins to wonder if they have learned anything at all. He decides to ask them the big question. “Who do people say that the son of man is?”
The disciples think this is an easy one. At least they have heard others hypothesize about who it is. So they answer, “Some people say A) John the Baptist. Some people say B) Elijah. Some people say C) Jeremiah. Jesus, you tell us, is it A,B, or C, or is it D none of the above?” The disciples are repeating only that which they have heard others say they believe. Jesus decides to rephrase the question. “Who do you say I am?” After weeks, months, possibly years of teaching Jesus awaits the answer. Peter says, “You are the Messiah.”
Peter, rightly or wrongly, is often the first to respond. He was the first one to leave his fish net and follow Jesus, the first one out of the boat and attempt to walk on water, the first to volunteer his opinion. But he is also the first to struggle with Jesus’ mission, the first to sink, the first to give wrong answers. And Peter is the first to deny ever knowing Jesus at all. However, in this one moment Peter gives the answer that Jesus is looking for and Jesus responds with a blessing- but I am also going to presume with relief. Thankfully something in all Jesus has taught has stuck.
Peter’s insight or revelation marks a high point in the comprehension of the Gospel. In turn he is blessed by Jesus and commissioned. The NRSV translation, the one we heard this morning, uses the word “church” outright. In that translation Jesus says, “On this rock I will build my “church”.” This is anachronistic, meaning that the chronology does not add up. The word Church came into existence many years after the gospel. The Greek word is ekklesia which is actually translated as community or assembly. It was also part of the Rabbincal tradition to give an up and coming rabbi in training permission to lead a community at the appropriate time. Peter has not been given the authority to build a church but rather the power to regulate the community that is gathered and the assembly that will take shape.
It may have surprised the other disciples. After all this is the guy who sank because of his distrust. This is the guy to whom Jesus will yell, “Get behind me Satan”. It seems strange that this flawed, awkward, denying disciple has been blessed and given such a responsibility. It is important to remember that Peter is blessed not due to anything he is or does all by himself but rather because the answer he gives is God’s answer. Jesus says to Peter that his answer was revealed to him not due to any intelligence of his own but by God’s grace. He is a chip off the old block, a rock that is part of the rock of ages, and it is on this relationship that the community is formed, that the authority is given, not on any virtue or strengths of Peter’s- or mine, or yours. Peter is called then crafted and then chosen even though he is consistently flawed. He gave a lot of wrong answers before God inspired him with the right one.
It is a relief to know that Peter was blessed and commissioned in such away. That someone like him may actually be someone like us. Someone who struggles to find the right answers, someone who finds it easier to just say what other people have said. In Peter’s answer there is hope for us all. This is a story about our own responses to Jesus’ question, who do you say I am? Peter and we are God’s chosen rocks whether we act as strong cornerstones- holding a foundation together- or as stumbling blocks-learning as we go to be a community, an assembly of God’s people. Peter shows us that being blessed is not about perfection but rather about a willingness to listen, to learn, to make mistakes, and to serve. What matters is that we are willing to risk answering the questions asked of us.
The next time someone asks you, “What do you believe?” It is not about us finding the right answer but allowing God, who has called us and crafted us and chosen us, to speak through us. It is also not about being right all the time. The important thing is trying to answer the questions-because if we leave those questions unanswered there is no point to being a community at all. But not only should we say what we believe but more importantly live what we believe. And remember that much like Peter we are flawed- so whether we are strong rocks or pebbles we too are chips off the rock of ages and so let’s get rolling. Amen