Proper 16 – A
Matt 16:13-20
Aug 23, 2020
St. Columba’s
In the Name of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Intro
Three men die and go to heaven. St. Peter meets them at the pearly gates.
He says to the first man, “Welcome to Heaven! Back on Earth, what denomination were you?”
The first man say, “I was a devout Presbyterian”.
St. Peter says, “Excellent! Then go to door 10, but when you pass door number 2, be very quiet.”
He then asks the second man, “When you were on Earth, what denomination were you?”
The second man replies, “I was the pastor of my Methodist church!”
St. Peter says, “Wonderful! Make your way to door 6, but when you pass door 2, be very quiet.”
St. Peter asks the last man, “What denomination were you on Earth?”
The man says, “I was an Episcopalian.”
St. Peter says, “You know the drill. Go to door 12, but be very quiet when you pass door 2.”
The last man says, “Why is it we need to be so quiet when we go past door 2?”
St. Peter replies, “Because that’s where the Baptists are and they think they’re the only ones here.”
We’ve all heard jokes like that before.
And it’s largely from our Gospel today that we get the image of PETER at the Pearly Gates with the keys to the Kingdom.
But just how does Peter get the keys – and what is he to do with them?
– That’s what we are going to find out.
I. Gospel
A. As you may remember, over the last several weeks, Jesus has been trying to get some time away with his Disciples.
1. So as our Gospel reading opens we find that Jesus has taken the Disciples off to the District of Caesarea Philippi, about 25 miles North-east of the Sea of Galilee.
2. It was an area scattered with Temples of the ancient Syrian Baal worship; and it was said to be the birthplace of the Greek God Pan, the God of Nature.
3. Here, Herod the Great had built a huge Temple to the Godhead of Caesar – thus the Roman name Caesarea Philippi.
4. So it was certainly a place where Jesus could find some time alone with this Disciples and give them a chance to check-in with one another.
B. Jesus knows that his time was drawing to a close; he had to know if they understood any of what he had been teaching them.
1. So he asked them, “Who do people say that I am?”
2. And the Disciples answered, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the Prophets.”
3. Some people thought that John the Baptist was so powerful a figure that he had come back from the dead.
4. Others thought he was Elijah following the tradition that as the greatest of the Prophets he would be the FORERUNNER of the Messiah, coming to usher in the new age.
5. And others thought he was Jeremiah, for some believed that Jeremiah would return and produce the Ark of the Covenant when the Messiah would come.
C. But this was only the mid-term, now came the real question as Jesus turned to them and said, “Who do you say that I am?”
1. The Disciples were a little nervous.
– Nobody told them there was going to be a Christology test today.
2. Can’t you see them standing there, shuffling their feet in the dust, nobody willing to make eye contact.
– But what were they waiting for?
3. Hadn’t they been paying attention to what’s been going on the past few days and weeks:
– Jesus fed 5,000 people on some bread and fish;
– Jesus came to them in the boat WALKING ON THE WATER;
– Jesus cured the Canaanite Woman’s daughter just by saying it would be done;
– What were they waiting for?
4. They thought they knew – but what if they were wrong?
– What if they didn’t say it exactly right – would Jesus be disappointed?
5. Finally, Peter steps forward and says, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
6. At last, somebody had the courage and conviction to say what they had all known – He was God’s Chosen One.
II. Rocky Johnson
A. Then Jesus says, “Blessed are you, Simon Son of Jonah! For flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but my Father in Heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter and on this Rock I will build my church…”
1. You see, Jesus was giving Simon and nick name – He called him PETER which means Rock.
2. In Greek, Peter is Petros and Rock is Petra.
– In Aramaic Peter is Kephas and Rock is Kepha.
3. Jesus is using a PUN, a play on words;
– He is saying, “From now on, your name is ROCK and on this rock I am going to build my church.
– So now Simon is known as Rocky Johnson.
4. Then Jesus gives Peter some special responsibilities, as he says,
– “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed on heaven.”
5. And that’s how Peter gets the keys and stands at the Pearly Gates admitting people into heaven.
B. But what kind of ROCK is this that is the foundation of the Church?
1. To tell the truth, Peter is not like granite; he seems to be much more like sandstone or shale.
2. He seems to buckle and chip under the slightest pressure.
3. He tried to walk on water, only to panic, lose faith, and begin to sink.
4. It was Peter who fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus needed him most.
5. He followed Jesus to the High Priest’s House, but DENIED him when he saw his association with Jesus might endanger his own life.
6. It was Peter who ran to the tomb on hearing Mary Magdalene’s news, but after he looked in – just went away wondering what it meant.
7. It was Peter who was all for opening the Church to Gentiles and eating with them, as long as the conservative followers of James didn’t find out about his actions.
8. That’s who we’re supposed to emulate?
– That’s the foundation of the Church?
III. We are Rocks
A. You see the good news in all of this is that Peter screwed up – not just once but lots of times – so there’s a chance for US as well.
1. There is a wonderful legend that when Peter would preach and try to tell people about Jesus, the wags in the crowd would crow like roosters.
2. And Peter would have to admit that, yes, he had denied Jesus when he needed him most;
– but Jesus forgave him, and loved him, and sent him out to “feed his sheep.”
3. And we too are given that same opportunity – we too are given the opportunity to be ROCKS that Jesus can use to build his church on.
4. But before we can do that, we have to answer Jesus’ question for ourselves: “Who do YOU say that I am?”
– And our answer will make all the difference.
B. WE are called to be the ROCKS on which Jesus builds his church today.
1. We are sent out to share the difference that Jesus makes in our lives and what it means to be part of a community of faith.
2. And the good news is that there is no way for us to screw it up that hasn’t already been done before – after all, we’re following Peter.
3. And there’s also this illustrious group:
– Jacob was a cheater
– Peter had a temper
– David had an affair
– Noah got drunk
– Jonah ran from God
– Paul was a murderer
– Gideon was insecure
– Miriam was a gossip
– Martha was a worrier
– Thomas was a doubter
– Sarah was impatient
– Elijah was moody
– Zacchaeus was short
– Abraham was old
– and Lazarus was dead.
4. Yet, God was able to use all of them to help get the message out – and God can use US too.
5. As St. Paul wrote of the response he received from the Lord when he tried to plead his unworthiness, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2Corinthians 12:9)
6. Or as Facebook says, “God doesn’t call the qualified – God qualifies the called.”
7. Just like Peter, we may fail to live up to the faith that is in us, but then more than ever we need to remember the faith that Jesus has IN US, and try again.
8. Because the only way we can do any of this is by the GRACE of God.
C. One more Peter at the Pearly Gates story:
1. A man dies and goes to heaven;
of course, St. Peter meets him at the Pearly Gates.
1. St. Peter says, “Here’s how it works. You need 100 points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you have done, and I give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach 100 points, you get in.”
2. “Okay,” the man says, “I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart.”
3. “That’s wonderful,” says Peter, “that’s worth three points!”
4. “Three points?” he says. “Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithe and service.”
5. “Terrific!” says St Peter, “that’s certainly worth a point.”
6. “One point Golly. How about this: I started a Soup Kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for veterans.”
7. “Fantastic,” St Peter says, “that’s good for two more points.”
8. “TWO POINTS!!” the man cries, “At this rate the only way I get into heaven is by the grace of God!”
9. “Come on in!” Peter says.
10. For it is God’s grace and Jesus’ love flowing in us that empowers us to be God’s people in the world – showing that there is another way – a way to love and reconciliation, of community and peace.
Conclusion
Who do YOU say Jesus is?
That will make all the difference.
Let Us Pray
Almighty Father, who inspired Simon Peter, first among the apostles, to confess Jesus as Messiah and Son of the living God: Keep your Church steadfast upon the rock of this faith, so that in unity and peace we may proclaim the one truth and follow the one Lord, our Savior, Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP p.238)