August 24, 2008

GOSPEL LESSON: Matthew 16:13?20
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 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." Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" Who is Jesus? What is Jesus? Many people have given different answers, from the holy to the blasphemous. Even at the time of Jesus, many people had the wrong idea of who Jesus was. For example, since he had power to do miracles, then maybe he was a resurrected prophet like Elijah or Jeremiah or even John the Baptist. They didn't know who Jesus, the Son of Man really was. They were guessing. Those who guessed that Jesus was a trouble maker or political rebel made the biggest mistake and even crucified him.

The fact is that no one will ever know who Jesus really is by guessing. By human reasoning, no one can know Jesusf secret identity. As Jesus said, this cannot be known by "flesh and blood." Yes, Jesus is sort of a prophet, but being only a prophet is not adequate. A simple prophet is inadequate when being stormed by the gates of hell and the powers of sin and death. Jesus is more than just a prophet. But to understand that there must be divine revelation. This is the work of the Heavenly Father through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us faith in the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. In Luther's Small Catechism, the explanation to the third article of the Apostle's Creed we read, "I believe that I cannot by my own understanding or effort believe in Jesus Christ."

If people do not know who Jesus is, they do not confess him as their Lord and Savior. They do not have a clue; they do not have the key. They are locked out. Then Jesus will ask them, "Who are you? I do not know you."

But we are people: of "flesh and blood." How can we know God? How can we know who Jesus is? It is when we see him in his "flesh and blood" on the cross. Jesus is the Son of Man and the Son of God. He shows his undying love for humankind by giving up his life. Humans cannot understand eternity and the ways of God. But we understand the pain and grief and love of the cross. The story of Jesus is proclaimed and taught to us. Then God gives us faith to open our hearts and minds to see who Jesus is. In Luther's Small Catechism, the explanation to the third article of the Apostle's Creed we read, "But the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts" etc. This is a spiritual revelation. We see who Jesus is, and then we also see ourselves. God blesses us. We have a new identity. The man formerly known as "Simon Bar-Jonah" is now known as "Peter." In Baptism we are given a new name, too. The Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The name "Peter" means "Rock" or "Stone." Peterfs confession becomes the foundation stone of the church. Since the foundation stone is faith in Jesus Christ, hell cannot destroy the church. And since sin is forgiven, sin and death cannot destroy the church, either. Since your sin and my sin are forgiven, sin and death cannot destroy the foundation of our faith, either.

Who is Jesus? He is the One who gives his church the keys to his kingdom. He gives his church the keys to do ministry and mission. Both the purpose and method of this ministry and mission are the same, namely, to forgive and to bind sin. This mission and ministry are done whenever the Gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed. Because when we talk about the cross and resurrection, we are talking about the forgiveness of sin. And when people believe in Jesus as their Savior, their sins are forgiven. The Keys of the Kingdom lock and unlock heaven and hell. The Keys open the gate of heaven.

One of the greatest joys of a teenager is when father hands over the keys of the family car. It is the thrill of freedom. It is the pride of being trusted. It is the feeling of power in your hands. The ignition key allows you to go forward and explore the world. And so Jesus gives us the Keys of the Kingdom. There is the same thrill, pride, freedom, and excitement. We have the authority and power to go out and do the mission and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because, as Peter confessed, he is the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

Amen.

Sermon Index