Speaking and Living Your Confession

The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
St. Bartholomew, Apostle
August 24, 2014



GOSPEL LESSON: Matthew 16:13–20 [“Who do you say that I am?”]
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.
P: This is the Gospel of our Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ.

Jesus asked his disciples who he was said to be, and down through the ages, people have given all sorts of answers based on their observations. Because he could do miracles, at the time of Jesus, some thought he was one of the powerful Old Testament prophets come back to life. Other people have thought he was a preacher, a charismatic speaker, a lover of peace, a fraud, a magician, a trouble-maker, a peace-maker, a messenger from God, etc. All these ideas are based on what people can see and hear and read in the Bible. These observations are made by our eyes and ears and reasoning, and so Jesus has called this “flesh and blood” (human) reasoning. In last week’s Gospel reading, the Canaanite woman called Jesus the “Son of David.” That too was made from observations and what other people had been saying. But “Son of David” means that Jesus is the prince, and so the next in line to be the king of Israel. Even to call Jesus “Christ” or “Messiah” can be based on his miracles and his message, and the hope of his followers.

But Peter calls Jesus something different. This is something that human eyes cannot see and reason can not perceive, it is a revelation directly from God the Father in heaven. Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The son of David is human, but the son of God is divine, is god. Then Jesus said, “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.” Peter’s confession of who Jesus is is the foundation of all Christianity. That Jesus is god. Yes, he is at the same time both human and divine: the human nature can be seen by “flesh and blood” observation, but the divine nature must be revealed by God and accepted by faith. This is why the teaching of the Trinity is fundamental. When we confess the Apostles Creed, we are making the same confession that Peter did. It is a confession that the “gates of hell” cannot “prevail against.” I do not think that Jesus was only thinking of an established, institutionalized, and organized church. I think he also meant on the personal level, that if you confess Jesus as the Son of God, then the devil can never destroy your faith or take away your salvation. This rock is stronger than the devil, the world, our doubts, our sin, our human “flesh and blood.”

When Jesus called Peter and his faith the “rock” foundation of the church, he immediately gave the church the Keys of the Kingdom to forgive sin. These Keys are turned when the death and resurrection of Jesus are proclaimed and believed. These Keys are turned and the forgiveness of sin through that death and resurrection is announced and believed and accepted. Our chains and prisons are unlocked and we are set free. The gate of heaven is opened for us. It is also like an ignition key in a car. It allows us to go forward and do the work of Christ. Forgiven and happy, we confess with Peter, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

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.

What is the ministry of the church? How can we easily define it? Some people might say it is to live by the Ten Commandments. I would like to say that the key is to live by the Lord’s Prayer. As we hallow and keep holy the Name of our Father in Heaven, as we live in his Kingdom and follow his will, we forgive sin of others, we bring daily bread in all its forms to those who need it, we work against the forces of temptation and evil in all its forms.

What are the Keys of the Kingdom, what do they do? They bind sinners in hell and release forgiven sinners. They close and open both the gates of hell and of heaven. They are also like the ignition key of a car that set us in motion for ministry. And today I want to add one more. The Keys of the Kingdom are like the keys of a keyboard on a computer. This is one modern way of preaching the Word of God. With blogs and homepages, the Word can travel throughout the world. Words can express shock when there is evil and injustice. Words can and should criticize things that are bad. But words can also express the love and forgiveness and peace of God. Words can be the key that heal. They can be the keys that bring the Gospel of salvation. They can confess who Jesus is. He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Amen.

Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church


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