Who do you say that I am?
August 22, 1993
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Smithfield, NC 27577
By Philip R. Taylor
“Who do you say that I am?”
Lessons: Isaiah 51:1-6
Psalm 138
Romans 11:33-36
Matthew 16:13-20
Let us pray: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of you’re
love. Send forth your spirit and we shall be created. Amen
The last verse of today’s Gospel lesson, vs 20 of the sixteenth chapter of Matthew, says, “Then
He sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah.” Why would Jesus
make such a request? Why would Matthew think it important enough to use valuable space and
words to include it in his Gospel?
As with so many other statements by Jesus, this one too raises serious questions for which there are a variety of answers, non very certain. For instance it has been suggested that Jesus didn’t want to anger the authorities by having His disciples proclaiming him as the Messiah to the masses. Some commentators have said that Jesus Himself wasn’t entirely certain of his role and was therefore waiting on some confirming messages from God prior to launching His disciples out to proclaim Him as the Christ. Still others have concluded that he wasn’t at all worried about
the authorities or doubtful of His call but rather wanted the disciples themselves to be completely convinced of His authority prior to launching them to proclaim Him as Messiah.
It seems to me that this third view is the most credible and it is this view, which I will explore with you this morning. It seems clear from other incidents and evidence from the Gospels that Jesus never had any fear of the authorities, although he seems to rarely confront them directly, the cleansing of the temple being a notable exception. Jesus, rather than being confrontive or even concerned about the civil and religious authorities of His day, waits for the authorities to confront Him.
While there is ample evidence in the Gospels that Jesus comes to a gradual and very mature understanding of who He is, Jesus has in this very incident accepted Peter’s confession of faith and taken on the role of Messiah, God’s Anointed One. It is much more likely that Jesus is asking His disciples to do something which Jesus himself had done and which he knew to be very important, i.e. to internalize the truth.
Jesus understood the value and importance of time, of patience, of quiet, of prayer, and of meditation. He knew that to be in a hurry, to go charging off into the sunset was both dangerous and non-productive. We need look no further than this Gospel lesson to see how haste and impulsive behavior can upset the apple cart. Jesus asks the specific question, “And you, who do you say that I am?” Peter is the first to answer and even gives the correct answer. It is however obviously a surface answer. After the greatest compliment Jesus pays anyone in scripture, in the space of a few verses, Jesus is giving Peter the greatest put down of anyone at anytime in scripture. He says to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because you are thinking not as God thinks but as human beings do.”
What has happened between the greatest compliment and the greatest putdown? Only this: Jesus began to make it clear to His disciples that He had to go to Jerusalem, and there to suffer much from the elders, chief priests, and doctors of the law; to be put to death and to be raised again on the third day. At this, Peter took Him by the arm and began to rebuke Him: ‘Heaven Forbid!’ he said. ‘No Lord, this shall never happen to you.’” Jesus was right to tell the disciples not to proclaim Him as Messiah; He knew they hadn’t really taken that truth into their hearts. Peter’s protestation is proof positive that there is a world of difference between saying, ‘You are the Christ’ and understanding what that statement really means.
Peter wanted a Messiah. Peter, like us, knew that he needed a Messiah, but he wanted the Christ to come and abide by Peter’s rules, to come and save the world in a way that Peter would approve. Peter was saying what we so often say, “It’s OK Lord for you to be the Christ, but I’ve got a better plan. Let me show you, Lord, how this Messiah thing should work.” Peter was telling Jesus who to be and Jesus knew instantly that while Peter had given the correct answer, he hadn’t really understood the implication of the question.
Sebastian Moore said, “Sin is seeing your life through someone else’s eyes.” Jesus knew that He must follow the call of God, not the safety of Peter’s plea, “Heaven Forbid! No Lord, this shall not happen to you.” Jesus understood that He couldn’t live His life through Peter’s eyes. He must follow God’s call, which had come to him in the struggle of prayer, the quiet of meditation, the pain of fasting, and the sobriety of reflection. Jesus gives His disciples stern orders not to tell anyone that He is the Messiah. We might heed His stern directive, too. Perhaps we, no less than the Apostle Peter, need to wait until we know more about whom this Jesus really is before we begin telling others.
In my own experience, giving a religious talk, delivering a sermon, or telling a friend about Jesus, prior to a time when I knew anything about the subject, was an empty message. It is only after many years of searching and finally being found that I can with any integrity and authority tell you that Alleluia, Christ is risen, the Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia.
Take this Jesus into your heart, hold Him there, and let Him stay awhile, until you can be quieted. Keep Him there until it seems you will explode unless you tell the story. Let the truth be the truth of your heart before it becomes the truth of your lips. When Jesus has been discerned by the loneliness and the pain of your inner self, then He will burst forth as from three days in the tomb. Alleluia, Christ is risen, the Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia.
Amen