Matthew 16: 13-20

I know someone with a tarp barn. On his land, the bedrock was so close to the surface, the foundation couldn’t go very deep. One day when there were high winds, the tarp on the rafters acted like an umbrella: the building – with foundations – was lifted out of the ground. Not good!

In today’s reading, Jesus says he’s going to build his church. The rock on which Jesus plans to build his church is a guy named Simon: Simon son of Jonah. But Jesus gives Simon a new name: Peter, Rock. The rock on which the church is built.

Building the church is a word picture we find throughout the NT. You see how the renovations of the church building are going. It’s similar to the little rooms the oldest cadets made – studs, electrical, drywall, finishing. In a few weeks, there will be big diggers here, digging up the flowerbeds and front lawn so there’s room to pour the concrete foundation. Once the foundation is set, the walls can go up.

Jesus says that Peter is the foundation. He’s building his church on Jesus. In a letter to the believers in Ephesus, a former Pharisee uses Jesus’ word picture when he writes

Ephesians 2:19–20 NIV

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

As Jesus builds his church, he builds it on the foundation of the apostles: Peter, of course, but also Matthew, James, Andrew, and the others. The apostles are the foundation, but he keeps on building his church with people drawn from all over. Your ancestry doesn’t make a difference. You don’t need to come from a long line of religious people – Jesus builds his church with people like Peter.

What’s significant about Simon Peter?

Why does Jesus decide to build the church on him?

It arises around questions of Jesus’ identity. Jesus asked, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

Matthew 16:14 NIV

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

They knew there was something special about Jesus, but couldn’t put their finger on it. Awkward part about all these suggestions, is that they were all dead. John was beheaded. Jeremiah was a prophet a long time ago and Elijah was a prophet a long, long time ago. So none of these answers fit.

So Jesus pushes further, “What about you? Who do you say that I am?”

Matthew 16:16 NIV

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Mt 16.

Peter says a mouthful:

Messiah/Christ –anointed one, the Messiah was the long-awaited person, sent by God to set things straight: a king like David, a prophet like Elijah, a priest like Moses.

Son of the Living God: Peter understood that Jesus came from God. All the nuances from 2000 years of pondering Jesus’ identity hadn’t happened yet. But Peter understood that Jesus came from God and had a unique relationship with the Creator and Master of the world. Jesus referred to God as “Father.”

Simon Peter was making a bold, dangerous statement about Jesus’ identity. If the news of who Jesus is got out before the time was right, the rulers and authorities would investigate.

Jesus’ claim as the anointed prophet and priest challenged the teaching and authority of the teachers of God’s Law and the priests who inherited their leadership positions. If Jesus is a priest, it implies that something is wrong with the current priesthood and the sacrifices they offer.

We stopped reading at , but in the next verse, Jesus describes how he was going to behave as the Messiah. Jesus, the Messiah is both the priest and the sacrifice:

Peter didn’t have a clue about Jesus’ plans to establish the kingdom. After this bold statement of faith, Peter puts his foot in his mouth when Jesus begins to explain his plan to build his church, to advance the realm of the kingdom of heaven. In fact, at this point in the gospel, you know more about the church and the kingdom of heaven that Simon Peter did.

Next verses, Jesus describes the way that he was going to repossess the world as his kingdom:

Matthew 16:21 NIV

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Why suffering? Why death?

Those who believe in Jesus don’t offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. But it’s something we find in the Bible. The first 5 books of the Bible include details on sacrifices, especially Leviticus. Here’s the basic idea:

when you become aware that you have broken God’s law, you’re guilty; unclean. You’re not allowed to go close to God’s dwelling among his people.

that guilt is contagious, hanging out with a guilty person make you an unclean and guilty too

So once you’re guilty, you’re stuck alone in your guilt: Cut off from God. Cut off from other people. You might as well be dead.

Leviticus says the way to remove your guilt is to come to God’s dwelling place with a substitute: a year-old ram or a year-old billy goat. An perfect specimen: healthy and strong. With that lamb or goat, you confess your wrongdoing and the animal is slaughtered. Its death covers your sin. It dies in your place.

That’s what Jesus is talking about for the church he’s building. Jesus is building a community of people who trust in him to cover their guilt and shame. When Peter confesses faith in Jesus as Messiah, he’s not aware of all the details of how Jesus will build his church. In fact, Peter argues with Jesus about his plans. But Jesus’ plan is firm.

Matthew 16:21 NIV

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Jesus came as the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, in order to take our guilt and shame.

Our guilt arises when we know we haven’t met the standards. I don’t know about you, but I don’t always live up to my own standards. I'm not as kind or generous as I’d like. I’m not as loyal and reliant on God as I want to. And that’s just my own standards. God’s standards for holiness, righteousness, and goodness are higher than mine.

God is just. He says that sin naturally cuts us off from our Creator and from other people. Sin leads to death.

Nothing I do can make it up. Being really religious or extra kind today isn’t good enough for today. It doesn’t do anything for yesterday’s shortfall. Even when we work really hard, we still fall behind.

That’s why Jesus’ promise to build his church is huge! He’s the one who’s going to do it. He builds his church with fishermen like Peter who have learned to trust him. He builds his church with women and men like those sitting all around you.

Because

John 3:16 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

That’s Peter’s confession. Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. Jesus told Peter and the others how he was going to give eternal life.

Matthew 16:21 NIV

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

See, at the cross, Jesus took our guilt. The punishment for our sin was put on Jesus.