Peter’s Confession of Faith

Matthew 16 v 13-20

In Mark’s gospel, Peter’s confession of faith signifies a major turning point in the gospel.  Whereas, in Matthew’s gospel, it is part of the continuum of Matthew’s message.  This message is that Jesus is both God’s anointed, the Christ or Messiah, and the Son of the living God.  This message is clear from the first verses of Matthew’s gospel and as we read on through we will see that Peter’s confession is more significant for him and his future ministry than as insight into who Jesus is.  Moreover, the confession of Peter in response to Jesus’ question “Who do you say I am?” that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God” doesn’t come out of the blue but is part of the revelation of Jesus to his disciples from the time that he calls them to follow him. 

Matthew 4:23 says “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.”  Hence, Jesus is doing the work of the Messiah teaching, preaching and healing the sick.  Furthermore, along the way he is questioned as to who he is.  By John the Baptist in Matthew 11:2 “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”  By the Pharisees and Sadduceees in Matthew 16:1 “they tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.”  And it is clear from Jesus’ first question to Peter “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” and Peter’s response “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets,” that other people during Jesus’ journeying have offered answers to that question but Jesus now focuses in on Peter.

Okay Peter, you have seen me at work, my ministry among you.  You received the teaching particularly the Sermon on the Mount.  You have seen the miracles, the healings, and the lives made new.  In the light of all this evidence, “Who do you say that I am?”  This question from Jesus is not something that is impromptu but meticulously planned.  The question is remarkable for three reasons.

The place that it is posed

It was no accident that Jesus and the disciples found themselves in Caesarea Philippi.  At chapter 15:21 it says, “Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.”  This was not a chance decision to change course, although it is possible that Jesus was in need of a rest due to his tiring work, but also, he wanted to be in the area that was most ‘worldly’.  This was the domain of Philip II and he had even changed the region’s name to his, Caesarea Philippi, the territory of Caesar Augustus, the Emperor of Rome and Philip, the tetrarch in that area.  There was even a newly built Temple in honour of the Emperor.  But other religions thrived in that area.  Nearby was the supposed birthplace of Pan, the most famous fertility god in ancient paganism.  This was a syncretistic place where many of the great religious were in fusion, and it was here that Jesus wanted to be honoured as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Messiah and the Son of the Living God.

The titles used by Peter were remarkable

It is not only the situation that was remarkable, titles used in this passage were remarkable as well.  Jesus declares himself to be the Son of Man in v13 and Peter declares him to be the Messiah, and the Son of the Living God in v 16.  These titles have been used separately up to this point but to use them together is the remarkable thing. 

The Son of Man is an alternative for Jesus saying ‘I’ eg Matthew 8:20 the Son of Man has no place to lay his head but maybe Jesus is referring back to Daniel 7:14 where the Son of Man is given the everlasting Kingdom and power and glory.  Maybe, the ambiguity of this title matches the ambiguity of Jesus who on earth was totally human and “emptied himself” as Paul puts it in Philippians, yet, totally divine, “This is my Son, my beloved, in whom I am well pleased” was the cry from heaven at Jesus’ baptism.

Messiah on the other hand is a title with no ambiguity.  Peter declares Jesus to be the Christ, the anointed of God and was soon to become like a surname for Jesus because it fitted him so well.  Traditionally there were three types of people who were anointed by God: the priests, the prophets and the kings.  Jesus fulfilled all three roles.  Like a priest, he put people in touch with God.  Like a prophet, he showed people what God was like and like a king, he exercised God’s rule over his people.  But unlike any prophet, priest or king before him, Jesus was perfect and he did all this uniquely as the Servant King.  The situation and the titles used were remarkable but Peter’s insight was remarkable as well.

The insight of Peter was remarkable

In Psalm 2, David describes the king as the Son of God, but here at Caesarea Philippi, that most syncretistic of places in the Palestine of Jesus’ day, Simon Peter has the insight to link the two titles that describe Jesus’ nature most precisely.  “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  This insight was not as a result of his own innate qualities as Jesus goes on to explain.  “Blessed are you…for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.”  And this was revealed to Peter for a purpose.  Peter had been given insight as part of God’s great plan. When King Jesus ascended to sit at the right hand of God at his throne in heaven, Peter was to be ‘the rock’ on which the early church was to be built.  As Peter would find out soon enough, his declaration was not significant for Jesus’ ministry but for his own.  That day Peter changed his name from Simon to Peter, but he also changed the direction of his life.  Isn’t that the same for you and me? 

We receive revelations about God that change our direction in life

And as you and I discover more about who Jesus is, it will change our lives as well.  If Jesus is only a figure in history who was special in the way he behaved for the time he was on earth, then you and I will have a diminished view of him and his impact on our lives.  But if Jesus is the prism by which every ray of light is brought to life in spectacular technicolour then that effects every area of our life, and that’s what happened to Peter in Caesarea Philippi.

When this revelation came to C. S. Lewis, the author of Narnia tales he declared “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun [the planet] has risen: not only because I see it but by it I see everything else.”  May that be revealed to each and every one of us today in a new way!


Category: Prayers , Sermons , The Bridge

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