Matthew 16:13-20
Grace peace and mercy from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
As you may know we spent our vacation in Alaska. Even though it was the coolest wettest summer on record we had a great time. The beauty of Alaska was as awesome this time as it was the first time we were there. The landscape is so spectacular that I ask the question when you see it how can you say there is no God. My daughter echoed that same sentiment when she saw it.
This time around most of us went on a bicycle tour around the Mendenhall glacier near Juneau. One of the rest stops along the route was a Methodist church built of logs. Behind the altar was a huge set of windows with a view looking up between tall pines at the glacier, an absolutely beautiful scene. The pulpit was off to one side in the corner. When I saw the pulpit nearly unnoticeable next the windows I remarked to my son how could anyone compete with that view. He immediately replied, "With that view why does anyone have to get up and speak?"
A few great confessions from a few small beings in the middle of an enormous display of God's majesty.
It reminds me of a man that had a great confession as well. He was just an average guy eking out a living. A very impulsive man often speaking without thinking, a ready, fire, aim kind of guy. His upbringing made it hard for him to accept people from other groups. He even avoided eating with people he considered lesser than himself and was even rebuked by one of his peers because of this very behavior.
I can identify easily with his man and maybe you can too. It may be obvious to you at this point I'm talking about Peter.
Despite all of Peter's failings he is considered the rock of the church. Jesus calls Peter the rock on which the Church will be built. I don't know about you but Peter doesn't strike me as a rock. He is not the kind of character I would consider a leader or a solid foundation.
If we consider the interaction of Jesus and Peter as Peter confesses that Jesus is the Messiah we begin to get a better picture of Peter as the rock. When Peter confesses to Jesus, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," Jesus shares with all that Peter is blessed by the Father. Peter could not recognize Jesus for who he is without revelation from God, the Father. For reasons that are beyond our understanding Peter was chosen to be the leader of the fledgling church.
Peter probably only had a little kernel of faith just a little piece of gravel yet God transformed that little piece of gravel into a solid rock. A rock so solid that Jesus could go to the cross knowing that a great leader was established to build the kingdom.
Was Peter perfect from that point on? No, he denied Jesus three times at the time of His arrest. Later Peter was rebuked by Paul for failing to see the Gentiles as equal in the church. Despite all of his stumbling Peter accomplished his mission.
What can we learn from Peter?
God's faithfulness more than makes up for our unfaithfulness. Peter was blessed with the revelation of Jesus' identity. Yet Peter still made errors of judgment and took actions that did not emulate the example Jesus set. God was still faithful to Peter still walked with him and still directed him in his mission to build the kingdom.
Are we any different than Peter? God has revealed the true identity of Jesus to us as well. He purchased us with the blood of His very own Son and sends the Holy Spirit to be with us. Despite our misgivings, our failings, and rejection of Him at times He still loves us as His very own. We are His forgiven children.
Through the work of the Holy Spirit the little gravel of faith we have is magnified into a rock in the church of our day. Each of us is a rock in the foundation of the Church.
We all ask ourselves at times whether we are worthy of His love. We ask ourselves if we have enough faith. We get discouraged wondering why things happen the way they do. Those questions take us off track. Our faith is His work in us, not our effort. This isn't about us, it's about praising Him, and it's about giving thanks for what He provides for us, it's about doing all things to His glory.
I want to bring to your attention that Jesus also told Peter the gates of Hades will not overcome the Church. This is not a defensive statement. The gates of Hades are not attacking the Church; the Church is storming the gates. That may seem strange to hear when the church in North America is on the decline and Europe is in a post-Christian era. However a handful of disciples did storm the gates with a message of mercy, grace, and love that spread worldwide. We may see the church in decline here but in other parts of the world its experiencing tremendous growth.
You are storming the gates and we know by what is written here (hold up Bible) the gates of Hades will fall. Every time you emulate Jesus the gates are under attack. Each time you remember a tough situation that Jesus carried you through and you share that with others the gates groan under the strain. Every time you introduce someone to Jesus the hinges bend.
We may feel the reverse is true in this little community but the tide can be turned and the gates can be pushed back. Each of us has a part in the battle. Our confessions carry the battle forward; we are all soldiers for our Lord Jesus.
The question isn't about the amount of faith we have, but rather are we acting on the faith we have.
In the name of our Risen Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
