WHO ARE YOU SAYING I AM?
Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16:13-20
13th Sunday After Pentecost, August 27, 2023
Pastor Ritva H Williams
We meet Jesus this morning in foreign territory visiting Caesarea Philippi, about 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee, in what today is the Golan Heights on the border of Lebanon and Syria. There, at the foot of Mount Hermon is a cave which ancient peoples believed was bottomless. They even called it the “gates of hades/hell.” The fresh water spring flowing from the cave is the major source of the Jordan River. Early Semitic peoples associated the cave and spring with a deity called Baal-Gad. Greco-Roman conquerors rededicated it to the half-human, half-goat god Pan and renamed the city Panias in his honor. Pan is a wild, scary sort of god. His name is where we get the word “panic.” Herod the Great built a temple in front of the cave to honor his imperial patron the conqueror deified as Caesar Augustus. Herod’s son, Philip, renamed the city Caesarea Philippi and made it the capital of his little kingdom. Later a temple to Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, was built in the center.
It is here in this place that Jesus asks his disciples, “Who are people saying that the Son of Man is?” The disciples report that people are saying Jesus is one of the dead prophets come back to life, like John the Baptist, Elijah, or Jeremiah. Jesus follows up with, “But who are you saying that I am?” Simon Peter speaks up, “You are the Messiah — ho Christos, the anointed one — the Son of the Living God.” What did Peter mean when he identified Jesus as the Christ?
In the ancient world, it was believed that God called and anointed priests, prophets, and kings for specific divinely ordained purposes. Priests created bridges between heaven and earth through worship and ritual. Prophets were empowered by God’s Spirit to speak truth to power, calling people to repent, comforting and empowering them in times of distress. Kings were appointed to rule, enact justice, and safeguard nations.
Caesarea Philippi brought home the reality that Roman imperial rulers appointed Judean priests and kings, who in turned murdered Judean prophets and oppressed the Judean people. In the world of Jesus, many longed for a “messiah” who would restore Israel’s political independence, reboot human history, resurrect the dead, establish God’s kingdom on earth, and usher in a messianic age in which warfare would end and all people would live in peace and harmony. Most likely this is what Peter meant when he said Jesus was the Christ. After all, the first question the disciples ask Jesus after his resurrection is, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). P
Messianic expectations continue to be alive and well among both Jews and Christians in the world today with both minor and major variations. Conservative and Reform Jews no longer wait for “the Messiah” but rather teach that each person must live as if they are individually responsible for bringing about the messianic age. This is the concept of Tikkun Olam — repairing what is broken in the world.
This morning Jesus asks each one of us “who are you saying that I am?” Like Peter, we too identity Jesus as the Christ. But, do we see Jesus as the messianic figure Peter and company were hoping for? If not, who is the Christ that we, here at St. Stephen’s, claim to know, live and share?
In today’s reading from Romans, we get a peak at a different understanding of the Christ. Paul begins by appealing to his readers, ancient and modern not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. In that way we will be better able to discern what is good and acceptable to God. We will not think too highly of ourselves, but will recognize that we who are many are one body in Christ. Each of us have gifts and functions within this body that differ but all are equally intended for the common good (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11). For Paul, the Christ is paradoxically a spiritual body visible and tangible in the world and a life-giving spirit that is invisible and intangible (1 Corinthians 15:44-45). We live and move and have our being in this Christ. But what does that mean?
As we stand poised to enter the Season of Creation and a new “program year” here at St Stephen’s, Jesus asks each one of us and all of us together, “Who are you saying that I am?”
How we answer that questions impacts the way we interact with one another and with the planet on which we live. Notice that Peter’s answer was not based on the opinions of others, hearsay, or rumors, but came as a revelation from God. How we answer Jesus’ question should be, according to Pastor and Professor Mitzi Smith, grounded in a lifelong conversation with God that is informed by our study of scripture, our spiritual practices, and our caring conversations with others. She also recommends that we be prepared to adjust what we think we know as we learn new things (workingpreacher.org).
Making space and time for, energizing and encouraging that lifelong conversation with God-Christ-Holy Spirit is captured in our mission to know, live and share Christ. So here’s a quick rundown of this fall’s offerings to help us do so:
beginning today at 4:30pm our middle and high school youth have an opportunity to gather with our new MFL Will at St Paul’s UMC to meet with other local youth to plan for weekly activities and fun.
through the Season of Creation, we will explore the idea of “Finding God in the World,” based on Diana Butler Bass’ book Grounded. Our Sunday sermons, adult learning sessions, and Wednesday evening reflections will be shaped by chapters in this book. You will hear more about this during our adult education hour. The first two daily devotions have already been posted in FB. If you would prefer to receive them by email there will be a sign up sheet. You can also email or call the church office for more information.
beginning September 5, the Tuesday morning study group will be reading and discussing another book by Diana Butler Bass — Freeing Jesus: Rediscovering Jesus as Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way, and Presence.
beginning September 6 our middle schoolers will resume their Confirmation lessons focusing on the life of Jesus and the book of Acts
this year our youngest saints will have two options during the worship service (1) a 30-35 minute Sunday school lesson downstairs, or (2) spend time in our creation station here in the sanctuary. You’ll learn more about that on Rally Sunday September 17.
May these opportunities help all of us from the youngest to oldest know, live and share Christ with the goal of making our homes, schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods a better place. As we enter into this season of renewing our minds in Christ, let us pray:
In your hands, loving God, we place ourselves: our minds to know hour, our hearts to love you, our wills to serve you, for we are yours. Into your hands, Christ our Healer, we place ourselves: receive us and draw us after you, that we may follow your steps; abide in us and enliven us by the power of your indwelling. Into your hands, hovering Spirit, we place ourselves: take us and fashion us after Christ’s image; let your comfort strengthen, your grace renew, and your fire cleanse us, soul and body, in life and in death, in this world of shadows and in your changeless world of light eternal, now and forever. Amen.
