August 24, 2008

Scripture:         Matthew 16:13-20

Sermon:           “Who Do You Say That I Am?”

            Thousands of years ago the Israelites received a promise about a future prophet.  That prophet would be raised up by God from among the Israelites.  And that prophet would be like Moses.  When they received that promise they were told that God’s own words would be on the lips of that prophet and that anyone who did not heed the words that the prophet spoke would be held accountable.

            This is the expectation found in the 18^th chapter of Deuteronomy.

            There was a Jewish man that lived sometime during the first century, when the Roman Empire controlled the land known to them as Palestine.  It included Judea, Samaria, and a remote land called the Galilee.  This man persuaded a modest number of people to take their belongings with them and follow him to the Jordan River.  He said that he could deliver the people because God was him.  God would divide the river just as happened long ago.  And the people would walk safely through it.  Four hundred or so people followed him.  The Romans caught them with a small army, killed many, and beheaded the leader.  His name was Theudas.

            There was another Jewish man that lived sometime during the first century, when the Roman Empire controlled Palestine.  The emperor Quirinius had ordered a census to be taken of the people.  And from the Galilee rose a man claiming to represent God.  He inspired a small group of followers to revolt against the Romans.  This man, his two sons, and many of his followers were put to death by the Romans.  That small following was scattered.  His name was Judas the Galilean.

            During that same time there was a charismatic man known to be a miracle worker.  One year it did not rain and there was great fear of a drought.  This man drew a circle in the dust of the ground with his finger.  He stood inside the circle and prayed aloud to God.  His relationship with God was understood by others as special.  And he prayed by saying to God that he would not leave that circle until the rains fell.  The rains did fall.  This man was said to be put to death by stoning.  But, his followers claimed that he went to sleep for 70 years and reappeared.  He was called Honi the Circle Drawer.

            There was also a Jewish rabbi that lived in the first century of a land known as Palestine.  He was reputed to be a miraculous healer who could pray to God on behalf of those who were ill or deformed.  Because of his relationship to God, people said that his prayers for healing were answered.  There is a story that this man was once bitten in the heel by a snake while he prayed.  The snake died, but the praying rabbi did not feel a thing.  This miracle-working rabbi was known as Hanina ben Dosa.  And they said, “Woe to the person whom a snake has bitten.  Woe to the snake that has bitten Hanina.”

            While Rome was controlling the land called Palestine there was a man known to many as a prophet among the Jews there.  He spoke of the coming judgment of God and the need to repent of sins.  He drew people to the River Jordan, preaching fiery sermons in the wilderness and baptizing people in the river.  This man was executed by a Roman ruler who was suspicious of his intentions and the following he gathered.  They called him John the Baptist.

            One of John’s followers also gathered a following.  He spoke of the coming kingdom of God and the need to repent.  He prayed and healed people because of his special relationship to God.  He once performed a public demonstration against the Temple in Jerusalem by turning over the tables of those selling doves for sacrifices.  The Romans put him to death on a cross outside of the city like a common thief.  His name was Jesus.

            Now, in the midst of all of these men that the people believed were raised up by God from among the Jews, Jesus asked his followers what it is that compelled them to follow him.  The story is told in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 16, verses 13 through 20.  You can read the words on page 24 in the New Testament there in the Bible in the pew where you’re sitting.

            Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”  And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”  He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”  Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”  And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah!  For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.  And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”  Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

            Unlike any of those other men, Jesus’ followers continued to exist after the Romans had put him to death.  These people claimed that their rabbi had risen from the dead, and that they had had conversations with him and eaten meals with him.  And then they said that he had ascended to heaven and that someday he would return.

            Now the world at this time was ruled by the Roman Empire—this giant, global, military superpower.  They ruled the lands from England to India.

            And among the Romans, one of the most popular gods was the god Mithra.  Mithra’s followers believed that Mithra had been born of a virgin and that he was a mediator between God and humans and that Mithra had ascended to heaven.

            There was also a religion at that time that centered around the god Attis.  The followers of Attis believed he was born of a virgin.  And each Spring they would gather to celebrate the resurrection of Attis.

            The Roman Empire itself was ruled by a succession of emperors called Caesars.  The first one, Julius Caesar, when he died a comet appeared in the sky.  And people said, “Well, of course.  That’s Julius Caesar, the son of God, ascending to the right hand of the gods in heaven.”

            Soon after this Julius’s adopted son Caesar Augustus came to power.  And Caesar Augustus believed that he was the son of God, sent by the gods to earth to bring about a universal reign of peace and prosperity.  One of his popular propaganda slogans was, “There is no other name under heaven by which people can be saved than that of Caesar.”

            Caesar inaugurated a twelve day celebration of his birth called the Advent of Ceasar.

            Another popular phrase at the time, people would literally greet one another on the street by saying, “Caesar is Lord.”

            So, in the first century, to claim that your god had risen from the dead and ascended to heaven, well, it just wasn’t that unique.

            The claims of these first Christian weren’t really anything new.  Everybody’s god had risen from the dead.  “What makes your god so special?”

            These first Christians believed that Jesus’ resurrection had implications for the entire universe.  The Jewish traditions had taught them that the world was broken.  And they believed that sometime in the future, God was going to put it all back together.  For them, this future restoration had nothing to do with leaving this world.  It was all about the restoration, the renewing, and the reclaiming of this world.  They saw in Jesus’ resurrection the beginning of this universe-wide movement to put it all back together.

            Now, that’s not how things worked in the Roman Empire.  Remember, for the Caesars it was all about Caesar’s belief that he was making a new and better world through his power, and through his armies, and through his wealth.

            When Caesar wanted to send out a message to let everyone know of his latest military conquest, or his latest accomplishments, he would send out a royal pronouncement telling the masses of his latest achievements.  These pronouncements were called in the Greek language euangelions.  These euangelions were like a “gospel” or a “good news”.

            In English euangelion spells “evangelical”.

            These first Christians believed passionately that the world was not made better through military conquest and political coercion.  It had nothing to do with using force to make people live according to your laws or your will.  For them, the gospel was about serving the world—especially those on the underside of the Empire.  For them it was about serving, not ruling.

            They took this Empire propaganda term “gospel” and they used it to describe this new world that Jesus and his followers were making right under the nose of Caesar.  Their way was totally opposed to the way of Rome.

            And how do we read about the way that they lived?  We read that they shared their possessions, they fed the hungry, and they carried each other’s burdens.  The gospel for them was a whole way of life—a whole new world right in the midst of this one.

            Caesar had a particular word that was used for a city or a village or a province that worshiped Caesar as the son of God, that acknowledged Caesar as Lord.  Caesar would conquer with his armies a new land and then demand that all the people would confess that “Caesar is Lord.”  If people didn’t then they were crucified.  It was a way to show others what would happen if you refused to submit to the power of Empire.  But, if a group of people did, a city or a village or a region did acknowledge that Caesar was the son of God, Lord—if they did accept Caesar as their Savior—then their area became a worshiping center of the Caesar.  These worshiping centers were called in the Greek language ecclesias.

            The word ecclesia translates in English as “church”.

            The first Christians took this Empire propaganda term ecclesia and they used it to describe their gatherings—the ones where they confessed that “Jesus is Lord”.

            It raised all sorts of questions.  Well, who do you believe?  Caesar?  Who believes the world is made better through his brute military and political power, by forcing people to do what he says?  Or Jesus?  Who invites you to make a new and better world through loving acts of compassion and generosity?

            Caesar?  Who killed Jesus on an execution stake?  Or, God?  Who raised Jesus from the dead?  Whose way do you think is better?  Who do you think is Lord?  Jesus?  Or Caesar?  Whose kingdom do you find more compelling?

            Now these last few minutes since reading the scripture are not my words.  They are the words of Rob Bell, the pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  I want to acknowledge using the words of someone I respect a great deal.

            But, when Jesus asks his followers, who do you say that I am?  Isn’t he asking them—isn’t he asking us—what do you think is the ultimate truth?  Because for those who follow Jesus, who claim like Simon Peter that he is the Son of the living God, we are saying that his life, and only his life, reveals the truest essence of who God is and what God wants and what God is doing in the world.

            To say that Jesus is the Son of the living God, well it’s a claim upon our own lives as well.  Because if you say that you follow this one, that he is the revelation of God’s own self, then it requires putting a different set of values and priorities on the way we act and encounter the world.  It requires compassion.  It requires love.  It requires generosity.  It seeks peace and humility.

            And it isn’t Caesar that is claiming to be Lord for us, is it?  It’s an entire way of being and living in the world that is at odds with compassion, love, generosity, peace, and humility.

            Simon Peter says, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”  Did you hear what Jesus said in return?  “On this rock, Peter, I will build my ecclesia, my church.”

            Now, who do you say that Jesus is?  Who do you say reveals the life, the will, the calling of God?  Is it Caesar?  Is it Jesus?  And if it’s Jesus, what will you do within this ecclesia, this community gathered to proclaim that “Jesus is Lord”?

Rev. David James Brown

Park Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)