Theme of the Week: Peter’s Spiritual Growth… and Ours
Bible Verse: Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. Matthew 16:16-17
Scripture Reading: Matthew 16:13-20
Outside the harrowing hours preceding the crucifixion, Peter had one defining moment, a towering statement that has, in truth, helped shaped the religious history of the world.
To understand the significance of “Peter’s Confession, we have to back up. Both the long-term history of Israel and the immediately preceding events make Peter’s declaration something uniquely significant.
Israel had been waiting for “the anointed one” (the literal meaning of Messiah), for hundreds of years. Throughout her history, Israel had been given hints of the Messiah’s coming, descriptions of what life would be like for God’s chosen people when the Messiah finally arrived. It is no understatement to say that Messiah was the hope that all Israelites held to. Messiah would deliver and restore; Messiah would raise Israel to a place of prominence and importance on the world stage. When Messiah came, all nations would look to Israel as the place where God had staked His claim and made His kingdom.
When Jesus came on the scene, there were waves, and plenty of them. He was doing and saying things that disrupted the status quo. People, especially the religious people, were demanding to know under what authority he was doing and saying these things. Which, when you pause to think about the demand for a sign of authority when the signs Jesus was performing were a demonstration of authority, it comes out a little ridiculous. You are doing amazing things, give us a sign to let us know we can trust these miracles . . . In other words, show us a miracle to trust the miracles.
It’s in this tension of long-awaited hope and hardened skepticism that Jesus asks his closest followers who they thought he was. Peter, prompted by divine insight, declared that Jesus was the one they had all been waiting for. He was the anointed one who would bring Israel back to glory. Poor understanding of Messiah aside.
It’s unclear whether this was just Peter or if the whole group thought this. Jesus’s response seems to suggest that it was just Peter. Peter was willing to confidently declare What he was being shown even if no one else was willing to say it. When the disciples told Jesus what the crowds were saying, not one of the responses was that Jesus might be the Messiah. The religious leaders wanted a sign for the signs. Peter stood alone (or perhaps with the disciples) in his confident declaration of Jesus as the anointed of God.
Peter spoke up when the ramifications were enormous. When no one else would. When his words put him on an island. He stepped into what God had shown him.
Prayer: God, sometimes it is easy, too easy to keep my mouth closed. Sometimes I do not speak even when I can feel the words pulling at my tongue. Help me to be bold to declare who Jesus is. Help me not to be afraid to stand alone if and when I need to. You have shown who you are and who Jesus is. Give me the courage to share that with others.
Reflection: Where and when could you speak up about who Jesus is.
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