The ground beneath our feet grows hard and weary in our journey along the ancient paths of the old Western lectionary. Our journey is interrupted with pebbles in our soles and perhaps a thorn or two in the flesh. The rocks in our shoes remind us about another small “rock,” Cephas, better known to us as St. Peter. The simple fisherman forever had his life changed when his brother and fellow fisherman, St. Andrew, brought Peter to Christ. Jesus would do more than change Cephas’ name to his better-known nickname, Peter. Jesus would change St. Peter’s life and thereby change the world through this Apostle’s ministry and leadership in the early church.

Peter’s life dramatically changes when Jesus calls him. Peter is told that he will continue fishing, but now for men instead of fish. Peter’s mother-in-law is healed in one of Jesus’ early miracles, likely beginning the question that each of Christ’s disciples had throughout His ministry, “Who is this man?” The very question as to just who Jesus is attributed to all the disciples when Jesus is awoken by them as their boat encounters a storm in the Sea of Galilee. Jesus speaks, and the storm ceases; the sea is calm. They look at each other and ask, “What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” (Matthew 8:27, KJV).

St. Peter weathered many a storm, and it likely took a lot for this experienced fisherman to worry. Yet worry Peter did, and he joined with the disciples asking the question that should be on every person’s lips, “Who is this man?” It is a question Peter will be asked by Jesus later in our Lord’s ministry. Yet before we get to that point, St. Peter and the disciples have to weather another storm in Matthew 14, this time alone. Jesus has sent the disciples ahead of Him by boat, as He prays on the mountain. Another storm brews, and Peter and the disciples are tossed to and fro by the waves. Yet they are not truly alone, for the Lord Jesus sees their distress and goes to them, walking on the water. Alas, at first the disciples fear and think they are seeing a spectre, a ghost. Yet when Peter hears the ghost talk back with the voice of his Master, Peter boldly and confidently asks the voice to speak again and beckon him to come if it is truly Jesus. Our Lord obliges, and the brave Peter takes a step of faith – before nearly plunging to the depths in doubt as the wind picks up.

“Save me,” the wonderful confession of Peter. “Save me,” the cry that comes from each of our lips. “Save me,” and truly you are saved like Peter, who was immediately grabbed by Christ from the depths of death and placed upon the ark of salvation, the little boat filled with the little church of the disciples. Jesus puts Peter into the boat, and when He enters it, again the raging seas are calm, a second time. It is a reversal of Jonah and the whale. The disciples feared the storm in their boat, one volunteers to go overboard, and the Lord God spits Peter back onto the boat and the storm ceases. Then something amazing happens. They make a joint confession: “Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:33, KJV).

Contented, peaceful fishermen,

Before they ever knew

The peace of God that filled their hearts

Brimful, and broke them too,

Brimful, and broke them too.

Finally, in today’s Gospel lesson, we encounter the disciples, not on the sea, but nearby on “the coasts of Cæsarea Philippi.” (Matthew 16:13, KJV). Jesus “asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” (Matthew 16:13). It is a question we are curious about as well. What does my friend think about Jesus? How would my boss or co-worker react if Jesus came up? Or to bring it closer to home, what would my parents, my children, yea even my spouse, say about who Jesus is?

The location is deeply symbolic as the place where Jesus asks the question. The city is named for both the local tetrarch and the Roman emperor. Pagan shrines and deities, notably Pan, a temple to Caesar Augustus, and others, dotted the area at the foot of Mount Hermon. The location is steeped in rebellion from God, both by the Gentile inhabitants and Israel’s long history of abandoning the Lord for pagan idols. Jesus has essentially led His disciples to a town where the worship of satan and the demons is overly abundant.

After the disciples report to Jesus what their neighbors think, “Some say that thou art John the Baptist;” or what their families may say, “some, Elias, and others, Jeremias,” or perhaps what some of the local rabbi’s taught, “or one of the prophets,” Jesus then confronts each of the Twelve. “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?” (Matthew 16:15, KJV).

But whom say ye that I am?

Tis the question for every soul, from young to old, from religious to atheist, from here unto the ends of the earth must answer and give an account for.

Young John, who trimmed the flapping sail,

Homeless in Patmos died.

Peter, who hauled the teeming net,

Head down was crucified,

Head down was crucified.

Out of the Twelve, the Scriptures only record one disciple bold enough to answer. “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16, KJV). What a sweet confession. Not because of its theologically astuteness, but because Peter lovingly and faithfully states what has been placed upon his heart. Yes, placed, that is, given to Peter as a gift outside of his own intellect, for “Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17, KJV). Our confession, that is our knowing of Christ, is not dependent upon our knowledge (thanks be to God) nor our feelings, but is a gift of grace from the Father. The Almighty God cherishes revealing Himself through a gift of faith in knowing the Son. For through knowing the Son, we shall see and know the Father, and the Holy Ghost will come to us and bring us into the fellowship of the Holy Trinity.

At this revelation from Christ, Jesus then tells St. Peter first, what He will tell each of His Apostles, “whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19, KJV). Therefore we pray in today’s collect, that just as God “didst give to thy apostle Saint Peter many excellent gifts, and commandedst him earnestly to feed thy flock: Make, we beseech thee, all bishops and pastors diligently to preach thy holy word, and the people obediently to follow the same, that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” For like St. Peter, we must remain steadfast in this confession: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Because when we reject this gift of knowing the Son and deny Him, He will tell us as He told St. Peter when Peter desired to keep the Lord away from the Cross, “Get thee behind me, Satan.” (Matthew 16:23, KJV). Therefore, accept the gift the Father has revealed unto you, and hold fast to your confession of faith: Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus is the Son of God.

Pray also for “all bishops and pastors” to “diligently to preach thy holy word,” as their vocational duty. (Collect of the Day). Pray indeed for yourselves, that “the people obediently to follow the same, that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory.” (Collect of the Day). Our confession is more than what leaves our lips; it is reflected in trusting the gift of grace given unto us and living by the Spirit of God dwelling within us.

Fear not, little flock. I know you are no Peter and I am no John. Yet Peter was a mere fisherman whom Christ said, ” That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.” (Matthew 16:18, KJV). The rock of Peter’s confession is where we rest ourselves upon, for the rock is Christ Himself. Peter would fail and fall many times in his discipleship and even apostleship in Christ. Yet Peter repents like David and is truly a man after God the Son’s own heart. You are not St. Peter, and yet you are: sinners who sometimes get too far ahead and start sinking, yet our Lord uses us sinking sinners to save us into saintly sent ones. Where are we to go? We go to the One who “hast the words of eternal life,” as Peter confesses in John 6:68. Go where the Lord leads you, and follow Him; even if it is to crucifixion upside down on a cross, as St. Peter was martyred. Go like St. Peter to the ends of the earth and the very end of our lives. Go without fear, for Christ has promised his Church that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18, KJV).

Let us go forth in the confession of St. Peter and in his bold and fervent zeal to love and serve our Lord Jesus. The gateholds of hell stand before us. Let us get to work, O Church, and raze hell’s gates by liberating the captive minds and souls in this world with the freedom of this revelation: Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God – and Caesar and satan are not.

The peace of God, it is no peace,

But strife closed in the sod.

Yet, let us pray for but one thing:

The marv’lous peace of God,

The marv’lous peace of God.

The Confession – St. Peter’s Day

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