Father John McGinn, Rector
I want to ask the women this morning if you remember where you were when your husband first proposed to you?
I want to ask the men if you remember where you were when you found out you and your wife would be parents for the first time?
What were you doing on that day that Dr. King was shot? President John F. Kennedy? Robert Kennedy?
Where were you when Elvis died? Or the Challenger shuttle blew up? Or the
What about when you heard that you had gotten that job promotion?
Can you recall where you were when you got the best news of your life? Or the worst?
The most ordinary surroundings can seem memorable at a time like that. They get seared into our memory, so that 20 years later we hear ourselves saying to family and friends, “I remember exactly where I was when I heard.”
I wonder if Jesus’ disciples said that whenever they passed through Caesarea Philippi. I wonder if, for the rest of their lives that particular town was seared into their memory. You see it was at Caesarea Philippi that Jesus asked his disciples that most crucial of questions: Who do you say I am? This is the central question of the gospels. The central question of human history, really. This is the dividing line that separates divine faith and passing enchantment. The answer to this question will determine to a certain extent, the level of our commitment as followers of Jesus.
Jesus asked his disciples as he asked us this morning: Who do you say I am?
I’d like you to focus your attention for a few moments on that question while I provide the context in which it was asked. Where a question is asked can make a big difference in how it is received.
For instance, suppose a man asks a woman to marry him. Let us put the situation in two different
settings. He asks her to marry him in
the middle of changing the oil in his car.
Not the most romantic situation.
Or he asks her to marry him in a hot air balloon over
It is no accident that Jesus asked his disciples this momentous question in Caesarea Philippi. On the hills overlooking this city was a beautiful white temple built in honor of the Roman Emperor Caesar. Like all emperors of the time, Caesar was worshipped like a God. This was also a temple for the Phoenician God Baal, and the Greek God Pan. History, religion and politics all came together in this one region to exalt many Gods, and each God was known for special powers.
Now imagine for a moment the disciples discomfort as they passed through this area. These men were devout Jews who were warned all their lives to stay away from the uncleanliness of a pagan lifestyle. They are surrounded on all sides by evidence that many of their neighbors worshipped craven Gods, other than the one the Jews called Yahweh.
And in this setting, Jesus asked them a provocative question: Who do people say I am? They had no idea what he was getting at, but respond “John” or “Elijah” or even “The Prophet” They are going in the right direction, but it was time to get to the very heart of the matter. What about you? Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?”
Imagine that all the hosts of heaven are holding their breath. For just a moment time stands still and the fate of humanity rests on this answer. And who should answer but the headstrong young fisherman named Peter. “You are the Christ. You are the Messiah.” He announces. And the angels in heaven shout “Hooray!” OK, the bible doesn’t actually say that, but what else would they do? The plan of God put into motion with the beginning of time is now coming to fulfillment.
Jesus doesn’t stop with Peter’s affirmation.
Here is something you might notice about Gods, especially pagan Gods. Every pagan God requires a sacrifice. That was obvious in a place like Caesarea Philippi. If Jesus really is the Christ, then what kind of sacrifice does he ask?
Verse 31 reads, “Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.”
Surprise! Jesus is not asking for a sacrifice, Jesus is giving a sacrifice, and the sacrifice is himself. Jesus announces to them that he will be killed, and on the third day he will be raised from the dead. His disciples were not ready in any way, shape or form for such an exotic, unbelievable announcement.
It is always important to understand that ‘Christ’ is not a
name, it is a title. It is from a Greek
word meaning anointed one, or Messiah in Hebrew. And when we say Jesus Christ, we are saying
Jesus the anointed one, or Jesus the Messiah.
The Jewish. idea of Christ is one of a superhuman, conquering figure who
would come to call all the children of
He then began to teach them that the son of man must suffer many things and “be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” This was more than Simon Peter could take. ‘What is he saying? Is he going to lay down his life to be the sacrifice? It was absurd. What kind of God would do such a thing?
That is the point isn’t it. That is the truth that sets us apart from every other religion on this planet. We serve a God who does not ask for a sacrifice, but who is the sacrifice.
The work of reconciliation requires sacrifice. That is true when we are speaking of reconciling nations and individuals. That is true also when we speak of reconciling humanity and God. A sacrifice must be made, and it was our god that made the sacrifice.
If you do not understand this, you do not understand the heart of the Christian faith. Without the cross, Christianity is just another pleasant philosophy urging people to be nicer to one another.
“God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son.”
This is the good news. This is the dividing line between insipid Christianity and a life changing Christianity, which causes people to give their lives to the work of reconciliation.
Jesus laid down his life on our behalf. And Peter took Jesus aside “and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’" Those are pretty strong words, but this is where the line is drawn.
There are many Christians are trying to live the Christian life with out believing in the saving power of the cross. They are nice people, but I have to tell you that their faith is ineffective. . It is not life changing.
Jesus called the crowd to him, along with his disciples and said. “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.”
See what I mean by the dividing line? Dietrich Bonhoeffer, that wonderful saint,
who was martyred for opposing Adolf Hitler, wrote a wonderful book called The
Cost of Discipleship
It is about what Bonhoeffer called “cheap grace.” Cheap grace, according to Bonhoffer, is the deadly enemy of our church. We are fighting today for costly grace. Cheap grace is the grace we bestow upon ourselves. It is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, and baptism without church discipline. Cheap grace is a grace without discipleship, without the cross. Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field, it is the call of Jesus Christ to leave and follow him.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer lived the level of discipleship that he taught. He was so committed that he ended up losing his life. And Jesus also lived his life with that level of discipleship. Such commitment puts to shame the disciples and many of us who claim to be Christians.
What does it mean to take up the cross and follow Jesus? I can give you a lot of examples, but you need to think of them for yourself. What does it mean to take up the cross and follow Jesus? And what does it mean to live a life of costly grace?
Now some people, thankfully, are able to discern the voice of God, and take up a cross and do what they have to do to follow Jesus. There is a dividing line. We are recipients of God’s abundant, wonderful and luxurious grace. Jesus laid down his life for us to obtain it for us. We in turn are called to live lives that honor that sacrifice. We are to live responsible, accountable lives that bring honor to Jesus. If that means we sacrifice many things that are dear to us, so be it. That is what Jesus did on our behalf. AMEN
For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."