“Who do people say that I am” and “Who do you say that I am?” are two questions Jesus asks his disciples. These extremely important questions are ones each of us need to think about because our answer to them determines whether we are Christians or not. Jesus displayed the incredible works and power of God, healing and cleansing the sick, causing the blind to see and the deaf to hear, forgiving sin, setting those bound by demons free, multiplying food and feeding huge crowds, raising the dead, showing power over the natural elements, the wind and the waves and teaching about the kingdom of heaven.Instead of saying he was able to do all these things because he was God, he left it to people to work out who he was for them, and they were understandably confused.Some said Jesus was John the Baptist. There may have been a physical resemblance as Jesus and John were cousins.John the Baptist was the first prophet in Israel for 450 years and caused a stir. The whole region went out to listen to John and be baptized by him in the river Jordan. And crowds gathered to listen to Jesus and receive his healingThey both preached a message of repentance and spoke truth to powerJohn had been beheaded towards the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee for speaking out against the adultery of the reigning couple. Herodias asked for his head for speaking out against Herod Antipas’ adultery with her.Jesus spoke out against the scribes and Pharisees, the Jewish religious authorities.No wonder some thought Jesus was a more powerful version of John the Baptist risen from the deadSome thought Jesus was Elijah. The Old Testament prophesied that Elijah would return before the coming of the Messiah.Jews at every Passover meal set a place with some wine for Elijah.They are still looking for Elijah and their Messiah.Elijah, like Jesus, multiplied food, healed the sick and raised the dead. Furthermore, Elijah didn’t die but was transported into heaven in a whirlwind by a chariot of fire with heavenly horsemenSome people thought Jesus was one of the prophets who also spoke truth to power.Many today think Jesus was a brave, good man and they honour him as a prophet sent by GodIt is the way most adherents to other religions view him. Moslems honour him as a prophet nearly as important as Muhammed. However, they do not believe he is the only begotten son of God Jesus definitely existed. As well as the writings within the Bible, there are many more gospels and other writings about Jesus which were not accepted as canon.The Roman historians of the day, Tacitus and Suetonius mention Jesus along with Josephus, the Jewish historian.There is more evidence for Jesus having walked this earth than any other human being that lived at that time.He wasn’t a figment of the gospel writers’ imagination.Jesus was human. He was born, suffered and died. He was hungry and tired, he loved and wept and needed time alone to recuperate.Most see Jesus as a good man who did what he could to make the world a better place.Some see him as a great moral teacherMany, including Moslems see him as a great healerBut was he more than that? Jesus asked these questions in Caesarea Philippi on the boundary of the Gentile world. It was a city predominately inhabited by Gentiles known for its idol worship. The main temple of worship was a shrine to the Roman Emperor Caesar, a self styled god. In this context Jesus asked, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” The title, Son of Man, comes from Daniel 7, where the Ancient of Days (God) gave to the one like a Son of Man “dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”Was Jesus saying he was a human or was he saying that God would give him a more lasting Kingdom than Rome?Jesus asks each of us the same question he asked his followers, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter’s response to Jesus question was that he was the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. The word Messiah is the Hebrew translation of the Greek word Christ which we tend to use as Jesus’ surname. It is a title meaning anointed oneJesus was more than someone special. He was the prophet, priest and King of David’s line that all Israel were waiting for.He was anointed by God to be the greatest King Israel had ever known, a King who would make them great in righteousness and power.Peter believed the shackles of Roman domination would be thrown off for ever and divine power would achieve what no Jewish army could.Peter also saw that Jesus was the Son of the living God. This would contrast with the lifeless idols that dotted the landscape.Jesus is the beloved Son of God who is worthy of our worship.Roman Emperors called themselves Sons of God. Jesus however is the only begotten Son of God who gave life to all creation. In him is life and he continues to give life to all to trust in him. He is the life giver.Jesus calls us from the false idols of materialism, fame and power to acknowledge him a King of Kings.Jesus blessed Simon Peter for his confession, saying that his heavenly Father had revealed it to him.The truth of Christ and people changed through a relationship with the living Lord are the rock upon which Jesus builds his church.Jesus named Simon as Peter. Although rock was a play on Peter’s name, I don’t believe Jesus was saying that the church would be built on Peter and the future pope bishops who descended from him in Rome as Roman Catholics believe.The Church is made up of all who trust in Jesus the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. We are called to build God’s church with his help, upon his foundation.When our lives are built upon the truth, Jesus says, the gates of hell will not prevail against us. Death and demonic powers will not win.The Church of our day, in this country may appear to be in decline. We may be suffering as a result of COVID, economic downturn and climate change.However, if we proclaim truth as Peter did and trust in Jesus our rock, the church will not be destroyed. Jesus is all powerful and Jesus wins. Jesus asks us all, “Who do you say that I am?”The answer we give is important because it determines how we live our lives. If Jesus is God, then we have to decide whether to follow him or not. Following him means putting his will before our own and making him King of our lives. Paul in Romans describes it as presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice (something painful) holy and acceptable to God.He says that what we do with bodies that are yielded to Christ is our spiritual worship. Loving action along with prayerful worship blesses are heavenly Father. Jesus says that whatever we bind on earth will be bound in heaven and what we loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.What we do here on earth affects what happens in heaven. We cannot separate what is spiritual from how we use our bodies, or earthly behaviour from what is acceptable in heaven. When our lives are built upon the rock, and we do God’s will there is rejoicing in heaven and when we go our own way there is sadness.Paul says that when we live Christ’s way and our lives are not conformed to this world and its values. We have different values to most people. Jesus transforms us by the renewing of our minds; we will know what God wants us to do.We will act in humility, with the other members of Christ’s church. Together, each in our different ministries we will make a difference.If we like Peter know Jesus as our living Lord and have a relationship with him we are blessed. May he help us to live his risen life so that we and all God’s people might be built together into a Church which reveals who he is to the world. God of glory,the end of our searching,help us to lay asideall that prevents us from seeking your kingdom,and to give all that we haveto gain the pearl beyond all price,through our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
“Who do people say that I am” and “Who do you say that I am?” are two questions Jesus asks his disciples. These extremely important questions are ones each of us need to think about because our answer to them determines whether we are Christians or not. Jesus displayed the incredible works and power of God, healing and cleansing the sick, causing the blind to see and the deaf to hear, forgiving sin, setting those bound by demons free, multiplying food and feeding huge crowds, raising the dead, showing power over the natural elements, the wind and the waves and teaching about the kingdom of heaven.Instead of saying he was able to do all these things because he was God, he left it to people to work out who he was for them, and they were understandably confused.Some said Jesus was John the Baptist. There may have been a physical resemblance as Jesus and John were cousins.John the Baptist was the first prophet in Israel for 450 years and caused a stir. The whole region went out to listen to John and be baptized by him in the river Jordan. And crowds gathered to listen to Jesus and receive his healingThey both preached a message of repentance and spoke truth to powerJohn had been beheaded towards the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee for speaking out against the adultery of the reigning couple. Herodias asked for his head for speaking out against Herod Antipas’ adultery with her.Jesus spoke out against the scribes and Pharisees, the Jewish religious authorities.No wonder some thought Jesus was a more powerful version of John the Baptist risen from the deadSome thought Jesus was Elijah. The Old Testament prophesied that Elijah would return before the coming of the Messiah.Jews at every Passover meal set a place with some wine for Elijah.They are still looking for Elijah and their Messiah.Elijah, like Jesus, multiplied food, healed the sick and raised the dead. Furthermore, Elijah didn’t die but was transported into heaven in a whirlwind by a chariot of fire with heavenly horsemenSome people thought Jesus was one of the prophets who also spoke truth to power.Many today think Jesus was a brave, good man and they honour him as a prophet sent by GodIt is the way most adherents to other religions view him. Moslems honour him as a prophet nearly as important as Muhammed. However, they do not believe he is the only begotten son of God Jesus definitely existed. As well as the writings within the Bible, there are many more gospels and other writings about Jesus which were not accepted as canon.The Roman historians of the day, Tacitus and Suetonius mention Jesus along with Josephus, the Jewish historian.There is more evidence for Jesus having walked this earth than any other human being that lived at that time.He wasn’t a figment of the gospel writers’ imagination.Jesus was human. He was born, suffered and died. He was hungry and tired, he loved and wept and needed time alone to recuperate.Most see Jesus as a good man who did what he could to make the world a better place.Some see him as a great moral teacherMany, including Moslems see him as a great healerBut was he more than that? Jesus asked these questions in Caesarea Philippi on the boundary of the Gentile world. It was a city predominately inhabited by Gentiles known for its idol worship. The main temple of worship was a shrine to the Roman Emperor Caesar, a self styled god. In this context Jesus asked, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” The title, Son of Man, comes from Daniel 7, where the Ancient of Days (God) gave to the one like a Son of Man “dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”Was Jesus saying he was a human or was he saying that God would give him a more lasting Kingdom than Rome?Jesus asks each of us the same question he asked his followers, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter’s response to Jesus question was that he was the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. The word Messiah is the Hebrew translation of the Greek word Christ which we tend to use as Jesus’ surname. It is a title meaning anointed oneJesus was more than someone special. He was the prophet, priest and King of David’s line that all Israel were waiting for.He was anointed by God to be the greatest King Israel had ever known, a King who would make them great in righteousness and power.Peter believed the shackles of Roman domination would be thrown off for ever and divine power would achieve what no Jewish army could.Peter also saw that Jesus was the Son of the living God. This would contrast with the lifeless idols that dotted the landscape.Jesus is the beloved Son of God who is worthy of our worship.Roman Emperors called themselves Sons of God. Jesus however is the only begotten Son of God who gave life to all creation. In him is life and he continues to give life to all to trust in him. He is the life giver.Jesus calls us from the false idols of materialism, fame and power to acknowledge him a King of Kings.Jesus blessed Simon Peter for his confession, saying that his heavenly Father had revealed it to him.The truth of Christ and people changed through a relationship with the living Lord are the rock upon which Jesus builds his church.Jesus named Simon as Peter. Although rock was a play on Peter’s name, I don’t believe Jesus was saying that the church would be built on Peter and the future pope bishops who descended from him in Rome as Roman Catholics believe.The Church is made up of all who trust in Jesus the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. We are called to build God’s church with his help, upon his foundation.When our lives are built upon the truth, Jesus says, the gates of hell will not prevail against us. Death and demonic powers will not win.The Church of our day, in this country may appear to be in decline. We may be suffering as a result of COVID, economic downturn and climate change.However, if we proclaim truth as Peter did and trust in Jesus our rock, the church will not be destroyed. Jesus is all powerful and Jesus wins. Jesus asks us all, “Who do you say that I am?”The answer we give is important because it determines how we live our lives. If Jesus is God, then we have to decide whether to follow him or not. Following him means putting his will before our own and making him King of our lives. Paul in Romans describes it as presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice (something painful) holy and acceptable to God.He says that what we do with bodies that are yielded to Christ is our spiritual worship. Loving action along with prayerful worship blesses are heavenly Father. Jesus says that whatever we bind on earth will be bound in heaven and what we loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.What we do here on earth affects what happens in heaven. We cannot separate what is spiritual from how we use our bodies, or earthly behaviour from what is acceptable in heaven. When our lives are built upon the rock, and we do God’s will there is rejoicing in heaven and when we go our own way there is sadness.Paul says that when we live Christ’s way and our lives are not conformed to this world and its values. We have different values to most people. Jesus transforms us by the renewing of our minds; we will know what God wants us to do.We will act in humility, with the other members of Christ’s church. Together, each in our different ministries we will make a difference.If we like Peter know Jesus as our living Lord and have a relationship with him we are blessed. May he help us to live his risen life so that we and all God’s people might be built together into a Church which reveals who he is to the world. God of glory,the end of our searching,help us to lay asideall that prevents us from seeking your kingdom,and to give all that we haveto gain the pearl beyond all price,through our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
The woman in our gospel passage was desperate. She was excluded from Jewish society and her own community on three grounds. Firstly she was a Canaanite. Canaanites were the people Joshua was supposed to defeat in his conquest of the land. They were considered pagan, immoral, not worthy of the covenant blessings promised to Israel.The “Black lives matter” movement reminds us how easily we stereotype and profile racially. It often starts at school where children divide themselves according to colour or religion to maintain their sense of identity. We have heard recently of how destructive the police stop and search routines have been to a black MP, an Olympic athlete and a musician. Racial profiling often mistakenly leads police to expect to find drugs or weapons when they spot black men driving expensive cars with sometimes lethal results. Secondly the woman was excluded because she was a woman. Though some women today have far more power and choice in their lives than the women of Jesus’ day, many still suffer at the hands of men and are silenced. This week we heard about the rise in domestic violence towards pregnant women during lockdown and about honour based murders within the Asian community.Thirdly, the woman said she had a demon possessed daughterWe do not know whether the girl suffered from, mental illness, a learning disability, a physical illness or whether she was literally demon possessed. It is interesting that Jesus doesn’t cast out any demons out of the girl. He heals her.My husband and I know a little about what it feels like to be excluded because of a child whose behaviour is out of control. Our daughter has two autistic children. Consequently, when they come to stay we have always avoided parks or seaside resorts where there will be lots of other people.We do not bring the children to church or take them to family parties.The oldest one persists in throwing himself in the road. He can be a danger to himself and others. He squeals, bangs, and throws his arms in the air. Being with him is demanding and embarrassing.Last week when he was eating sand on the beach and my daughter was feeling dreadful, another family came to the beach with their autistic daughter who was in the same class at school. They understood. At last my daughter was able to talk to someone who understood what she was going through.Everyone in the account from Matthew, including us, the reader is made to feel uncomfortable. Jesus ignores a woman in pain, speaks over her in derogatory terms, and seems to take a racist attitude. We would rather Jesus was warm and loving; ready to show compassion and mercy. We are also confronted by disciples lacking in compassion; disciples who are racist, thinking they are better than everyone else. They are annoyed by the presence of someone outside their group. Jesus had gone away to the district of Tyre and Sidon, a non-Jewish, Gentile region.The disciples were out of their comfort zone: this was Bandit country, and all their safety nets as Jews were removed. They were amongst Gentiles with whom they had little in common. They probably felt nervous at being in such strange surroundings.Jesus and his disciples were not going to get the rest they wanted because the Canaanite woman came out and started shouting causing the levels of discomfort rise more.No self-respecting woman would talk to a man the way she was talking to Jesus, let alone a Gentile woman talking first to a Jewish man before being spoken to. “Have mercy on me Lord, Son of David,” she shouts, “my daughter is tormented by a demon.”She doesn’t cry out for healing or justice, just mercy, acknowledging Jesus as her superior and possibly as Messiah and Jewish King. How does Jesus respond? He totally ignores her.How could Jesus appear so indifferent to the genuine anguish of another human being? The disciples displayed annoyance thinking this was mirroring Jesus’ own emotions. They urged Jesus, saying, ‘Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us’.” They didn’t want anything to do with this woman outsider. Jesus’ reply doesn’t help. He says: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”.He seems that to be agreeing with the disciples. If he had agreed with their racist, exclusive position, he would have sent the woman away. Instead, he starts begins a dialogue that will eventually lead to spiritual growth for both the disciples and the woman. The woman prayerfully kneels before Jesus and asks again ‘Lord, help me’.” She does what we are all asked to do. She makes her request, simply directly, in humility, trusting Jesus to respond. Why doesn’t he immediately give her what she needs?Instead he seems to humiliate her further in front of his friends. He answered, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs’.”How cruel to suggest that she is somehow less than human, no better than a dog searching for scraps from the table! But the woman is feisty and persistent. She throws Jesus’ words back in his face, Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table’.” Surely there is enough to go round?This story, coming soon after Jesus’ feeding of the 5000 and almost immediately before Jesus’ feeding of the 4000 ,gives a clear message about the abundance of God transcending all boundaries.Isaiah shows us God’s salvation and deliverance was always meant for everyone. Jesus’ responds, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish!”He commends her for her faith in front of his disapproving friends and her daughter is healedJesus enlarges the boundaries of his mission to encompass the outsider. This challenges us. We want new people in church, we want others to become Christians and we will be friendly and welcome them. But ultimately, we want them to become one of us and play by our rules. People are expected to conform to belong. In this story, Jesus reaches out and meets the woman where she is. Rather than expecting others to join us on our terms, we need to be prepared to learn from others and enlarge our vision by engaging with others who are different from ourselves.When we do so, we will be stretched. We will grow in faith, and become more Christ-like.A Christ-like Church gets rid of the idea of ‘Us and Them’, and chooses to learn from others with different ideas so that we can grow together as the people of God, with all our differences, with all our different expectations of God and Church.May we reach across boundaries in ways that change and enlarge us, engaging with those who are culturally different? May we seek to embrace and learn from those who have been excluded by disability, mental illness, homelessness, unemployment or religion? May we welcome those trapped by evil and in sinful lifestyles? Jesus did. He calls us to do likewise.Lord of heaven and earth,as Jesus taught his disciples to be persistent in prayer,give us patience and courage never to lose hope,but always to bring our prayers before you;through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The woman in our gospel passage was desperate. She was excluded from Jewish society and her own community on three grounds. Firstly she was a Canaanite. Canaanites were the people Joshua was supposed to defeat in his conquest of the land. They were considered pagan, immoral, not worthy of the covenant blessings promised to Israel.The “Black lives matter” movement reminds us how easily we stereotype and profile racially. It often starts at school where children divide themselves according to colour or religion to maintain their sense of identity. We have heard recently of how destructive the police stop and search routines have been to a black MP, an Olympic athlete and a musician. Racial profiling often mistakenly leads police to expect to find drugs or weapons when they spot black men driving expensive cars with sometimes lethal results. Secondly the woman was excluded because she was a woman. Though some women today have far more power and choice in their lives than the women of Jesus’ day, many still suffer at the hands of men and are silenced. This week we heard about the rise in domestic violence towards pregnant women during lockdown and about honour based murders within the Asian community.Thirdly, the woman said she had a demon possessed daughterWe do not know whether the girl suffered from, mental illness, a learning disability, a physical illness or whether she was literally demon possessed. It is interesting that Jesus doesn’t cast out any demons out of the girl. He heals her.My husband and I know a little about what it feels like to be excluded because of a child whose behaviour is out of control. Our daughter has two autistic children. Consequently, when they come to stay we have always avoided parks or seaside resorts where there will be lots of other people.We do not bring the children to church or take them to family parties.The oldest one persists in throwing himself in the road. He can be a danger to himself and others. He squeals, bangs, and throws his arms in the air. Being with him is demanding and embarrassing.Last week when he was eating sand on the beach and my daughter was feeling dreadful, another family came to the beach with their autistic daughter who was in the same class at school. They understood. At last my daughter was able to talk to someone who understood what she was going through.Everyone in the account from Matthew, including us, the reader is made to feel uncomfortable. Jesus ignores a woman in pain, speaks over her in derogatory terms, and seems to take a racist attitude. We would rather Jesus was warm and loving; ready to show compassion and mercy. We are also confronted by disciples lacking in compassion; disciples who are racist, thinking they are better than everyone else. They are annoyed by the presence of someone outside their group. Jesus had gone away to the district of Tyre and Sidon, a non-Jewish, Gentile region.The disciples were out of their comfort zone: this was Bandit country, and all their safety nets as Jews were removed. They were amongst Gentiles with whom they had little in common. They probably felt nervous at being in such strange surroundings.Jesus and his disciples were not going to get the rest they wanted because the Canaanite woman came out and started shouting causing the levels of discomfort rise more.No self-respecting woman would talk to a man the way she was talking to Jesus, let alone a Gentile woman talking first to a Jewish man before being spoken to. “Have mercy on me Lord, Son of David,” she shouts, “my daughter is tormented by a demon.”She doesn’t cry out for healing or justice, just mercy, acknowledging Jesus as her superior and possibly as Messiah and Jewish King. How does Jesus respond? He totally ignores her.How could Jesus appear so indifferent to the genuine anguish of another human being? The disciples displayed annoyance thinking this was mirroring Jesus’ own emotions. They urged Jesus, saying, ‘Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us’.” They didn’t want anything to do with this woman outsider. Jesus’ reply doesn’t help. He says: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”.He seems that to be agreeing with the disciples. If he had agreed with their racist, exclusive position, he would have sent the woman away. Instead, he starts begins a dialogue that will eventually lead to spiritual growth for both the disciples and the woman. The woman prayerfully kneels before Jesus and asks again ‘Lord, help me’.” She does what we are all asked to do. She makes her request, simply directly, in humility, trusting Jesus to respond. Why doesn’t he immediately give her what she needs?Instead he seems to humiliate her further in front of his friends. He answered, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs’.”How cruel to suggest that she is somehow less than human, no better than a dog searching for scraps from the table! But the woman is feisty and persistent. She throws Jesus’ words back in his face, Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table’.” Surely there is enough to go round?This story, coming soon after Jesus’ feeding of the 5000 and almost immediately before Jesus’ feeding of the 4000 ,gives a clear message about the abundance of God transcending all boundaries.Isaiah shows us God’s salvation and deliverance was always meant for everyone. Jesus’ responds, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish!”He commends her for her faith in front of his disapproving friends and her daughter is healedJesus enlarges the boundaries of his mission to encompass the outsider. This challenges us. We want new people in church, we want others to become Christians and we will be friendly and welcome them. But ultimately, we want them to become one of us and play by our rules. People are expected to conform to belong. In this story, Jesus reaches out and meets the woman where she is. Rather than expecting others to join us on our terms, we need to be prepared to learn from others and enlarge our vision by engaging with others who are different from ourselves.When we do so, we will be stretched. We will grow in faith, and become more Christ-like.A Christ-like Church gets rid of the idea of ‘Us and Them’, and chooses to learn from others with different ideas so that we can grow together as the people of God, with all our differences, with all our different expectations of God and Church.May we reach across boundaries in ways that change and enlarge us, engaging with those who are culturally different? May we seek to embrace and learn from those who have been excluded by disability, mental illness, homelessness, unemployment or religion? May we welcome those trapped by evil and in sinful lifestyles? Jesus did. He calls us to do likewise.Lord of heaven and earth,as Jesus taught his disciples to be persistent in prayer,give us patience and courage never to lose hope,but always to bring our prayers before you;through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
