January 16 2022

 

Epiphany 2 January 16th 2022 (Confession of St. Peter)

Old Testament: Isaiah 62:1-5

Psalm: Psalm 128

Epistle: 1st Corinthians 12:1-11 (Acts 4:8-13)

Gospel: John 2:1-11 (Mark 8:27-35)

Sermon Text: Mark 8:27-35  

Sermon Title:

Grace to you and peace, from God the Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.  

Tomorrow (January 17th) is the churches celebration of the Confession of St. Peter. We don’t usually celebrate these festivals unless they fall on a Sunday, but there is some freedom for the pastor in choosing texts, and the account of Peter’s confession does not come up in the lectionary readings for this year, so hear again the opening line of the Gospel.

“Jesus went on with His disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on His way, He asked His disciples, who do people say that I am”? (Mark 8:27) A rather important question, don’t you think? Of course, we heard about who He is in the Gospel accounts during the Christmas season. “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” and “unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord”. (Luke 2:11) That Jesus was the Christ was not yet known by the masses of people in Israel; though they did know Jesus was unique;

So, the disciples “told Him, (some say) John the Baptist and others say Elijah, and others one of the prophets”. (Mark 8:28) The crowds acknowledged that Jesus was a special messenger from God, but as to His true identity as the Christ, the Messiah, they did not yet know. Then “Jesus asked the disciples, but who do you say that I am”? (Mark 8:29a) Had the disciples figured out who Jesus was?

“Peter answered Him, You are the Christ (the Son of the living God)”. (Mark 8:29b) Peter had the right idea, the right answer to Jesus’ question. Jesus is the Christ, who has come to save the world; but as we will see in a moment, Peter and the rest of the disciples had the wrong idea about how this would work.  

Later on, after Jesus’ death, bodily resurrection and ascension, the disciples begin to “get it” and are very bold in their proclamation of the Gospel. In the sermon before the Jewish council, after they had been arrested, “Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit said to them … this Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you the builders, which has now become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved”. (Acts 4:8a, 11-12)

But for now, even though Peter made this great confession, “You are the Christ”; he clearly did not understand what the Christ had come to do for the salvation of the world. “Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and be killed and after three days rise again. And Jesus said this plainly” (Mark 8:31-32a) So plainly, that it was not possible for them to misunderstand.

Peter certainly didn’t misunderstand what Jesus had said, but he clearly didn’t like it either. He knew that Jesus was the Christ, but he was just as sure that he would not accept a suffering Christ; that would be “crazy talk”. “And Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him” (Mark 8:32b) Peter expected and wanted a conquering, even war like Messiah, one who would set up God’s kingdom here on earth, and so he tries to silence Jesus. “This shall never happen to You Jesus”. (Matthew 16:22b)

“But turning and seeing His disciples; Jesus rebuked Peter and said, Get behind Me Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man”. (Mark 8:33) If Peter had had his way, Jesus would not have gone to the cross; which was absolutely necessary for us and our salvation.  

If Jesus had not gone to the cross and risen from the dead for us, “we would still be in our sins”. (1st Corinthians 15:17b) Which is why Jesus’ rebuke of Peter in front of the other disciples was so harsh, so that they too would learn. The man who moments ago made a great confession of faith in the Christ, is now lumped in with Satan, when he tries to persuade Jesus to avoid suffering and the cross.

The same is true of us, whenever we stubbornly refuse to accept what God has spoken to us in His holy and precious Word. In those moments, we too need to be called to repentance or “rebuked” as the text today declares. This is what the true believer in Christ wants for their lives; to be conformed to the Word of God. Notice, Peter did not argue with Jesus; accepting His correction.

“And calling the crowds to Him, with His disciples, He said to them, If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me”. (Mark 8:34) There is no getting around it; If we follow Jesus, we will bear the cross for our faith. We, like Peter, may not like to hear this, but Jesus’ Word is clear, “whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospel’s, will save it”. (Mark 8:35)

Peter would learn this for himself from experience; being persecuted and eventually martyred for his faith in Christ. He would clearly proclaim the Christ powerfully and accurately to countless people before he died. The entire epistle of 1st Peter speaks to a church that is being attacked for their witness to Jesus Christ. Yet, in the midst of their difficult times, Peter speaks words of encouragement and exhortation to them.  

First, Peter thanks God for the new life that He has created in his hearers through the Word of Christ. “According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading; kept in heaven for you”. (1st Peter 1:3b-4) “We were ransomed … not with perishable things, such a silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a Lamb without spot or blemish”. (1st Peter 1:18-19)

Because of the new life Christ has created in us, by grace through faith, Peter next exhorts us to holy living; “as He who called you is holy, you also must be holy in all your conduct”.  (1st Peter 1:15) “Put away all malice … deceit … hypocrisy … envy … and all slander”. (1st Peter 2:1) “I urge you to … abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul”. (1st Peter 2:11b) “Be self-controlled and sober minded” (1st Peter 4:7a) and many others. This is how we are to live, even in the midst of rejection, suffering, and persecution.

As Jesus said, “If anyone would come after Me, let him take up his cross, deny himself and follow Me”. (Mark 8:34) Peter again declares “even if you suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed” (1st Peter 3:14) and “Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you … but rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s suffering” (1st Peter 4:12-13a) and “After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you”. (1st Peter 5:10)  

Our crucified and risen Lord and Savior has given us many precious promises in His Word, that He “is with us always, even to the close of the age” (Matthew 28:20) and “I will never leave you, nor forsake you”. (Hebrews 13:5b) Knowing this, we confess with Peter, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16b) and acknowledge before the whole world, “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved”. (Acts 4:12) Amen.

The peace of God …