Thoughts for the Day

Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’ And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

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. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him 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.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Jesus takes his disciples way up north into Gentile country, to the area around Caesarea Philippi to get away from the crowds and here Peter makes an astounding declaration. When Jesus asks who the people says he is, Peter blurts out "You are the Messiah!" He is, the most perceptive of the disciples and will lead them in the future, but equally he is so ordinary. He loses confidence in Jesus (Matthew 14.23-33), he rushes in where others would think first (Matthew 17.1-8), he and the other disciples were to turn the children away from Jesus (Matthew 19.13-15), and he will be the one to deny he knows Jesus (Luke 22.54-62). In other words he is not perfect, he is an ordinary human being with faults and failings.

Yet in today's reading we see his utter confidence in Jesus. He has seen how people have been healed by his touch; he has listened to his teaching; and he has been there when feats of nature have occurred like the calming of the storm (Mark 4.35-41). Suddenly, Peter makes the connection that Jesus is the Messiah, God's Anointed, who has come to save His people. Typically he simply blurts out "You are the Messiah". However, in the next instant he is being rebuked by Jesus for denying that the Messiah must suffer, die, and rise again. He is unable to take in all of God's plan at this time.

But there is another important aspect to Peter. He shows us the character of Jesus, and therefore of God, and we can see how God relates to us when we are foolish or sinful. God is patient with us. He may admonish us but he will lead us to greater things as we get closer to him. Despite our lack of faith, the way we turn away from God, and our deliberate sin, we are given a fresh opportunity to start again whenever we repent.

Lord Jesus,
we so often let You down,
believing we can manage
without You,
or we turn away from You
through lack of faith.
Help us to return to You
knowing that You will welcome us
when we truly repent.
Amen.