Peter was an interesting disciple. At times he was bold, and at other times timid. At times he exhibited strong faith—walking on water—yet at other times he was weak in faith. In our Holy Gospel for today, Peter gave a correct confession. He identified Jesus as the Christ, but he did not yet understand why Jesus had to go to the cross. Later, in the courtyard, Peter denied Jesus three times. But after the resurrection, Jesus forgave him and called him to be an apostle. In the end, the apostle Peter was faithful. He died a martyr’s death in Rome under Emperor Nero.
We are no different from Peter. We are bold in our faith, yet also timid. We confess that Jesus is our Savior, yet we do not always understand God’s purpose and His will for our lives. We are repentant, and we are forgiven on account of Christ’s death and resurrection. Even in the midst of hostility, we are not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is our only source of salvation.
Our Holy Gospel for today takes place at Caesarea Philippi. Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” Jesus already knew the answer, but He was leading the disciples to a far more important question. They replied that some said He was John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets. In other words, the people thought that Jesus was merely a man.
Then Jesus asked, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter, speaking on behalf of the disciples, answered, “You are the Christ.” This was a correct confession. Jesus even commended Peter for it. Yet Peter did not arrive at this confession on his own; rather, the Father, through the Holy Spirit, revealed it to him. This confession—“Jesus is the Christ”—is the foundation of Christianity.
To confess that Jesus is the Christ means that He is the Anointed One, the promised Messiah, the coming Savior. He is like King David, yet far greater. He is greater than John the Baptist, Elijah, and all the prophets. He is more than just a man.
But what about you? Who is Jesus to you? Is He merely a man who said many good things? Is He no different from Muhammad or Joseph Smith? Is He merely like a coach giving you a pep talk? Is He merely a moral teacher telling you what to do to gain salvation?
Who is Jesus? He is the Son of God in human flesh. As we confessed this morning, He is “God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made.” He is both God and man, divine and human. This confession of Christ is foundational to Christianity. If you misunderstand the person of Christ, you will misunderstand the Scriptures and the Gospel, and you will misunderstand Jesus as the source of your salvation.
Jesus then goes on to speak of His necessity to suffer, die, and rise again. He said to His disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31). This is exactly what was prophesied in the Old Testament. Isaiah 53 says that the Messiah, the suffering servant will be despised by the people; that He will be stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted; that He will be wounded for our transgressions (vv 3, 4-5). It was the Father’s will that Jesus suffer and die on the cross for us and for our salvation. This was absolutely necessary. There was no other way to save mankind.
Peter did not like what he heard. So, he rebuked Jesus. This was not what Peter expected of the Christ. He did not want Jesus to suffer and die.
Peter had the identity of Jesus correct, but he misunderstood Jesus’ mission. If King Saul defeated the Ammonites and King David defeated Goliath, then surely, in Peter’s mind, Jesus would defeat the Romans and restore a glorious earthly kingdom like that of Solomon. Once again, Peter got the identity right but the mission wrong. His mind was set on the things of man, not on the things of God. It was as if Satan himself were speaking through Peter.
Peter misunderstood Jesus’ mission on other occasions as well. After the Transfiguration, Peter wanted Jesus to remain on the mountain and avoid the cross. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter tried to prevent Jesus’ arrest by drawing his sword. In the courtyard, he denied Jesus three times. Again and again, Peter’s mind was fixed on the things of man rather than the things of God.
So, who is Jesus? He is the Christ, the Son of the living God. And why did He come? As we confessed this morning in the Nicene Creed, He came “for us and for our salvation.” He came to pay for our sins by means of the cross. He did not come to defeat earthly enemies or political powers, but to defeat our true enemies: sin, death, and the devil. At the cross, Jesus was judged and condemned in our place. Because of His cross and resurrection, there is forgiveness for us poor sinners, and heaven is opened to all who believe.
The theology of glory is man-centered; it sets its mind on the things of man. The theology of the cross, on the other hand, is Christ-centered. The Gospel is God’s work, not ours.
What would a Jesus without a cross look like? He would be powerful and successful according to worldly standards. He would reward the good and punish the evil. Miracles would be common. There would be no accidents and no suffering. Life would be full of joy and happiness. Satan wants a Jesus without a cross.
What would Christianity without a cross look like? It would be an ethical system of rules and punishments. It would be a philosophy of life. It would be just one religion among many. Satan wants a Christianity without a cross.
Jesus strictly charged His disciples not to tell anyone about Him, because they did not yet understand His mission. They did not yet understand the necessity of the cross and the resurrection. But after Pentecost, they did. In his Pentecost sermon, Peter proclaimed Jesus as crucified and risen and confessed Him as both Lord and Christ. Later, when Peter and John encountered a lame man at the temple, Peter said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6), and the man was healed. When the Jewish leaders objected, Peter boldly confessed, “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). In other words, salvation is only found through faith in Christ.
Dearly beloved, who is Jesus to you? He is the Christ, the Son of the living God. He is both divine and human. He was sent by the Father to redeem you from sin, death, and the devil. He died upon the cross for you and for your salvation. On the third day, He rose from the dead and He lives forevermore.
You did not create your faith in Christ. Rather, the Holy Spirit freely gave you faith as a gift through water and the Word. You confess that salvation is found in no one other than Jesus. The light of Christ shines through you as you bear witness to Him. When you partake of the Lord’s Supper you receive the body and blood of Christ, but you also proclaim your faith in His death until He comes again.
Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34). By God’s grace, deny the world’s definition of success. Deny the sinful desire for immorality, injustice, power, and pride. Take up your cross and follow Christ. Even when you are ridiculed, count it all joy. You are not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is your source of life and salvation. It gives you peace and comfort.
Do not follow the world, the devil, or your sinful flesh. Rather, follow Christ, who died for you and rose from the dead. He is your Good Shepherd. He guards you in this adulterous and sinful generation. He teaches you how to live faithfully as a son or daughter, as a husband or wife, as a student or worker. He also teaches you how to love one another.
If you seek to save your life according to worldly standards, you will lose it. If you try to gain the whole world, you will forfeit your soul. Salvation cannot be earned. It is given by grace alone, through faith in Christ alone. If you live an unrepentant life, then there is no salvation. If you are ashamed of Christ and His Words, then on the last day, He will say to you, “I never knew you.”
Jesus sought the cross so that you might be saved. He humbled Himself unto death for you. By God’s grace, receive the Gospel, the forgiveness of sins. Live a repentant life with faith in Christ, and you will receive eternal life.
On Easter Sunday, Jesus forgave Peter and sent him to preach the Gospel throughout the world. Peter’s restoration stands as a testimony to Christ’s mercy toward us poor sinners. Today, Christ restores and forgives us as well.
Who is Jesus? You confess with your lips, and you believe in your heart that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God; that He is both God and man. Why did Jesus come into our world? You confess with your lips and you believe in your heart that Jesus paid for your sins and that He defeated death and the devil. The person of Christ and the work of Christ belong together. You cannot have one without the other.
We thank God that He has given us faith in Christ, forgiveness, and the gift of eternal life. May God use us as servants within His kingdom pointing others to Jesus, our one and only Savior. May we pick up our cross of suffering and follow Jesus all the way to heaven. Amen.
