Confession of St. Peter
Matthew 16:13-19
January 18, 2004

“Rocky Johnson”

How many of you have heard of Rocky Johnson? No? Well actually, all of you have. He goes by a couple of other names; Simon, son of Jonah. Simon Peter. St. Peter. “The Rock.” Today is his special day.

Rocky Johnson began life as a fisherman named Simon, Son of Jonah, or in English, Son of John. John’s son. Simon Johnson.

Simon and his brother Andrew were in the fishing business at the Sea of Galilee, along with their partners, James and John Zebedee. One day, someone named Jesus of Nazareth came along and called them to be his disciples. They dropped their nets, and followed him. Jesus called eight more disciples, for a total of twelve, but Simon, Andrew, James, and John, the first to be called, became and remained his inner circle, his most trusted disciples. And one day, Jesus would make Simon the first among the first.

Today’s Gospel text falls about half-way through Matthew’s story of Jesus’ ministry. Up until this point, the disciples of Jesus have seen and participated in the amazing things that Jesus was capable of. They were on a steep learning curve, learning the true identity of Jesus.

They had heard him preach a little something called “The Sermon on the Mount,” in which Jesus described the new world order that he would usher in. They had seen him still a storm on the sea, and walk across the water. They witnessed the casting out of demons, and the healing of the deaf and blind. They heard Jesus teach in parables, and took part with him in the Feeding of 5000 listeners, with only a few fish and a little bread. They were wondering just who Jesus might really be—and so was everyone they encountered.

By the time Jesus and his disciples reach the region of Caesarea Philippi, in today’s gospel text, speculation about the identity of Jesus is running high. Jesus asked his disciples; “Who do people say that I am?” People are saying lots of things about Jesus. Some think that he is John the Baptist, returned from the dead. Herod had killed John by this time. John had been the first real prophet to appear to the people of Israel for 400 years. Jesus preached a similar message, so some people thought he was John, back to finish his mission.

Others thought Jesus was the Old Testament character Elijah. The Jews of Jesus’ time were waiting for a messiah, but they believed that Elijah would return first, as the forerunner of the messiah. So maybe Jesus was Elijah, come to prepare the messiah’s way.

Still others thought he might be Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets, sent back to call Israel to righteousness. Nobody knew for sure—or if they did, they weren’t saying.

Now, Jesus turns his question to his own disciples. “OK—we know what the world thinks. How about YOU? Who do you say that I am?” And it is here that Simon makes a leap of faith. He is the first one to name Jesus for who he really is; “You are the Messiah—the Christ—the Son of the living God.” Simon gets it right. And in response, Jesus does three things. He blesses Simon for being able to articulate God’s message. He changes Simon’s name. And he gives him the Keys to the Kingdom—the authority to forgive or retain sin.

From now on, Simon the fisherman will be called Peter. In Aramaic, the language of Jesus, Peter means Rock. It’s a nickname. Rocky is probably more accurate. Simon, son of John, has become Rocky Johnson, the foundation on which the whole church would be built.

From humble beginnings as a scrappy little fisherman, to Jesus’ chosen World Champion. Rocky! Rocky! You can almost hear the theme music welling in the background…

But the cheering and celebration for this Rocky wouldn’t last long. This Rocky was not a heroic movie character, but a real flesh and blood human being. And as such, he wasn’t perfect. This Rocky was far from perfect.

The flaws and fractures in this Rock started appearing just after his confession of Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus goes on to say that the Messiah would have to go to Jerusalem, to suffer and die. Rocky blurts out, “No way, Lord. This can’t happen to you. This can’t happen to the Messiah!” And for this comment, Jesus calls him not a Rock, but a Stumbling block. A Blockhead. A Knucklehead. This wasn’t the first time Rocky had made a fool out of himself, and it wouldn’t be the last.

Remember the Transfiguration of Jesus? That’s when Jesus took his four most trusted disciples up to the top of a mountain, and gave them a preview of his future glory. Appearing in this Coming Attraction with Jesus were two other famous figures, Moses and Elijah. It is a moment of revelation—but only a moment. But Rocky has other ideas. “Hey!”, he says. “Let’s build three dwellings here, one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. Let’s keep them here!” Rocky, the brick and stone believer, the builder, the contractor, wants to freeze the moment, and keep everything exactly as it is. And Jesus kept having to say to him, “Rocky, you knucklehead. Get out of my way. Can’t you see where I am going with this? Don’t you get it YET?”

As they got closer to Jerusalem, and closer to the reality of the Crucifixion, Jesus predicted that all of his disciples would fall away. Big-mouthed Rocky swore up and down, “No way, Lord. No way would I deny you.” “Oh yes you will,” Jesus replied. “You’ll do it three times before the cock crows at dawn.” By now, Rocky should know better than to argue with Jesus, but he does it anyway. Big talker, Rocky. Swears he will stick by Jesus no matter what.

We know what happened. Jesus is arrested, and the disciples run away. A woman asks Rocky three times if he is a disciple of Jesus. Three times, Rocky denies it. Cock-a-doodle-do. Rocky has fallen hard. He’s a landslide all unto himself.

Somehow, Jesus, on the way to the cross knows all this, and forgives Rocky. And not just Rocky. All of us.

Why do you suppose Jesus does this? Could it be that he sees in all of us what he saw in Rocky? Some spark of goodness, perhaps. Some glimmer of potential. Could it be that he sees in us--despite all our bumbling and our big talk--that, like Rocky, we are ready to risk something for God? Could it be that God can use us, as flawed and unprepared as we are for service in his kingdom, just as he used a simple fisherman from Galilee? I hope so.

God calls each of us, just as we are—like Rocky, with all of our flaws, imperfections, cracks and fissures. Maybe you have heard this saying, “God does not call the qualified, God qualifies the called.” God takes our raw material and refines it into something useful. God cuts and hones and polishes us, making us into gems, just as he did with Rocky, worthy to do God’s work in this world. God transforms us from rocks--from diamonds in the rough--into shining jewels, capable of reflecting spreading God’s glorious light. AMEN

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