Fr Mike's Message - 9/3/23

The Gospel: ​Matthew 16:21-28
Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
“For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Prayer: Lord, you have promised that when two or three gather in your name you will be present with them. We depend on that promise today and pray that you will move among us. Lord, we pray that you have inspired Mike's preparation, that you will enliven his presentation, and that you will empower our application. Amen

The Message: So, this morning I am going to ask you to take out the Red Hymnal and turn to Hymn 671. Jim is going to play the chorus and I am going to ask you to sing these very familiar words.

That is a very evocative chorus, isn't it? I hope you can keep it playing in the background of your mind while we go through the Message this morning.

Today we find ourselves wrestling with some very complex messages and images in the scriptures for the Old Testament and the Gospel.

Let's start with the Exodus reading. This is the beginning of the story of the journey of the Israelites out of Egypt and into the land of promise. Now every story of epic proportions needs a hero. And every hero needs a sign! An undeniable marker that signifies a change in the direction of the life of the hero. Today we have a bush that is on fire but never consumed. I would call that significant. 

Then, have you ever noticed that there seems to be a common theme in folklore and narrative history? The unlikely hero. The person who many would count to be the least likely to step up and command attention and carry authority. Today's unlikely hero is Moses. 

Moses who many would have thought, at the beginning of his story, was planted in Pharoah's household so that he would be shaped for greatness. Moses is now happily living a quiet life herding sheep for his father-in-law. In fact, he is a runaway. He is hiding. He is, as we would say these days, "living under the radar." Because he murdered an Egyptian and hid the dead man's body in the sand, Moses has absolutely no interest in going back to Egypt. 

The God of his ancestors has other plans for Moses. God calls to him, out of the burning bush. So, if the bush burning and not being consumed is not enough. We have a deity speaking from the bush. 

Moses replies "Here I am." But this is not a heroic leader of people. He is timid and self-conscious, very aware of his imperfections. He knows all the things, all the reasons, that will keep him from any public position.
 
God declares that he has heard the cries of his people and has heard their distress. God then declares that he has chosen Moses to be the leader of his people. Does Moses thank him? Does he accept this accolade with grace and dignity? No! Moses squirms and makes excuses for why he can't do what God wants. He even tries to turn the situation around and blame God for why this won't work. He says that no one will recognize who has sent him. Finally, God states in no uncertain terms who he is: "God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” 

He then said: “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I am has sent me to you.’“ God also said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’: 
This is my name forever,
 and this my title for all generations."

Does anyone hear any echoes of the theme for the last two sermons? That recurring question: "Who do you say that I am?"

Moses goes on for another chapter and a half before he finally accepts God's call and direction. He goes but grumbling and reluctant.

Now we are going to transition to the Gospel for this morning. The reading starts with Jesus speaking about being the Messiah. Then his tone changes drastically. We suddenly hear the startling rebuke of Peter. 

Last week Peter was the hero. He responded, by divine revelation, to Jesus' question "Who do You say that I am?" by declaring Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus states that this answer lays the foundation for a new and amazing role for Peter in the Kingdom of God.

"...I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”"

One would think that Peter's life plan has been laid out for him. From humble fisherman to the head of the church in two or three easy steps. But then everything seems to go sideways for Peter as Jesus shares with his disciples what is going to happen to the Messiah.

Again we see the playing out of an unlikely hero scenario. One moment Peter is declaring Jesus is the Messiah and the next he steps up and rebukes Jesus. He doesn't do it privately and quietly but just speaks it out in front of all the other disciples. Then that leads to an outright "smackdown" by Jesus.

What brings about this stunning turnaround in Peter's attitude and behavior?
The Gospel from Matthew, in the translation we use, the NRSV, begins "Jesus began to show his disciples.." This seems to be a fairly passive approach on Jesus' behalf. It doesn't seem particularly linked to anything else.

In other translations, there is a slight change in the wording. Some say: "From that time forth." And others say "From that time forward." This wording has a more active sense about it. Especially when you think about what the "from that time" relates to.

This really ties the two stories about Peter together. Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah. Then Jesus declares who Peter is. Then, or, from that time forward, Jesus begins to tell the disciples what is going to happen. It is because Peter has recognized him as the Messiah that Jesus talks about what is coming up. It is in response to Peter's declaration, that Jesus speaks about what it means for him to be the Messiah.
 
But Peter is so shocked about what Jesus is saying will happen to him, as the Messiah, that he speaks up and challenges Jesus. The Messiah is supposed to be a conquering hero. Peter can't understand or believe that the Messiah will suffer. 

Jesus then rebukes Peter! Peter goes from being someone capable of hearing a divine revelation to being the spokesperson for Satan. Jesus even says "...you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."

Wow, what a 180-degree turnaround.
 
Then Jesus goes on from that point to describe how his followers, his disciples will be distinguished in their following and in their discipleship: "Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?"

We are going to end this morning by singing the chorus of Hymn 671 again. I want to ask the question:  "What would it mean for us this morning if we were to not just sing these words, but to commit to them?" If we recognize Jesus as the Messiah, if as the chorus says I have heard your people calling in the night, what would that mean for us this morning? Who might those people be that we have heard? Who are the people who need us to stand up and become "unlikely heroes" for them this week?

The hymn chorus says: "I will go Lord, if you lead me." 

The Scripture from Matthew this morning says: If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." 

Isaiah 6:8 says:Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”

There are many ways to say it. 
The question is are we willing to begin, as the chorus begins, and say: "Here I am Lord. Is it I Lord?"
 
How will you become an unlikely hero this?
Let's sing.