Death will not prevail. (Matthew 16:18).

Proper 17, Year A

Peter met God, Jesus, on a beach. After his baptism by John, Jesus was walking here and there, looking for disciples. Peter was managing his fishing business when Jesus invited him to become a fisher of people. After two years of following, receiving instructions, and witnessing healings by Jesus, Jesus asked the disciples, “who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15). Peter responded, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16). From Peter’s reply, it is clear that he understood who Jesus was. Jesus was God incarnate. From Peter’s reply, it is evident that he knew Jesus' role. Jesus was a savior. Jesus commended Peter for his insight and faith:

Blessed are you, Peter… My heavenly Father revealed this to you and you trusted God’s communication. You did not receive this from our religious or political leaders. Peter you are the rock upon which communities that believe in me will be built, and death will not prevail against them. (Matthew 16:17-18).

After commending Peter, Jesus ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.(Matthew 16:20). Why? Why not dispel confusion by telling people Jesus was the Messiah, the one anointed by God? Why not restore hope by sharing the news that God had sent Jesus to save? Why the secrecy? What purpose did it serve?

Moses met God in a bush. A bush that burned without being consumed. Moses was tending his father-in-law’s flock when God gave him a mission. On God’s behalf, Moses was to inform Egyptians that they were misusing their God given positions and skills. On God’s behalf, he was to inform people oppressed by the Egyptians that God heard their cries and would save them. Moses asked God, “when I go to the oppressed Israelites and I stand before the oppressive Egyptians, who shall I say sent me?”(Exodus 3:13-17). They will want to know who has the power and authority to:

Bring down the mighty from their seats and lift up the lowly; to fill the hungry with good things and send the rich, who already have more than they need, away empty. They will want to know who has come to the help of Israel… (Luke 1:51-55).

God responded, “tell them I AM sent you.” (Exodus 3:14b).

Moses did as God directed. He went to Egypt. He told pharaoh and the Egyptian ruling class that God, I AM, said they must stop oppressing others, and free their slaves. They refused. Moses did as God directed. He went to Israel. He told Israel and the other slaves that God, I AM, said they must leave Egypt, across the Red Sea, and journey through a wilderness to a promised land. Though many followed Moses, they doubted. Knowing God’s name was not enough. Over and over, demonstrations of God’s authority and power were necessary. The Egyptians experienced infestations of locusts, water turned to blood, and a plague that killed every first born human and animal. God gave the slaves manna from heaven, and water from a rock. God led them by a pillar of fire at night and a pillar of cloud by day. Oppressor and oppressed needed first hand experiences to understand and accept God’s power and authority. Hearing God’s name was not enough.

Speaking God’s name was not enough for Peter and the disciples. Knowing who Jesus was and his role were insufficient. They knew the Bible predicted the return of Elijah (a prophet anointed by God who raised a widow’s son from the dead, and defeated false prophets). They also knew the Bible predicted the return of David (a deeply faithful and profoundly flawed king who united the politically divided Israel, and wrested Jerusalem from foreign control to rebuild the temple). The disciples and other followers were confused; was Jesus sent by God to be like the great prophet Elijah, or like the political and military leader David?

Peter was confused and then devastated, hearing Jesus predict his suffering and execution. Peter did what we would do, or maybe have done under comparable circumstances. Peter said, “No. No way will I let harm come to you, Jesus. There is no way God would end your ministry and our mission by allowing you to be killed.” (Matthew 16:22). Jesus chastised Peter. Jesus’ reaction is understandable to us, who know about Good Friday and Easter. It did not make sense to Peter. It must have been impossible for Peter to comprehend why, after being commended and ordered to keep Jesus’ divinity a secret, he was being likened to Satan.

What was the purpose of the secrecy? Why did Jesus chastise Peter? God sent Jesus to be a savior, who was like no person who had come before. Jesus did not just demonstrate authority and power over the challenges and opportunities of life as Israel’s patriarchs, prophets and kings did. Jesus had dominion over death. Jesus, God incarnate, died and rose from the dead to show us death is not the end. God, in Jesus, conquered the greatest oppressor and final enemy. This is what moved Paul to say to the Christians in Corinth, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians15:55).

The Egyptians, Israel, and the disciples needed more than the right name. They needed first hand experiences. Because seeing is believing, Jesusshows us. Death cannot prevail over a believer, or over communities of believers. Death is part of life, not the end. Death is a gate way, not a barrier. Jesus’ victory demonstrates that nothing can separate you from the love of God.