Bp Miller’s Musings: Matthew 16:13-20

“You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”

Jesus asks two important questions in the gospel for this week, questions we might be tempted to overlook in the familiarity of the answers given by the disciples.

“Who do people say the Son of Man is?” This question elicits a list of important figures in the history of Israel: Elijah, Jeremiah, one of the prophets, or John the (recently executed) Baptist.

“And who do you say that I am?” Peter speaks for the disciples when he calls Jesus Messiah and Son of God.

In just these few verses, I find many questions to consider. The first is the same question Jesus asked: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” I wonder, if someone asked us this question today, how would we answer? When was the last time we asked the question of others around us? What do you think your neighbor might answer? What have you heard?

I am certain, if we were to ask, we would hear some responses quite different from those the disciples were hearing. How would our Jewish or Muslim neighbor respond? If you asked your next-door neighbors, would they even know what you mean when you say “Son of Man”?

But more importantly, what do you answer when Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?” I admit that I’m not sure that I’m always ready to answer as quickly as Peter. I struggle sometimes to find such clarity. And yet, as a preacher I am called to answer this question every time I stand before a congregation I wonder if Jesus asks the disciples first what other people say so that the disciples have time to consider their own experience with him before they need to answer for themselves. Is it important that we hear what others are saying before we answer for ourselves?

Maybe we should ask …