Foot Notes

In the silence “Behold God beholding you...and smiling.”Anthony de Mello

Peter answers: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven....
20 Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.Matthew 16: 13 – 17, 20, NRSV

Peter blurts out the answer. Jesus is the one expected; what’s more he is the Son of the living God. Wow! He gets it. Jesus must be pleased—finally someone knows. But does he really get it? Time will tell; circumstances may ask more than Peter is able to give. Jesus says God revealed this to him; ordinary human experiences of him just couldn’t figure it out. And if Peter, one who walked with Jesus along the roads of Galilee, could only really know Jesus by God’s graciousness, how can we know him?
Indeed do we truly know Jesus? As we enter the final weeks of Lent the question hangs. Next week we will walk with Jesus as he enters Jerusalem, proclaims there his messages from God, meets and eats with his disciples one last time, and then makes his final trek to Calvary. Knowing who Jesus is now becomes critical for choices must be made, statements will be taken, groups defined. No longer will we be able to debate about his status without repercussions. No longer will we be able to remain a disciple without sacrifice and pain. Who is he? What is our relationship with him now? Can we let God reveal God’s truth to us? Listen. Be.