12/25/2023 0 Comments That come to jesus moment![]() ![]() I see Jesus nodding his head, as if to say “Yes! Good, you’re aware of what everyone has been saying, but now think about all you have seen and all I have shown you…”Īnd then he looks to Peter: “And who do you say that I am?” So they list off the famous names among religious circles: “Some say it’s John the Baptist, others Elijah, or Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” The disciples can easily answer this question, it’s easy to say what other people are saying and thinking. How can they claim for themselves that God has arrived and salvation is coming, is here, for everyone?įinally, he looks to his disciples and says, “Okay, so, who do people say that the Son of Man is?” I see teacher-Jesus, scratching his head thinking of how he can finally get his disciples to connect the dots and proclaim for themselves a faith and relationship with God that goes beyond conventional understandings. The passage this morning, is more or less, the ultimate “Come to Jesus Moment”. At least not until we get to this passage this morning. They haven’t connected the dots or fully comprehended what they are in the midst of, or who it is their teacher really is. However, the disciples have doubt and trepidation in their attitudes. And Jesus explains this as he simultaneously and miraculously feeds the multitudes in the towns he visits. That God moves, lives, even works outside the law as its understood by the establishment of the time. Jesus is saying over and over again: “Forget those guys and what they have to say, I’m here to teach you something with more depth, meaning and truth that goes outside this single dimension of memorizing and adhering to laws.”Īs they travel along, Jesus continues explaining and re-explaining to his disciples this message, that there is truth beyond the law. They were the high priests, the aristocrats, the keepers of institution, a system that also, coincidently, kept them in the position of power and authority. They were the religious legal experts, and not only were they experts, they also tended to be the ones in power. They were the groups who put special emphasis on following the law. This is important because of what the Pharisees and Sadducees represented at that time. Just before we get to Caesarea Philippi in this morning’s Gospel story, Jesus warns his disciples not to adhere to the teachings of the Sadducees and Pharisees. Jesus has been traveling and teaching with his disciples for a while now. In order to understand all that is happening it is important, I think, that we zoom out to understand the context of what is taking place in this conversation Jesus is having with his disciples. There’s a lot packed into this paragraph. The Gospel passage this morning is small but mighty. Sermon, Preached at Good Samaritan Episcopal Church ![]()
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