FRIDAY, November 11

Matthew 16:13-20. Who do you say that I am?

Jesus posed that question to Peter in Caesarea Philippi, and Peter said, “You are the eschatological ground of being; the kerygma manifested in conflict and decision in the humanizing process of the space-time continuum.” And Jesus said, “What?”

No, not really—that’s not what Peter said. But I’m tempted to answer something like that. I’ve read gobs of theological books and am very comfortable with intellectual gobbledygook. That sort of talk is detached from where people live. It’s all in the head and means nothing except to fellow intellectuals. But the main problem with intellectualizing Jesus is that people like me can be so comfortable talking that way that it doesn’t challenge us. It calls for no decision, no sacrifice, no risk, no change.

What Peter actually said in response was: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Even he didn’t know the full import of his confession that day in Caesarea Philippi, and there would be some waffling in the days to come. But that day was the beginning of real discipleship for Peter. He would soon learn the full meaning of his confession, and in the end, he would follow his Lord the whole distance. Are you willing to follow Jesus the whole distance?

Ps 88 * 91, 92; 1 Maccabees 1:41-63; Revelation 19:11-16

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