Pentecost 16, September 12, 2021

Today Jesus asks two questions of his followers.  The second one infinitely more important than the first!

“Who do people say that I am?” is the first.  Many had ideas about Jesus based on expectations they had and images they were familiar with.  “Elijah, John the Baptist, one of the prophets.”  These answers do not seem to interest Jesus.

So then comes the second question; the one that is way more significant and important.  Not so much to Jesus, but to Peter and whoever else answers this question for themselves. “Who do YOU say that I am?”  Peter seems to give an affirming answer:  You are the Christ. 

The word CHRIST is an Old Testament title.  It means “the anointed one.”  It has the same meaning as Messiah.  A Christ – a Messiah — had been promised.  It had been foretold by prophets and prefigured by kings and priests.  It was the national expectation of the Jewish people that God would send a Christ, anointed to restore God’s people and their nation.

This is what Peter wants.  A nation restored.  A temple rebuilt.  A strong military.  A prosperous people.  Freedom from Roman domination.  Self-determination.

But Jesus has something else in mind entirely. When Peter calls Jesus the “Christ,” he isn’t wrong on the title.  He just doesn’t realize that Jesus is completely redefining what it means to be “the anointed one.”

Jesus IS the Christ – the anointed of God.  But when Jesus goes on to discuss his messianic career:  including betrayal, suffering, and death, Peter can’t get on board.  It doesn’t make sense to him why the Christ should have to suffer and be betrayed by the religious leaders.  And when he talks about a cross, Peter just doesn’t understand! 

Jesus was about to suffer and die NOT just to fulfill Old Testament prophecy – although his death does do that; not just to complete some atonement equation in which sin necessitates a sacrifice that Jesus must complete — although he does accomplish that by dying on the cross. 

Jesus is going to suffer and die because of the way he LIVED – because of the way he loved – because of who he is.  He paid no heed to social and religious norms especially when it came to showing compassion and mercy.  He reached out to those who were ostracized and unclean and marginalized.  That’s why the “elders, chief priests and the scribes” had it out for him.  That’s why the way forward for Jesus is going to be filled with suffering and result in death.  That’s why he’s not going to meet the expectations for a militant political Christ like Peter wants.  And that’s why there must be a cross.

And that cross is exactly what makes Jesus the Christ. This is what he was chosen by God to do.  This is what he volunteered for!  It is love that fuels every move he makes.  It is love for sinners – love for the broken and the forgotten – love for those who have been left behind.  And that deep and abiding love leads Jesus down this road to a cross.

Peter’s brand of Messiahs were anointed.  Literally.  With oil usually. They had approval from the higher-ups.  They were popular and successful.  They had military conquests on their resume.  They had family history to propel them to the office.  Their anointing made sense. 

But there was no public anointing of Jesus by any prophet, priest or king in authority who would do that kind of thing.  There was no mass approval from the crowds pushing Jesus to claim his role as Messiah.  There was certainly no endorsement by the religious “powers that be” giving Jesus credibility.  There is only this steady pace towards the cross.

And on the way to the cross, Jesus WAS anointed.  He WAS embraced as Christ. Right outside Jerusalem.  Right before the betrayal and the death he told his disciples about.  He was anointed.  Literally.  With oil. 

He was anointed by a woman with a jar of expensive perfume.  She made her way into a place she was not invited nor welcomed. It was the home of a rich Pharisee – a fancy dinner party with exclusive guests. She came in quietly and humbly – without a word – without bold proclamations of who she thought Jesus was. And there she knelt at Jesus’ feet and broke open her jar and anointed Jesus’ head – a head soon crowned with thorns – and his feet – feet soiled and blistered from his journey to the cross. We don’t know much about this woman.  The Gospels identify her with one word: sinner.

She was uniquely qualified to anoint the Christ.  It was for her and those like her – that the Christ appeared.  It was for those who may feel uncertain . . . those who are not so sure . . . those who sometimes feel on the outside, uninvited and unwelcome . . . those who know the pain of rejection and betrayal  . . . those who feel alone with their own burdens.  He came for sinners like her.  Like you and me.

On the cross the Christ connects to you.  On the cross Jesus redefines Messiah – not as one who lays claim to territory or power but lays claim on you.  On the cross is one who seeks no throne, but never stops seeking you. There in the crucified Christ is one who gathers no army, but gathers you in his arms.  On the cross the Christ shows us that love always has the last word. 

So who do you say Jesus is?

There is no singular right answer and you do not need to answer with bold expressions of faith. You do not need to answer at all.  Just by coming to him – just by being here – just by receiving his gifts to you today — you are acknowledging who he is:  he is FOR YOU.  That’s who he is.  No other questions asked.  He is WELCOME and INVITATION for you.  He is COMFORT for you.  He is FORGIVENESS for you. He is LOVE for you.  He is the Christ . . . FOR YOU.