Caesarea Philippi

I have been to Caesarea Philippi. It is an ancient ruin of a city in the far north of Israel which Caesar Augustus gave to Herod the Great, whose son Philip rebuilt it, changing its name from Panion (it had been a shrine to the god Pan) to Caesarea Philippi.

The site is on the southern slope of Mount Hermon at the source of the Jordan River, which draws much of its water from the year-round snow on the top of the mountain. The area is very rocky, with waterfalls, and evokes the scene where Christ took his apostles to put the question to them. "Who do you say that I am?"

The point of this sermon is that Jesus' question is a perennial challenge to his Church, to those who call themselves Christians. It is a question put to us. "Who do you say that I am?"

When Peter, speaking for the rest of the disciples, said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," he gave the true answer, but it was not an answer that came to him out of unaided reasoning. That is why Jesus grounded his blessing on the word, Son. Hearing Simon (for that was Peter's given name) confess him to be the Son of the living God, Jesus says, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona, that is, Simon, Son of John, for flesh and blood (natural and unassisted insight) has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven." That is to say, "My Father, that same living God, has moved you to this confession." Peter confessed the unique divine origin and nature of Jesus.

When I accept this truth about Jesus with my heart and soul, then I need never despair. How do I know that God really cares? Not by an argument which can be proved, but rather by an inner conviction born of experience.

I have discovered that daily obedience to the demands that God makes on me in the Scriptures leads to a deeper discernment about the way ahead. In the strengthenings of my weaknesses I have met Jesus. Each inner trust, each new reliance on him leads to another victory.

In the forgiveness of my sins I meet the Lord who reveals to me how sin shuts me off from him. Jesus' forgiveness restores me. It is not my struggle, not my effort, but God's love that restores me.

In the lives of others I come face to face with holiness in wonderful variety. I have seen men and women, young and old, given victory over destructive anger, debilitating drunkenness, overpowering and compulsive lust, shameful infidelities and deceiving superstitions.

All of them have found that Jesus is good news of and for life. Who do you say I am? Jesus is our Life. Faith is an experiment that ends with an experience - an experience of the Living God. Can you, will you, dare you, turn away?

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