"The Great Confessions" (Acts 4:8-13) - The Confession of St. Peter

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Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

“There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

 

In this season of Epiphany, we celebrate the revelation of Jesus to the world as God’s only Son, and our only Savior from the power of sin, death, and the devil. But today, in particular, we celebrate the confession of St. Peter, which is not really about Peter, but about his confession.

 

To His apostles, Jesus asked, “But who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8:29a). And this has been the question put to every person ever since. Who is Jesus?

 

Peter and the other apostles had seen Jesus do ordinary things. They saw Him eat and drink, grow tired and sleep, tell stories, and even pray. But they’d also seen Him do things that no other human being could ever do. They saw Jesus walk on water as though it were dry land! They saw Jesus command the winds and they obeyed! They saw Jesus multiply five loaves of bread and two fish to feed the vast multitudes. They heard Jesus speak words of truth that cut to the heart like no one ever could. Who is Jesus?

 

On that day in Caesarea Philippi, Peter spoke up for the Twelve and for all Christians of all ages saying, “You are the Christ!” (Mark 8:29b).

 

What Peter is saying on the behalf of the other apostles is that Jesus is the One for whom they and all of Israel have long waited. He is saying, “Jesus, You are the promised King of Israel from David’s line. Jesus, You are one of us, yet, You are so much more. Jesus, You are the Son of the living God!”

 

That is a great confession! Then Jesus says, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood had not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17).

 

This confession was a real turning point in Christ’s ministry. This great confession of faith at Caesarea Philippi is certainly worth remembering. But could there be a greater confession?

 

In our First Reading this morning from Acts 4, this same Peter speaks another confession as he and John stand before the Sanhedrin, the ruling council of the Jews and boldly speaks: “Let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead – by Him” (Acts 4:10) we healed a lame man. This time, Peter’s life is on the line. Yes, his confession at Caesarea Philippi was certainly a great confession, but could this confession before the Sanhedrin be a greater confession?

 

Certainly, Peter’s confession at Caesarea Philippi took divine insight, but it didn’t take much courage. It didn’t take much courage to confess in front of Jesus and the others. To tell Jesus that He was the Christ was more like the “Sunday School answer.” Peter, then, had nothing to fear. But Peter, now, has much to fear. This confession to the Sanhedrin could mean his life is cut short.

 

And Peter doesn’t stop here, He continues with an even greater confession saying, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Such courage!

 

In our collect for today, we prayed: “Heavenly Father, You revealed to the apostle Peter the blessed truth that Your Son Jesus is the Christ. Strengthen us by the proclamation of this truth that we too may joyfully confess that there is salvation in no one else.” This prayer is also a confession.

 

But do we always joyfully confess that there is salvation in no one else but Jesus? This is easy for us to confess on a Sunday morning or Monday evening here in the friendly confines of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, but what about out there? We are like Peter at Caesarea Philippi in here. But what is it like out there?

 

It certainly takes more courage to confess Jesus as the Christ out there, especially when the world is practically pagan. Many places of work openly mock Jesus. Many places of education openly mock Jesus. 

 

What about to your non-Christian friends or family? Do you joyfully confess Christ to them?

 

It certainly takes more courage than Peter at Caesarea Philippi for us to say to our non-believing friends and family that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. 

 

So, was Peter’s confession before the Sanhedrin his greater confession?

 

Certainly, Peter’s confession before the Sanhedrin was great – and it was indeed braver, because it could have cost him his life. 

 

But in the end, it was no greater than his confession at Caesarea Philippi. They are both great and greater as both confessions confessed Jesus to be the Christ.

 

Peter’s confession at Caesarea Philippi was great because Jesus is the suffering Christ, the Son of the living God. Peter’s confession before the Sanhedrin was great because Jesus, who was crucified, raised and ascended, saves us.

 

You see, both of Peter’s confessions were great, because Jesus is great.

 

So, no matter how you confess Jesus to your family or friends to help them understand His truth more fully, you are making a great confession.

 

But there is no greater confession than the one that so many of us made without even saying a word – it was when the Holy Spirit brought us to confess the triune God through our Baptism. This morning, Bella, though with words, made that great confession as the Holy Spirit brought her to the waters of Holy Baptism.

 

And we also make a great confession each time we, among our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ meet at the Communion rail to receive Christ’s Body and Blood for the forgiveness of our sins as we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes again.

 

As we confess Jesus to be the Christ, this is the confession Christ Himself uses to build His Church. You see, those gates of hell do not stand a chance against this confession. Through this confession, the Holy Spirit still calls and gathers, enlightens and sanctifies believers. And through it, Jesus binds hearts to Him and builds up His Church as the very temple of God upon earth.

 

Today, is not only the day we remember St. Peter’s great confessions, as today is also Sanctity of Life Sunday. As fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, we not only confess Jesus as our Redeemer, but we also confess Jesus as our Creator. We confess with the Psalmist: “I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it well” (Psalm 139:13-14).

 

Every single human being, from the least to the greatest, was carefully handmade by God. He planned our all our days even before He skillfully knit us together in our mother’s wombs. So, we confess that all life is precious from conception to natural death. We confess that all lives have value. We confess that Jesus purchased all lives – those born and unborn – “with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20), which was His holy precious blood. Jesus bore the shame of the cross to grant us peace with God.

 

For “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:9-10). 

 

So, let us all joyfully confess Jesus to be the Christ, the Creator and Redeemer, the Savior of the world! Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

 keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.  

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

"The Greater Exodus" (Luke 9:28-36)

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Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

“And behold, two men were talking with [Jesus], Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem” (Luke 9:30-31).

 

It was about eight days after these sayings. Now, what sayings is St. Luke referring to? The conversation Jesus had with His disciples at the villages of Caesarea Philippi. We remember that conversation, and we know that Peter remembers that conversation, because it was one of those moments that will stick with you.

 

Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” (Mark 8:27)

 

They replied: “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets” (Matthew 16:14).

 

“But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). 

 

Then Peter says, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).

 

But then what happened? Jesus took His disciples aside and began to teach them that the Christ must suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

 

Then Peter takes Jesus aside and rebukes Him saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you” (Matthew 16:22). Then Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to Me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man” (Matthew 16:23).

 

Then about eight days after that conversation, Jesus invites Peter, James and John up a mountain to pray. Peter must still be thinking about what had happened just days ago. He confessed Jesus to be the Christ, but he was soon rebuked for his lack of faith. Could Jesus bring that up again? Could Jesus bring up that He must suffer and die? 

 

What does it mean that Jesus has to suffer? Why does the Christ have to die?

So, Peter, James and John follow Jesus up a mountaintop. Jesus picks the spot up on the mountain to pray, and He begins to pray. But for some reason, the disciples fall asleep. Could it be that Jesus prayed a long time? Maybe. Could it be because of the tiring trek up the mountain? Maybe. But we know that they fell asleep.

 

But as Jesus is praying, He is visited by Moses and Elijah, and they are talking with Jesus about His departure. The Greek word translated “departure” here literally means “exodus” – a way out. From the word “exodus” we get the word “exit.”

 

Now, Jesus doesn’t have to argue with Moses and Elijah about His suffering. They know all about suffering. This is what the conversation is all about! 

 

This word “exodus” ought to call to mind the exodus of the Israelites, the greatest redemptive event in Old Testament history. That saving deed of God was a forward-pointing prophecy of the perfect and complete salvation to be wrought in this “exodus” of Jesus.

 

This “exodus” was the topic of conversation between Moses and Elijah. That first exodus used water as a means of death – the Egyptians drowned. The new exodus also involves death – the death of Christ – but what’s different is that through Christ’s death, those who are baptized into Christ die to sin as they die with Christ. But in this new exodus, God will pour out His Means of Grace – His Word and Sacraments – to sustain His people in the arid desert of this fallen world.

 

Jesus would have to die so that we would live.

 

God the Father’s words at Christ’s Baptism are echoed at His Transfiguration: “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him” (Luke 9:35).

 

By means of this new exodus, God will vanquish the serpent, Satan, and redeem His people from the powers of sin, death, and hell.

 

So, just as Moses led the Israelites to the Promised Land, so now Jesus will lead His people to eternal glory. But before Jesus would lead His people to glory, He must first suffer.

 

There, upon that mountaintop, Moses and Elijah were conversing about what was soon to be accomplished: our substitutionary atonement. They were discussing the theology of the cross. 

Our God is a god of paradox. God reveals Himself by hiding Himself in Christ. God heals His people by suffering in Christ. God’s power is seen in weakness. God gives life by dying.

 

One would expect God to tell us to shape up, for us to merit His love. But He doesn’t. Instead, He puts all our sins upon Himself. He would be crucified in our place to take our punishment for our sins. He would be crucified in our place for breaking God’s Law. Our sinless Lord would take upon Himself all our sins to give us exodus from the consequences of our sins.

 

But then Peter, James and John wake up. We don’t know who woke up first. But you can imagine one of them waking up and rubbing his eyes as he sees Jesus dazzling white and hears the conversation and then nudging the others to wake up to see this! When they became fully awake, they saw Jesus’ radiant face like the sun and His clothes beaming white. The disciples listened to the conversation with amazement. 

 

And then as Moses and Elijah began to depart, Peter says to Jesus: “‘Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah’ – not knowing what he said” (Luke 9:33).

 

This is so typical of Peter. He speaks when he ought to listen. We are often like Peter. We, too, would like to prolong our “mountaintop” experiences as we leave behind the toil and trouble of this fallen world behind.

 

So often we are reluctant to see the big picture of Jesus. We look for all the glory. We look for signs, wonders, and miracles. But this glory of the Transfiguration serves as a prefiguring of Christ’s suffering and death. Jesus, Moses and Elijah understood that there was no contradiction between this moment of glory and the cross awaiting in Jerusalem.

 

For Moses and Elijah, the Transfiguration is seen most clearly through Christ’s suffering on Calvary. There, nailed to the cross, the glory of God and the love of God is revealed. 

 

It is only through the cross that we see God’s glory shining. Christ says, “It is necessary the He should suffer many things, be killed, and rise on the third day.”

 

He came to suffer and die, so that He can be your Savior. He died so that you may share in His glory.

 

The Transfiguration of Our Lord shows that Christ must die. The crucifixion would not be an unfortunate incident. The crucifixion was rather an essential part of God’s eternal plan for the salvation of the world. Moses and Elijah confirmed that. Through His death on the cross, the Law and the Prophets are fulfilled. By grace through faith in Christ alone, we are no longer under the curse of the Law. But now, having received forgiveness, life and salvation through Christ atoning death, we want to follow the Law and keep the Law. Now, we don’t have to, but we get to. Jesus has shown us grace by providing us the way out of this fallen world filled with sin and death.

 

Receiving the Means of Grace is now the activity of our exodus as God sustains us to life everlasting. In Holy Baptism, your Old Adam was drowned as you came to life in Christ. Through the water and the Word, you were joined to Christ who hung on the cross. You were baptized into His death. For His death is the only way out from the bondage to sin. In the Lord’s Supper, you are again partaking in Christ’s death as you partake of Christ’s true Body and Blood broken and shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins, which begets life everlasting. 

 

Now, all of us who confess our sins and receive God’s forgiveness are able to depart in peace.

 

Jesus accomplished His work through His death, resurrection, and ascension. Through Christ and His Means of Grace, He has prepared the way for our exodus – the greater exodus – as we daily die to sin and are made alive in Christ through repentance and faith knowing that He has accomplished all that is necessary for our salvation. Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

 keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.  

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

Sermon for the Transfiguration of Our Lord: "A Glimpse of What is to Come"

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen!

Happy Valentine’s Day to my dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

[Intro]

“And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them” (Mark 9:2).

In just mere minutes, Peter, James, and John saw a glimpse of what is to come. So, what did they see? What did they hear? What did this experience mean for Jesus, for the disciples, and for us?

First, let’s go back six days before this mountaintop experience. Six days earlier, Jesus was with His disciples as they were on their way to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way, Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” (Mark 8:27b) The disciples then responded with what they heard from the crowds about Jesus, saying: “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets” (Mark 8:28).

Jesus then asks them, “But who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8:29a) Peter immediately answered, “You are the Christ” (Mark 8:29b).

But that day did not end with Peter’s confession. That day continued, as Jesus talks about His going to Jerusalem. He talks about His upcoming suffering and death. He says that after three days, He would rise again. Jesus spoke this plainly. Each disciple understood what Jesus had said to them. But Peter, who just confessed Jesus to be the Christ, the very Messiah, could not fathom His Lord dying. Peter spoke up rebuking Jesus saying things like, “Never, I will never let you die!”

Then Jesus rebuked Peter for setting his mind on the things of man, rather than the things of God. Then Jesus speaks that if anyone would follow Him, they must deny themselves, they must take up a cross and always be ready to lose their life. Here, Jesus is preparing His disciples for what is to come.

[The Mount of Transfiguration]

Fast forward to today’s lesson, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain by themselves. Now, many crucial things in God’s saving plan have taken place on mountains. This mountaintop experience would be no different.

Suddenly, Jesus’ appearance transformed before their eyes. Jesus became dazzling bright and radiant. His face was radiating like the sun. His clothing became intensely white as white as pure light as no one on earth could bleach them. Now, there was no spotlight beaming onto Him; this was pure light coming from Him. Jesus was the source of this light. Jesus’ human appearance was being overpowered by His divine glory.

As Peter, James, and John were astounded by the light radiating from Jesus, there appeared in front of them Elijah and Moses talking with Jesus. Now, Elijah and Moses were also known for their own mountaintop experiences. God spoke to Elijah upon Mount Horeb. God also gave Moses the Ten Commandments upon Mount Sinai. But this mountaintop experience was like no other.

As there was confusion on who Jesus was six days earlier. Upon this mountain, there was no confusion. At this moment, Moses and Elijah – who represent the Law and the Prophets – are bearing witness that Jesus is the Savior of the world, who has come to suffer, die, and rise to restore humanity to God the Father.

As the disciples are overhearing this conversation between Jesus, Elijah and Moses, not knowing what to say, Peter blurts out, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents” (Mark 9:5a).

Sometimes, we are like Peter. We, too, often do not know what to say when it comes to suffering and death. And, frankly, if we had it our way, we would like to skip suffering and death, altogether.

But suffering and death is the way of Jesus. He would come down from that mountain and once again hide His glorious appearance. He would walk through the valley of the shadow of death for all people. He would be falsely tried and unjustly convicted. He would carry His own cross to Golgotha. He would feel the heavy nails piercing His wrists and ankles. He would experience the lifting of the cross into its place in the stone. He would die.

Knowing all that was ahead of Him, Jesus gives a glimpse of His glory. Jesus revealed His glory for His disciples and for us. But why did Jesus do this? This morning, we’ll look at some of those reasons Jesus manifested His divine glory.

[Christ is Our Hope]

First, Jesus knew His time on earth was coming to a close and He knew His departure would cause fear and doubt in the minds of His disciples. Although, Christ’s disciples have seen many miracles and signs, they still lacked faith from time to time, just as we do.

We, like the disciples, tend to worry about what is next. We can get ourselves caught up in being world-weary. After watching any news cast, many of us ask, “Where do we go from here?”

Like us, the disciples were world-weary. Like us, they needed hope. This is why Jesus displayed His real glory on the mountaintop. You see, Jesus knew that His upcoming suffering and death may cause His disciples to lose heart. This is why He displayed His divine glory to give them hope and to remind them that He is in fact still in control. Despite being nailed to the cross, Jesus is still in control. All we have to do is to trust.

So, even in what seems like the worst of times, God is there to turn that bad into good. Through His Transfiguration, He is teaching His disciples that it is only through His suffering and death that He will show is true glory – His resurrection glory!

[Christ Gives Us a Glimpse of Heaven]

Second, Jesus gave His disciples and us a glimpse of heaven. You see, a little glimpse of heaven was displayed upon that mountaintop.

On the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus never introduced Moses and Elijah to Peter, James, and John. And there were not any quality pictures of Moses and Elijah. Yet, these three disciples instinctively knew they were in the presence of Moses and Elijah. How would they recognize Moses and Elijah?

Many of us may wonder if we would, in fact, recognize our loved ones in heaven.

This moment at the Transfiguration proves that we will recognize our loved ones in heaven. This includes even those we have never seen with our own eyes. For anyone who has experienced the death of a child, or you never met a grandparent, you will recognize everyone you see in heaven. This is how Peter, James, and John recognized Moses and Elijah as this glimpse of heaven on earth was revealed to them. You see, when we are in heaven, we will recognize everyone, those we knew in our earthly life and those we never met.

[Christ Leads us to Follow Him]

Third, Jesus gives us a glimpse of our transformation in Christ. You see, by grace through faith in Jesus, we are transformed, even in this life in a fallen world. As Paul says in our epistle lesson, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit”… So, “we renounce disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s Word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God” (2 Corinthians 3:18, 4:2).

As God the Father proclaimed from the cloud upon the mountaintop, “This is my beloved Son; listen to Him” (Mark 9:7), we listen to our Savior Jesus as we hear His words of life, forgiveness, and salvation. In this, we are transformed. Due to Jesus and His life-giving cross, we have a striking alteration of our character. Instead of becoming a lover of self, we become a lover of God in Christ. And, we become a lover of our neighbor, too.

So, whatever our vocations in life – male or female; mother, father, or child; in the workplace; or in the Church – we receive a new life in Christ. In this new life, we repent of our sins daily and remember that our identity is that of a child of the heavenly Father, which God proclaimed at your baptism.

[Glimpse of Our Resurrected Bodies]

Today, on this Transfiguration of Our Lord Sunday, Christ prepares us for what is to come. He alone gives us the sure and certain hope in all circumstances.

As we soon will begin the season of Lent, Jesus will leave the mount of Transfiguration and turn His face to Mount Calvary. Even through the darkness of Mount Calvary, His light shines through that darkness and bursts forth on Easter.

Even today, we continue to receive a glimpse of Christ’s glory as He continues to transform us through His Word and Sacrament. Through His Word, we hear His life-giving voice as He leads us in His Law and Gospel. Through His Sacrament, Jesus comes to us transformed in the form of bread and wine to forgive our sins and strengthen our faith.

Lastly, Christ reveals to us a glimpse of our own resurrected bodies. You see, when Christ returns in all glory, everyone in Christ will be transformed to the fullness of our inheritance as He will transform our mortal bodies into a body like His. We will be transformed into immortal bodies. This will all happen “in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52).

In this blessed moment upon the mount of Transfiguration, we receive a glimpse of the blessings to come that are ours by grace through faith in Jesus Christ! Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

T SOLI DEO GLORIA T