Reflections on Scripture with Dr. Leins
| Time Stamp | Transcript |
| 0:00 | [Music] |
| 0:07 | it was |
| 0:08 | [Music] |
| 0:14 | hello |
| 0:17 | today |
| 0:18 | let’s talk about when Jesus said you are |
| 0:22 | Peter and Upon This Rock I will build my |
| 0:25 | church |
| 0:27 | introduction |
| 0:29 | Jesus had been Dishonored in Nazareth |
| 0:32 | Matthew 13 and he had been directly |
| 0:34 | opposed by the Pharisees and scribes |
| 0:37 | from Jerusalem Matthew 16. |
| 0:40 | this was a pivotal moment in the Earthly |
| 0:42 | Ministry of our Lord and Jesus wanted to |
| 0:44 | get his disciples by themselves the Lord |
| 0:47 | needed to take stock of his situation |
| 0:49 | did his own disciples even know who he |
| 0:53 | was |
| 0:54 | the text before us is Matthew 16 verses |
| 0:58 | 13 through 20. |
| 1:00 | 1 who do you say that I am |
| 1:05 | Jesus begins by addressing his disciples |
| 1:07 | with a simple question it is posed |
| 1:10 | regarding someone in the third person |
| 1:12 | so it is almost like a casual |
| 1:16 | conversation |
| 1:18 | who do people say that the son of man is |
| 1:22 | his disciples respond that there are |
| 1:24 | many ideas |
| 1:25 | some say that he is John the Baptist |
| 1:27 | come back to life |
| 1:28 | something that his Elijah or Jeremiah or |
| 1:31 | one of the prophets |
| 1:34 | then Jesus asks the real question |
| 1:37 | but who do you say that I am |
| 1:40 | we have left the realm of the third |
| 1:43 | person conversation and have entered the |
| 1:45 | reality of the first person confession |
| 1:49 | this question is for all of his |
| 1:51 | disciples but of course we know that it |
| 1:53 | is Peter who answers on their behalf |
| 1:57 | now a lot has gone on since Simon and |
| 2:00 | Andrew James and John were first called |
| 2:02 | from their fishing boats |
| 2:03 | surely Peter remembers that day |
| 2:06 | when Jesus asked to use his boat |
| 2:09 | they had fished all night long they had |
| 2:12 | caught nothing |
| 2:13 | Jesus suggested that they push out a |
| 2:16 | little and drop their Nets |
| 2:18 | exasperated Peter reluctantly complied |
| 2:22 | the miraculous catch of fish confronted |
| 2:25 | Peter with the reality and the power of |
| 2:28 | God |
| 2:29 | he fell down at the feet of Jesus depart |
| 2:32 | from me for I am a sinful Man O Lord |
| 2:36 | there had been other moments when Jesus |
| 2:39 | confronted Simon with his weakness of |
| 2:41 | faith not the least of which was the |
| 2:43 | recent event when Jesus walked on the |
| 2:45 | water in the midst of the storm |
| 2:47 | Simon had stepped out of the boat but |
| 2:49 | had quickly become overwhelmed with fear |
| 2:52 | he had sunk |
| 2:54 | how much of his own sin and guilt was on |
| 2:56 | Simon’s mind as he heard the question |
| 2:59 | about who Jesus was |
| 3:02 | we don’t know that |
| 3:04 | but when he heard the question |
| 3:06 | who do you say that I am |
| 3:08 | we know what Simon said |
| 3:11 | you are the Christ the son of the Living |
| 3:14 | God |
| 3:16 | Simon spoke for himself but he also |
| 3:18 | spoke for all of them |
| 3:20 | Jesus was the son of the Living God when |
| 3:23 | Jesus got back into the boat after |
| 3:25 | walking on the water and stilling the |
| 3:27 | storm they had all worshiped him and |
| 3:30 | said that he was certainly God’s son |
| 3:34 | but on this day Simon not only declared |
| 3:37 | that Jesus was the son of God he also |
| 3:39 | said that Jesus was the Christ |
| 3:42 | now the Christ was another word for |
| 3:45 | God’s Messiah or God’s anointed one and |
| 3:48 | there were many understandings of who |
| 3:50 | that might be |
| 3:52 | a new king like David a new priest like |
| 3:55 | Aaron a new Prophet like Elijah or |
| 3:58 | Jeremiah or perhaps a combination of all |
| 4:01 | three roles who could say |
| 4:04 | but what was it that Simon was saying |
| 4:08 | Jesus knew Simon’s own Earthly father |
| 4:11 | had not revealed this truth to him but |
| 4:14 | the almighty Father in Heaven had given |
| 4:16 | Simon a revelation |
| 4:18 | Jesus was not just flesh and blood but |
| 4:21 | was God’s own son who walked in the |
| 4:24 | power of the Holy Spirit and who had |
| 4:26 | come to save God’s people |
| 4:30 | though Simon’s understanding was |
| 4:32 | embryonic at this point still his |
| 4:36 | Revelation came from God |
| 4:39 | Luther’s explanation of the Third |
| 4:41 | Article of the Creed says it this way |
| 4:44 | I believe that I cannot by my own reason |
| 4:48 | or strength believe in Jesus Christ my |
| 4:52 | Lord |
| 4:52 | or come to him |
| 4:54 | but the Holy Spirit has called me by the |
| 4:57 | gospel enlighten me with his gifts |
| 5:00 | Sanctified and kept me in the true faith |
| 5:02 | in the same way he calls gathers |
| 5:05 | enlightens and sanctifies the whole |
| 5:07 | Christian Church on Earth and keeps it |
| 5:09 | with Jesus Christ in the one true faith |
| 5:14 | Jesus recognized the work of the Holy |
| 5:18 | Spirit In the words of Simon’s |
| 5:20 | confession of faith |
| 5:22 | the Lord responded |
| 5:24 | blessed are you Simon barjona because |
| 5:27 | Flesh and Blood did not reveal this to |
| 5:29 | you but my father who is in heaven |
| 5:33 | Christ’s testimony |
| 5:35 | was that his own Living Word inspired by |
| 5:38 | the Holy Spirit and empowered by God the |
| 5:40 | father had enlightened inspired and |
| 5:44 | saved Simon by grace through faith |
| 5:48 | and Jesus declared |
| 5:51 | and I also say to you that you are Peter |
| 5:54 | pathros |
| 5:56 | and Upon This Rock Petra |
| 5:59 | I will build my church and the gates of |
| 6:03 | Hades will not Prevail against it |
| 6:06 | you are Petros masculine noun meaning |
| 6:10 | Rock You are rock or we might say rocky |
| 6:15 | this is the first time in recorded |
| 6:17 | history that this noun has been used as |
| 6:19 | a name or a nickname you are rocky |
| 6:21 | masculine noun meaning Rock |
| 6:26 | that’s what Jesus says and upon this |
| 6:29 | Petra |
| 6:30 | feminine noun meaning Rocky Peak will I |
| 6:34 | build my church |
| 6:35 | but what is this Petra upon which Christ |
| 6:38 | will build his church |
| 6:39 | these two words are related but not |
| 6:42 | identical Petros masculine Rock and |
| 6:45 | Petra feminine Rocky Peak |
| 6:48 | Jesus is not saying that he will build |
| 6:50 | his church on Peter if that were the |
| 6:53 | case Jesus would have said you are Peter |
| 6:55 | and upon you a p Su or upon you Peter |
| 6:59 | Epi Su Petros I will build my church but |
| 7:03 | no our Lord does not say that he is |
| 7:05 | saying something different and more |
| 7:07 | subtle |
| 7:08 | it was not by adroit Intuition or |
| 7:11 | intensive catechesis or abundant wisdom |
| 7:14 | that Peter made his confession how did |
| 7:16 | Peter do it Jesus tells us |
| 7:19 | Peter received the revelation of God and |
| 7:23 | thereby made his confession of faith in |
| 7:25 | Jesus Flesh and Blood did not reveal |
| 7:27 | this to him but the Father in heaven |
| 7:30 | Jesus was not building his church on |
| 7:33 | Peter but upon the confession that Peter |
| 7:35 | made or more precisely upon the |
| 7:38 | Revelation from God that gave Peter the |
| 7:41 | faith and inspired his confession |
| 7:45 | as we hear the words of Our Lord we |
| 7:47 | might well understand them like this you |
| 7:50 | are Petros Rocky and upon this Petra |
| 7:54 | this rock of Faith or upon this |
| 7:58 | confession of faith that was revealed by |
| 8:01 | my father I will build my church |
| 8:04 | let me say it again this rock was |
| 8:07 | Peter’s confession of faith and upon |
| 8:10 | this confession Christ builds his church |
| 8:15 | 0.2 |
| 8:17 | the repetitive power of sin for Peter |
| 8:19 | there was a time when he first became |
| 8:22 | acquainted with Jesus coming to face to |
| 8:24 | face with the Son of God placed his |
| 8:26 | sin-filled life clearly before him |
| 8:29 | but this first meeting was not the only |
| 8:31 | time that Peter faced his sin nor was it |
| 8:34 | the only time that he needed the |
| 8:35 | savior’s mercy and forgiveness |
| 8:38 | for Peter the repetitiveness of sin was |
| 8:40 | apparent immediately after he made his |
| 8:42 | confession at caesarea Philippi |
| 8:45 | the Lord explained that he must go to |
| 8:46 | Jerusalem and suffer and be killed and |
| 8:48 | on the third day Rise Again Peter tried |
| 8:51 | to correct the Lord |
| 8:53 | but Peter was himself rebuked by Christ |
| 8:57 | later Peter demonstrated his sin again |
| 8:59 | when Jesus prophesied that Peter would |
| 9:02 | deny him three times |
| 9:05 | Peter objected that he would never do |
| 9:07 | that even unto death |
| 9:09 | but of course he did deny the Lord |
| 9:12 | and mercifully Jesus forgave Peter yet |
| 9:14 | again and reinstated him as a pastor and |
| 9:18 | Apostle of his church |
| 9:21 | point three you are Peter |
| 9:25 | Martin Luther in a marginal gloss or a |
| 9:28 | textual note on Matthew 16 Verse 18 |
| 9:32 | comments as follows all Christians are |
| 9:36 | Peters on account of the confession |
| 9:37 | which Peter here makes which is the rock |
| 9:40 | on which Peter and all Peters are built |
| 9:45 | Luther gives us a new twist concerning |
| 9:47 | this passage Peter is speaking for |
| 9:49 | himself of course and Peter is speaking |
| 9:51 | for the disciples as a group but Luther |
| 9:53 | suggests that all Christians must must |
| 9:56 | likewise go through their Peter |
| 9:58 | experience and every Christian is his or |
| 10:02 | her own peter in effect Luther says you |
| 10:07 | are Peter |
| 10:08 | Peter was a nickname for a man whose |
| 10:11 | confession of Faith was like a Stony |
| 10:13 | Peak it was given to Peter as the result |
| 10:16 | of a personal revelation from God the |
| 10:18 | Father |
| 10:19 | and Luther suggests that you are like |
| 10:22 | Peter too why |
| 10:25 | because God introduces holy word Jesus |
| 10:27 | Christ to you too |
| 10:29 | the word first may have come to you in |
| 10:31 | his written form or his preached form |
| 10:35 | the word may have come to you in his |
| 10:36 | sacramental form holy baptism the word |
| 10:39 | of Jesus even may have come to you |
| 10:42 | through the conversation and consolation |
| 10:44 | of his Saints with your parents or other |
| 10:46 | children with friends and neighbors but |
| 10:49 | somehow |
| 10:50 | God brought his word to you |
| 10:53 | the Holy Spirit inspired the word as it |
| 10:56 | cut deeply into your Stony and dead |
| 10:59 | heart |
| 11:00 | your call to repentance and in God’s |
| 11:02 | perfect wisdom and power you were given |
| 11:05 | the revelation of faith in Jesus |
| 11:09 | as a result of God’s work in your heart |
| 11:11 | you too made a confession of faith |
| 11:16 | but like Peter this was not the end of |
| 11:18 | your walk of Faith again and again you |
| 11:21 | fell and failed |
| 11:23 | your sins and shames were brought before |
| 11:25 | your eyes you didn’t want to look at |
| 11:27 | them you did not want to face them you |
| 11:29 | thought that you could conquer them or |
| 11:32 | that you could overcome them yourself |
| 11:34 | but your flesh the world and the devil |
| 11:37 | constantly harassed you and with |
| 11:40 | Temptations and struggles |
| 11:42 | you hated |
| 11:44 | that you were subject |
| 11:46 | to anger and hateful thoughts you were |
| 11:49 | subject to Temptations of Envy or |
| 11:52 | jealousy or evil that you are subject to |
| 11:54 | worry and anxiety and fear |
| 11:57 | there were many ways that you were |
| 11:59 | tempted and tested |
| 12:01 | but |
| 12:03 | the Lord who first called you and made |
| 12:05 | you his own continued your whole life |
| 12:07 | long |
| 12:09 | as your Good Shepherd to seek you and |
| 12:12 | find you and gather you up in his arms |
| 12:14 | and bring you to himself |
| 12:17 | for this reason |
| 12:19 | you love to come to the Lord’s House for |
| 12:21 | you want to confess your sins and |
| 12:23 | receive his forgiveness and you long to |
| 12:26 | hear his word in scripture and in sermon |
| 12:28 | and you hunger to take and eat the body |
| 12:30 | of Christ to drink the cup of his |
| 12:33 | life-giving blood for the Forgiveness of |
| 12:35 | your sin and the promise of your eternal |
| 12:39 | life |
| 12:40 | and for this reason you love to go from |
| 12:43 | the Lord’s House and share the |
| 12:45 | confession of your faith with others |
| 12:47 | that they too may receive the revelation |
| 12:49 | of the father and make a confession of |
| 12:52 | faith of Their Own |
| 12:55 | conclusion |
| 12:57 | today |
| 12:59 | Luther gave us a new Twist on a |
| 13:03 | memorable text |
| 13:05 | it was not that Peter was the rock upon |
| 13:07 | which the church was built the church |
| 13:09 | was built upon the confession of Peter |
| 13:13 | the confession of faith that Peter made |
| 13:15 | and the confession of faith that every |
| 13:18 | Christian makes as a result of the |
| 13:20 | Revelation given to them by God |
| 13:23 | that confession is this rock this Petra |
| 13:27 | upon which his church is built isn’t it |
| 13:31 | wonderful that God is the one who gives |
| 13:33 | you the very thing that saves you the |
| 13:35 | confession of your faith |
| 13:38 | so that when Jesus asks you |
| 13:41 | who do you say that I am |
| 13:44 | by grace and the confession of faith |
| 13:47 | that was revealed to you by the father |
| 13:49 | you too will say |
| 13:52 | you are the Christ |
| 13:54 | the son of the Living God |
| 13:57 | and Jesus Will declare to you blessed |
| 14:00 | are you my child for Flesh and Blood |
| 14:02 | have not revealed this to you but my |
| 14:05 | father who is in heaven |
| 14:06 | and you are Petros Little Rock and upon |
| 14:10 | this Petra upon this confession of your |
| 14:13 | faith that was revealed by my father |
| 14:16 | I will build my church |
| 14:21 | amen |
| 14:29 | that’s wrong |
| 14:31 | it’s not cancer |
| 14:35 | [Music] |
| 14:39 | [Applause] |
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