Peter mistakes Jesus’s talk about who he is as a question of identity. But Jesus is always talking about relationship.
Jesus isn’t obsessed with identity. We are.
Proper 17A | Matthew 16:21-28
The Right Answer
As a student, there is nothing better than getting the right answer. When the teacher asks a question and all the hands shoot up. Answers fly. The teacher hears them, nods, and says yeah, but what do you really think?
Suddenly you’re the one talking, responding—the words falling out of your mouth like they come from another dimension, like a portal opened up on the inside of your mouth and this perfect response comes out, presenting itself to the world.
The teacher smiles. Turns to the rest of the class and says That’s what we’re talking about.
That feeling is amazing. We love being right, of course. In an objective sense. Who doesn’t? Being right feels good. But this is more than that. This is about approval, congratulations, esteem. You don’t just feel good, you feel good.
What else is there, though? Something nibbling at the back of your mind. Something about it doesn’t feel right. You did get the answer right…right? But was it really your answer? Did you even understand what you just said? Or was it just something you read?
Suddenly, you don’t really know what to think. You were right, but now you’re not sure why. You feel like an imposter. And the class is looking at you like you’re the hotshot. And maybe you are. It’s what you wanted, isn’t it?
And the teacher has moved into crazy territory. He’s talking nonsense. It sounds nothing like what you said seconds ago. The thing that was right. The thing you got right.
What are you going to do about it? It seems like a time to take a stand, doesn’t it? Confront the teacher? Show him you knew what you were talking about the whole time…
That Answer
In the part of the gospel story right before this (which we talked about last week), Peter answers the tough question. He calls Jesus “Messiah” and Jesus rewards him, praises him. It’s a big moment.
And followers of Jesus love that moment because it sounds like the teacher, who is famously guarded about his identity, has finally tipped his hand. Students have spent 2,000 years taking notes about this. All of us are watching for Jesus’s response to Peter and then writing it down in our notebooks: MESSIAH. OK, got it.
But when Jesus opens it up, he paints a different picture. If Messiah is the right answer, what it means is something totally different from tradition.
Confusing
This moment of confusion between Peter and Jesus is extremely important. It isn’t simply a misunderstanding or a miscommunication. Nor is Jesus simply calling Peter a name or getting mad at him for being a doofus.
Peter stands up to Jesus and Jesus exclaims how dangerously Peter has missed the point.
It is easy for us to sympathize with Peter. He is the Christian Everyman. We know what it’s like to try to please the teacher, to do the right thing, and be a good student. It is hard! And sometimes Jesus is not all that clear! He himself uses common words and then means something else by them!
This idea, that he would claim the mantle of Messiah and yet not be a warrior king makes no sense. Especially if you want to be an effective communicator. It’s like saying yeah, I’m a peaceful killer or a liar who only tells the truth. It isn’t clear to Peter what that means.
Getting Peter from calling Jesus the Messiah to pulling him aside to have a little chat about this “plan” to suffer at the hands of Rome is really easy. And on top of that, I think we should commend Peter for his courage. Unlike all the other people, at least he is trying to do something.
But…this isn’t about Peter. Even if his mistake is the one we constantly make. This is about following Jesus.
We think it’s about Jesus’s identity. Jesus says it’s about relationship.
Our Mistake
Peter is out of line. Literally. He was behind Jesus as a follower. Then he puts himself in front of Jesus, as a teacher. A teacher with a different lesson plan.
Jesus’s rebuke is more stunning than we take if for.
“Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
This isn’t an insult — it’s a callback.
Peter is no longer Peter. The disciple, the student who is following the master isn’t standing before Jesus. Satan, who tempted Jesus in the Wilderness is now before him. Temptation to grab earthly power.
He is the obstacle, the opportunity to stumble, blocking Jesus from the mission.
And that mission is nothing short of a transformation of the Messianic plan. A rejection of power, glory, violence, oppression, supremacy, might, victory, and all the tools of empire. And the embrace of humility, generosity, service, compassion, inclusion, and love.
We make Peter’s mistake over and over because we can’t fully grasp that God’s plan works that way. No matter what Jesus says. We keep looking at the tools of empire and saying, yeah, but when we’re in control, it’ll be different.
Out of Position
We really do understand Peter’s motivation here. It feels a lot like our question: What am I supposed to do? In the midst of all of this. Conflict and confusion. Violence and factionalism. What is something I can do?
But Jesus’s response to Peter (and us) is deeper. It’s as if he’s saying “Wrong question. Asking that puts all of the focus on you. And on process. A process you can evaluate as “best”. There’s no question what you should do. You should be looking around, asking yourself “where’s Jesus?” And then getting behind him.”
This is a story about being out of position. Not because Peter is wrong in confronting Jesus, but because he left God’s plan for his own.
So what then is God’s plan?
Jesus is going to Jerusalem to face the forces of empire. And because empires don’t like upstarts making waves, they will probably kill him for it. It isn’t inevitable that Jesus will be killed—Nineveh proves change is possible. But it is likely. Because empires kill. And Jesus is demanding that they repent of that evil.
And anyone who would follow him, in other words, in position behind their teacher, will no doubt suffer the same fate. As they stand up to empire and its murder machine.
Again, there’s a reason Peter thinks this is a terrible plan!
But Jesus keeps saying that this is where God is. Not on the top of the mountain or riding a warhorse, but in a witness to the poor and marginalized. God is present in this most uncomfortable stuff. Because the point isn’t power or stuff or winning. God’s in the relationship—the presence.
This is what it means to take up your cross and follow him. To be with him, in right relationship to him, and going where he is going. To confront evil and prepare this world for our better future.
Doing so without coercion or violence; oppression or militarism. But in utter opposition to such human will. With the grace, humility, and incredible generosity of God with us.