> Did you know even Jesus needed vacations? No really! Read on....
We see this in the 16th chapter of the book of Matthew in the Bible. At the beginning of the chapter, Jesus has yet another confrontation with the religious teachers and priests of his day in Perea, the region east of Jerusalem and the Jordan River. So what does Jesus do after the conflict? He withdraws for a time of secluded rest with his closest disciples, far northeast of the Sea of Galilee, to Caesarea Philippi. Jesus is also resting for what's ahead. After this trip to Caesarea Philippi, "Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things . . . and be killed . . ." (v. 21).
Who knows what all Jesus and his disciples did on this vacation? All we have from Matthew is one conversation Jesus has with his closest followers on the trip. After nearly three years of traveling all over the countryside of Palestine, teaching and healing, Jesus asks his disciples,
"Who do people say that I, the Son of Man, am?"
They look at each other and respond, "Some say John the Baptist (risen from the dead); and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." It is easy to talk about what others say.
So after three years of being in the public eye, that's what the masses were saying about him. Much like today, there were many different opinions on who Jesus was. What about these guys, these who left occupations and families to follow him around? These who would be responsible for his teachings after his departure?
"But who do you say that I am?"
Now they all eye each other, then they look down. No one wants to look the teacher in the eye. No one wants to be the first to speak up and possibly give the wrong answer--you know the feeling--except, finally, one. Impulsive and headstrong, Simon replies, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
"Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. I also say that you are Peter [Grk: Petros], and upon this rock [Grk: petra] I will build my church...."
Quite the conversation to have while on vacation, eh? Two final things to ponder:
> What 'rock' would Jesus build his church on? On Peter, the individual, whom some consider the first pope? Maybe. On Peter's faith? Or, on Peter's confession? Would not Peter's confession stem from his faith?
> Did you know, when Jesus refers to his 'church,' he is not talking about a building? The word comes from the Greek word ekklesia derived from the words 'to call' (kaleo) 'out' (ek). The word was used for the summons to the army to assemble, for the assembly of competent full citizens of a city, and to denote the meeting together of a special assembly--a military or political phenomenon. So when Jesus referred to his 'church,' he was referring to those who would assemble in his name--not buildings, not traditions, not liturgy, people.
(What did you expect? Look where you're standing?). Thanks for looking and reading!
"A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would ... be a lunatic--on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg.... This man we are talking about either was (and is) just what he said or else a lunatic, or something worse."
- C.S. Lewis