“Speaking for God--Are You Sure?”

Matthew 16:21-28

Ambassadors, agents, emissaries, attorneys, and siblings all have something in common. They are often given the responsibility to speak on behalf of somebody else. Ambassadors speak for a nation. Agents speak for a client. Emissaries speak for a leader, and siblings often speak to their brothers or sisters for their parents. Those of you who are parents with more than one child know what I mean. It’s the “Go tell your sister, I said …” routine. Whether nations, business contracts, legal negotiations, or simple family communication, the principle is the same. Though the voice and the words belong to the messenger, the message and the authority backing up that message belong to the one they represent.

Let me illustrate. I have two children. When they were much younger I loved listening in to their conversations when they were attempting to work together at their weekly chores or resolve a difference of opinion. I can remember a few occasions in which my wife (the real authority at our house) would tell our oldest daughter to convey a command to her sister that was to be immediately obeyed. My younger daughter has a streak of independence and stubbornness and it was not beyond her to ignore the request, thinking it was only from her sister, and go about her own business. The intensity of the conversation would increase exponentially to the place where the older would threaten mortal wounds if the younger refused to comply. The younger stood her ground with her rebellious cry, “You can’t make me!” The banter began. “Oh yes, I can!” “No you can’t!” “Yes, I can!” “No, you can’t!” “Oh yes, I can!” After enough time had passed so that they both felt like they’d defended their honor as free moral agents, the younger challenged the source of authority, “Oh yeah, who says?” This was the moment the older child had been waiting for. “Mom says, that’s who! The case was closed. The verdict was in. The score: older sister--one; younger sister--zero! The older spoke for the ultimate authority, Mom. Perhaps you’ve experienced similar moments at your house.

Our text places Jesus and his disciples in a conversation about things that had eternal consequences. Peter, in the power of the Spirit, had confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus had proclaimed that Peter and those who make the same confession are the living stones upon which the church is established and continues to grow. He and all who would follow in his footsteps would spend their lives involved in doing things that would matter for eternity. They were done with the mundane and ordinary. Such things were for those who had nothing better to do. No, the disciples’ world was now one where earth and heaven came together in God’s redemptive plan in Christ so the “loosing and binding” had eternal consequences. They were into “life and death” issues now. Their lives, like all those who confess that Jesus is the Christ, would never be ordinary again. It was serious business. They just didn’t know how serious. But Jesus did.

Jesus had set his sights on Jerusalem, knowing a crown of thorns, a rugged cross, and a borrowed tomb awaited him there. He didn’t want his disciples to be surprised by those stark and powerful images of suffering, death, and resurrection. He didn’t want them to have any false assumptions about the nature of his calling and kingdom. Matthew states, “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” (v. 21)

Jesus didn’t want the disciples to have any false assumptions about their calling either, since it was essentially the same as his own. He explained, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (v. 16). This was no low-key, soft sell pitch selling an easy journey and half-hearted commitment. This was no bait-and-switch game in which Jesus promised them an easy road and then changed the contract after they had signed their names on the dotted line. If the disciples were going to participate in Jesus’ life, they would also have to participate in his suffering and death. There was no alternative for them. And there is no alternative for us. Jesus made it clear. That is the way it will be.

Those of us who know Peter and his propensity to speak are not surprised that he had something to say in the midst of an important speech like that. Listen to Matthew’s description in verse 22. “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ‘Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Can you hear his passion? “You’re the Messiah. You shouldn’t die. That cannot be the plan. You’re the Messiah. You can’t die. Who, then, would save us? You’re the Messiah. You won’t die. After all, you’re the Son of the Living God!”

We shouldn’t be too harsh on Peter. I can’t fault his motive. I believe he was speaking out of love for the one who he had proclaimed to be the Christ, the Savior of the world. I believe Peter spoke sincerely and selflessly with Jesus’ best interest in mind. I believe he was committed to Jesus’ success. I believe that Peter believed that his words were not really his own. He was compelled to speak by a power greater than himself. If Jesus would have challenged Peter’s source of authority by saying, “Oh yeah, who says?” Peter would have confidently replied, “God does, that’s who!” The case is closed. The verdict is in. Score: Peter--one; Jesus--zero, even if Jesus was the Son of God!
That was exactly the problem. Peter believed he was speaking for God when, in fact, nothing was further from the truth. The voice and the words were Peter’s, but the message and the power behind the message were directly from the Tempter’s tongue. And Jesus knew it. “Get behind me, Satan!” (v.23)

Jesus had heard that voice before. It was the voice of Satan who had confronted him in the wilderness following his baptism. Read it for yourself in Matthew 4:1-11. “Jesus, since you are the Son of God, turn these stones to bread, you shouldn’t die! Jesus, since you are the Son of God, jump off the temple tower and save yourself, you can’t die! Jesus, bow down and worship me just once and I will give you all the kingdoms of this world. You won’t die!” It was Peter’s voice in Jesus’ ears, but these were definitely Satan’s wilderness words echoing in Jesus’ heart.

The banished Satan had returned in the form of a beloved friend. The wilderness temptation to abandon the will and plan of God for an easier road had returned through the well-meaning, yet naïve disciple. The rock to be placed as one of the first of the living stones of the church had become a stumbling block in the middle of path of obedience to the perfect will of God. Peter, who had spoken for God when he voiced the truth of heaven and earth, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”, now spoke for Satan as he cried, “Never, Lord! This shall not happen to you!” And Peter didn’t even know it!

So once again, as he had done those many months before, Jesus banished Satan from his sight. “Be quiet! Be gone! Only suffering and death can lead to life. I am resolved to do God’s will. It would not be the last time he would hear his voice.

And then to well-meaning, loving, sincere, naïve, blind Peter, Jesus turns. “Peter, if you would be my disciple, you must find your place not in front of me, but behind me. You must follow me, Peter. Follow me in doing God’s will. Deny yourself, Peter. Take up your cross, Peter. Follow me, Peter. Then you will know what it means to speak for God.”

I cannot help but wonder if I, at times, am as blind and naïve as Peter. When I think I am speaking for God, could I actually be Satan’s voice? In my love for Christ, could I still be singing the tempter’s tune? In my own limited wisdom, when I think I know what God would say, could I end up speaking for Satan instead? I wonder. And, frankly, I wonder the same thing about you.

Do we love Jesus? I’m sure we do. Do we have his interests at heart? I’m sure we do. Do we want the cause of Christ to be a success? I’m sure we do. Do we always speak for God? I’m not so sure.

When we who are Christians choose words of convenience over sacrifice, for whom do we speak?

When we who are Christians choose words of revenge over forgiveness, for whom do we speak?

When we who are Christians choose words of greed over generosity, for whom do we speak?

When we who are Christians choose words of privileged power over service, for whom do we speak?

When we who are Christians choose words of self- interest over the interest of others, for whom do we speak?

When we who are Christians choose words of personal security over trusting faith, for whom do we speak?

When we who are Christians choose words about saving our lives rather than losing them in Christ, for whom do we speak?

I am reminded of Jesus’ straightforward call, “If anyone would come after, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? (v.v.24-26).

Consider in earnest for whom you speak. By your words, by your values, by your actions, for whom do you speak? We, like Peter, are beloved disciples. We, like Peter, are the living stones on whom the church is being built. We, like Peter, have confessed our faith in Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God. We, like Peter, have been called to speak for God. Peter thought he was. Are you sure you are?