Letters From Timothy

Who is Jesus? In this passage, we learn unequivocally that Jesus is, in fact, the Son of God. What is interesting to note is what else Jesus is considered to be.

“Some say John the Baptist…” It would make sense that some people in Biblical times would have believed that Jesus was the second coming of John the Baptist. After all, Jesus lived simply like John did, tended to the sick and needy, and preached the Word of God. And, John of course proclaimed that he would be followed, but by one who he was “unfit to tie the sandal straps of” (John 1:27) and “would baptize not with water, but fire” (Mt. 3:11) The first statement makes sense if Jesus is the Son of God; what man would be worthy to touch the sandals of God Himself? And while the “baptism in fire” may be metaphorical, it is important to note that on the Pentecost, there were “tongues of flames” that came to rest on the heads of the Apostles, allowing them to speak in Tongues. Either way, it would seem John was referring to the Holy Spirit.

“Others Elijah…” Elijah was a mighty prophet whose deeds are well documented in the Old Testament. He was, according to the scriptures, last seen ascending into heaven in a “chariot of fire” (2 Kg. 2:11) But most importantly, Jews at the time believed, and still believe that Elijah will return to Earth to announce the coming of the Messiah. Christians believe that John the Baptist was, in fact, Elijah, as he clearly fits the job description. But Jews of the time may have disregarded this possibility, because Elijah, like the Messiah, was supposed to arrive with much more pomp and circumstance rather than as a dirty man who ate locusts and honey (Mt. 3:4, Mk. 1:6).

“Still others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” Jeremiah was another major prophet in the Old Testament, whose divine revelations and warning went completely unheeded. Since Jesus began as a fringe radical preaching a very different interpretation of scripture, it is easy to understand why some people liked him to the “broken-hearted prophet.” Fortunately, unlike Jeremiah, people did end up listening to Jesus. Many Jews today hold the belief that Jesus is “one of the prophets,” but not the Messiah.

“You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Simon-Peter tells Jesus that he does not believe that He is any of the other prophets, but the Messiah himself, and Jesus tells him that it was not man but God who revealed that to him. Perhaps the others that Simon-Peter spoke of could not recognize that Jesus was the Messiah because God did not allow them to. Why? If He had, then they certainly would not have put Jesus to death, and so he could have never saved them.

Simon-Peter’s realization earned him a shortening of his name (Peter, which means “rock”)  and a title that the Catholic church considers to be “the first Pope.” Jesus chooses Simon-Peter to found his church, that he promises will not be destroyed by the power of evil (Mt. 16:18). Jesus also adds that Peter is to be given “the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven” (Mt. 16:19). Many have creatively imagined Peter standing at the Pearly Gates to let people in, but I believe that Jesus was simply referring to the knowledge of the significance of His death and resurrection.

In the last part of this passage, Jesus tells Peter that whatever he “binds” or “looses” on Earth, so will be bound or loosed in heaven. What is Jesus talking about? In the movie “Dogma,” this passage is taken to mean, in part, that if a priest makes a blessing, then God divinely honors that blessing. If that is what the passage means, it has a strange way of phrasing it, as if Heaven were some sort of mirror to Earth. In Biblical times, the phrasing that Jesus used referred to establishing rules and discipline. So what is the significance of that? It would seem to mean that the church that Peter was to establish would be recognized in Heaven by God. And it certainly seems that it was.

-Timothy

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