In Touch Quarter 4 - 2017

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Hebraic Study James Whitman serves as president of The Centre for Judaic-Christian Studies (JC Studies) We pick up the familiar story of Peter confessing what he believes about Jesus as the Jewish Messiah—in Matthew 16 and from my first article on the subject (In Touch, No. 192). Our purpose is to strengthen one another in the good confession that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. To get the most out of our study time together, keep your eyes on two things. First, the Father is maturing his Son’s faith. Second, the Son is growing his disciple’s faith. Both of these are in preparation for the troubles that are coming. There is an important third point as well, what you see is how he is working with each of us today. The Student’s Response (Matthew 16:13-16) Sequestered away from the political and religious tumult in Jerusalem, the teacher enjoys uninterrupted time with his students. In the Jewish manner of learning, he probes them with a question, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Their answers provide us remarkable insight into the ethos of First Century Israel. The faithful were longing and praying, waiting and watching, for God’s chosen Messiah to come forward—in the prophetic tradition of their covenant history. In other words, as YHWH had done (think Exodus), they believed he would do again. Imagine what this dialogue meant to Jesus, knowing that the reality is truer than they can believe, yet in ways they cannot conceive. After three years with his men he needs to find out more, for the sake of the movement. “Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter’s response was manna from heaven for the one who indeed is the prophet foretold by Moses, “You are the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the living God.” His confession is a Godtaught revelation arising from the prophetic texts and history of Israel. Torah records Moses as the first to use the descriptor ‘living God’ while Deepening Your Confession of Christ reminding the generation poised to enter the Promised Land that the revelation of divine dwelling and kingship at Sinai was the goal of the liberation from Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:26). Roughly 800 years later the catchphrase ‘living God’ is wielded powerfully by prophets like Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Daniel. And what is this Messiah’s relationship to the living God? You are his Son, says Peter, a word so important contextually that Bible translators capitalise the S. Son yes, but not simply one of many, as the early church would realise in light of the Spirit outpouring. But what did the language imply to them at the Caesarea Philippi in the First Century (artist’s impression). moment? Surely front and centre is the sense of son as promised to King David and all of Israel: “I will raise up your offspring.” “I will establish his kingdom.” “I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.” (2 Samuel 7:12-14) We must stop and realise, dear friends, that in this story we are on holy ground. Let us take off our footwear and draw nearer by inquiring, what kind of impact did Peter’s divine declaration have on Jesus? Remember, for Matthew this story serves as a hinge between, “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand’” (Matthew 4:17) and, Part 2 of 2 “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem [...] and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” (Matthew 16:21) The Teacher’s Response (Matthew 16: 17-20) “Blessed are you, Simon!” One thing immediately evident from the Greek construction of Jesus’ response to Peter is that he is excited, flooded with joy. The language is emphatic, and rightfully so. The teacher is listening carefully to his student and recognises the answer as inspired. Have you ever experienced God confirming something to you through another person? In the kingdom, that is the right order of things, God reveals, then uses his people to validate. In this case, Jesus is both affirming to Peter (and the other disciples) the divine nature of the insight, while receiving the confirmation he needs from his Father in heaven – amazing! “This was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.” Another thing evident from the Master’s enthusiastic response is that Peter—recipient of this unveiled truth—is in a state of blessedness. The language here mirrors the beatitudes. The disciple is blessed because he received from the fount of all blessing. To be a kingdom person means to be attentive. Like Peter, as we gather up the glimpses of Immanuel, the Father puts them together for us in such a way that reveals the Son of the ‘living God,’ leading to increased intimacy. 4 IN TOUCH • 4 th Quarter 2017 www.cfi.org.uk
Also, like Simon, we will need to cling to this when we fail or when others fail us. “On this rock, I will build my church.” Another reason for Israel’s Messiah to rejoice is that this confession is the seed that will spread, grow and protect his body of followers (his church) who will bear witness of these things to the world. Dwight Pryor discerns three layers of meaning in the Master’s statement. The rock here means Jesus’ appointment of Peter as leader of the apostolic band in his absence, it also points to the ongoing importance of Jesus’ identity as the divine Messiah, and it establishes himself and his teaching as the source of faith and practice for kingdom people. “I will give you the keys of the kingdom.” Now the King lifts his eyes from the immediate to the cosmic context, prophesying powerfully about the evildefeating, world-changing force of his movement. The simple truth that the Creator is in Messiah reconciling the world to himself exposes and uproots the lies of the Adversary. Salvation in all its wonder, as experienced and witnessed by his band of disciples, would engulf the planet in the power of the resurrection: lives changed, evil empires toppled, creation restored. Steadily, one heart at a time, the kingdoms of the world will become the kingdom of our Lord and his Messiah. But not yet. “Tell no one that I am the Christ.” The time to testify will come, but first, the revelation of Messiah’s divine identity must confront and be proved by a Roman cross and an empty Jewish tomb. And as Peter’s failure only verses later shows, this will be the hardest test of all. It took over two years to bring the disciples to the point of receptivity that their God You are the Christ, the Son of the living God is uniquely in this Nazarene. But a crucified Messiah? “Never!” Our King has much to teach his servants about the cross-shaped character of serving him and his healing mission in and to the world. But they, and we, must have ears to hear. The Father taught his Son. The Son taught his disciples about the Father while the Holy One taught them about the Son. By his Spirit, as his disciples, we follow in this venerable tradition. Our curriculum is God’s word applied to every aspect of our journey under the sun. Not long ago my wife and I were privileged to attend a ceremony for a dear, long-time friend of ours. He was retiring, with honours, from the United States Air Force. It was a profound experience. Those that knew and loved him listened intently as his commanding officer outlined a history of distinguished service and creative contributions that spanned decades. Like Jacob’s son Joseph, the things entrusted to him prospered under his care. In attendance was his devoted wife, who knew him as a husband and confidant; children who knew him as a father; co-workers who knew him as their leader; friends and family who knew him as a dedicated Christian by the name of Arthur. On that day we all came to understand that there was more to the man than we knew. My point is this. If that is so for a mere mortal, then how much more the author and finisher of our faith? “When the Counsellor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning” (John 15:26-27). Centre for Judaic-Christian Studies www.cfi.org.uk JC Studies is a Christian, educational organisation with a passion for acclimatising Christians to the life and times of Jesus and the early church. Are you interested in biblically based, Christ-centred instruction in the Jewish heritage of Christianity? Consider joining our Haverim* Study Community. Founded over thirty years ago by Dr. Dwight A. Pryor, Haverim is a subscription service that provides you with a monthly audio recording by leading Christian scholars. Through their expertise in the language, literature, culture and traditions of Israel during the Second Temple Period, you will receive a treasure trove of insights into the sacred Scriptures, both Old, and New. *Haverim is a transliteration of the plural Hebrew word for Friend. (khaverím) For more information: Tel: 01323 410810 Fax: 01323 410211 Email: info@cfi.org.uk Website: www.cfi.org.uk CFI UK is the designated distributor in the UK facebook.com/cfiuk twitter.com/cfi_uk 4 th Quarter 2017 • IN TOUCH 5
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In Touch Quarter 4 - 2017

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