Pastor’s message for the month of April
“God the Son; Jesus, the Christ” (Matt. 16:13-16)
What titles have been given to you in your life?
Titles are important. They convey meaning and instruct us about the person to whom the title is attached. The title Doctor usually conveys to us that the person is an expert in some field of medicine. The title President conveys to us that the person is the leader of the United States of America. The title Plumber indicates to us that the person is experienced in installing and repairing pipes, as well as fitting water supply, sanitation, and/or heating systems.
In our Scripture passage, Peter gives Jesus a Title. He calls Jesus the “Christ,” which means Messiah. This was a very important title given to Jesus by Peter. In the Jewish Faith, by the time that Jesus was born, the Jewish people believed that God would send a “Divinely Anointed Messiah” who would complete four important tasks. First, the Messiah would deliver the Jewish people from Roman oppression and subjugation. Second, the Messiah would re-establish the Kingdom of Israel, which had been previously destroyed by Assyria and Babylon. In this new reality, the re-established Kingdom of Israel would become a world power that subjugated all other countries and kingdoms under Israeli rule and authority. Third, in this re-established Kingdom, the Messiah would reign supreme as the King over all people. Under His Kingship, perfect Justice and Mercy would be enacted for all people. Fourth, and finally, the Messiah would usher the world into a future Paradise where all people would come to Israel and worship God.
As Christians, we believe that Jesus is this Messiah, in both a spiritual sense and in a future sense. First, Jesus delivers us from the oppression of sin, evil, and death. Second, Jesus has established the Church as His physical Kingdom here on earth. Third, Jesus forgives sin and will judge those who live in wickedness. Fourth, and finally, Jesus will usher into existence a “New Creation,” where perfect worship, wholeness, and relationship with God exist (cf. Rev. 21). We can experience a small taste of all four of those realities now, as we await the full actualization of them in the coming Kingdom of God.
This is the message of Easter. Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah, who defeated death and will enact these realities. Are you experiencing some form of oppression in your life? Then lean into Jesus and seek deliverance. Do you seek to experience God’s Kingdom, here on earth? Then go to church. Do you pray for and long for a future utopia where Justice, Peace, and Mercy exist? Then look to Jesus, and stay optimistic, for Jesus will one day provide just that.
Dear God, You are the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the Living God. May I experience and encounter You in the fullness of that Truth and Reality.
Amen.
