Friday 29 June 2018

Psalm: Psalm 125

Background

Have you every lost your keys?

To be given a key involves responsibility. But when I was 11 I managed to drop the family house keys down the kerb drain. Thankfully my Dad borrowed a neighbour’s coat hanger and retrieved them! Losing the keys to a home, car, or workplace is frustrating! Whether locked in or locked out, it disrupts the pattern of our day.

Prior to Jesus and the disciples visiting the district of Caesarea Philippi there were many rumours and false teachings about Jesus (Matthew 16:5-12). In contrast, in this passage, God unlocked a new understanding for Peter, who declared Jesus to be “the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (v. 15). Peter then received Jesus blessing to participate in unlocking God’s kingdom for others (verses 17-18), particularly through being a community built on forgiveness (verse 19). 

It may be helpful to reflect what kind of Messiah Peter imagined Jesus was and what would he do? Matthew’s Gospel next records that Peter struggled with Jesus foretelling his own death (Matthew 13:21-23). This indicated Peter’s limited expectations. Perhaps he imagined the Messiah’s purpose was as God’s appointed king to replace the Roman occupiers. Only later after Jesus’ death and resurrection were Peter’s horizons unlocked to embrace a fuller appreciation of the extent of God’s transforming power and love.

An encounter with Jesus transformed for Peter and the disciples. God’s kingdom was not contained within the traditional religious structure of the synagogue and temple, and Jesus was frequently encountered elsewhere often outside during his travels. As disciples today we receive blessings through our encounter with Jesus, but we are also challenged to actively participate in God’s kingdom, by unlocking hope particularly for people who are suffering, marginalised and oppressed.

Despite my mistake I was entrusted by my parents to still have a house key. Peter had limitations but was entrusted by God to unlock mysteries of God’s love. God’s kingdom is revealed in every generation and we are called to be keyholders, actively sharing the good news about Jesus in our words and actions.

To Ponder

• Where do you see God at work?
• How can you unlock structures to liberate people?
• In what ways can you be God’s faithful keyholder unlocking the kingdom for others?