Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, August 23, 10:30am
Sermon: A Sense of Identity
Accompanying Scripture: Matthew 16 : 13 – 20
A Sense of Identity
Matthew 16:13-20 8/23/2026
Depending on where you live in the world, your sense of identity will change. Here, in the United States, we identify ourselves by what we do: banker, teacher, stay-at-home spouse, etc. The problem with this is that when we retire, we lose that sense of identity. The banker still has the skills to be a banker, but they may not be needed when he leaves the office for the last time. This leads to a crisis of identity.
Asians view it differently. They identify by their place(s) in the family: wife, mother, aunt, niece, and so forth. When they retire, they are still a wife or mother. There is no loss of identity.
In first-century Palestine, identity was derived from your family ties. Jesus is the son of Joseph from Nazareth. His brothers and sisters would have added to that identity. His father was a carpenter. Jesus would probably have been a carpenter as well. Knowing the family, you know Jesus. The family reputation matters.
Except that Jesus left the family business. He became a wandering rabbi, teaching, preaching, and healing. His reputation has spread. Do the crowds even know Joseph of Nazareth?
He and his disciples arrive in Caesarea Philippi. Caesarea is named for Caesar. Herod the Great built a temple to honor Emperor Augustus, the first Emperor of the Roman Empire. Near the temple is a large statue of Augustus, his name inscribed on it with the added “Divi Filius.” “Son of the Divine.”
And this is where Jesus pauses to ask his questions. “Who do people say I am? What are the rumors?” Does their answer surprise them? Not the Son of Joseph. But, John the Baptizer, or Elijah or a prophet like Jeremiah.
Then the big question. Who do YOU say that I am? Standing in Roman Caesarea Philippi, with the temple nearby and the statue of Augustus probably staring down at them, Peter gets it. “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus is the true Divi Filius.
But, here’s the thing. They understood that when the messiah came, he would arrive ready to do battle with the occupiers. He would “deliver Israel by military victory.”
Jesus isn’t that kind of Messiah. He isn’t coming to fight Caesar but to begin the reversal of Caesar’s “way of arrogance, violence, and oppression.” Jesus has brought the Way (capital W) of “humility and restoration, justice and grace.”
To tell you the truth, from time to time I wish for a militaristic messiah. I want Jesus to banish my enemies and stop the ugliness in our world. But it doesn’t work that way, does it? As highly trained as our military is, they are prepared to defend our nation, and if it means going to war, they’re up for it. They may win the battle; they may even win the war. Until the next battle comes along and we have to begin again.
Peace begets peace. It takes hard work and demands a lot of time. We’ve been working at it for 2,000 years. It doesn’t make sense, does it? We want the quick and easy way out. Just drop a few bombs and get out of there.
Who is Jesus for you? Who do you need Jesus to be?
To answer this question, we can look through our hymn book.
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
All Glory, Laud, and Honor
In the Cross of Christ I Glory
Because You Live, O Christ
Who has Jesus been in the difficult times of your life? Confident and comforter, perhaps.
When have you been the image of God?
Where have seen the image of God in others?
All glory and honor be to God.
Amen.
ii Ibid
iii Ibid
iv Glory to God Glory to God (Louisville, KY, Westminster John Knox Press, 2013)