Names Matter. 

Names define and are sensitive to the position and rank given by one’s appellation and title. Relationship with and deference to another person is designated by how one is known to others. Jesus knew this. In asking his disciples the question, he intimated the public’s response was consequential to his status.

“Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

First Century Polling

The Twelve were the ones who had an ear to the ground, who would hear the drumbeats spell out announcements that Jesus was coming or in town. So many times, Jesus was surrounded with crowds, people swarming around to hear his message, to see what he might do, who might get healed or fed or called to follow him. His name in and of itself was common in the day, but what was attached to him signified what they believed. So he asked, checking the pulse of the impact of his ministry.

Son of Man? This was the name by which he frequently referred to himself in the third person, sometimes sounding like a substitute for the pronoun “I”. Awkward maybe, or a little weird in some ways. Why not just call himself the Messiah as he wanted to be known?

That may be so, but it deflected the impression that his intentions were to gain the kind of powers political or religious leaders crave. More importantly, it afforded to him a name that sided with the people, that he spoke on their behalf so they could understand God and know they were loved by God.

No Real Consensus

Fine. But somehow to call yourself Son of Man may have misled them. The disciples had heard various opinions. John the Baptist, maybe resurrected and in a different form? Or how about one of the prophets like Elijah, even miserable Jeremiah, or any of the others? Dead men they all were, but as reformers all had preached that God had a new plan.

Maybe you had to give the people a break. It was hard to wrap their minds around who this Jesus was and what he was going to do. True, the Jews were looking for a Messiah, but he wasn’t organizing for an overthrow of the Roman regime. People had enough of superheroes and gods using mortals as pawns. Why become a part of that? In short, there wasn’t a lot of consensus to answer his question.

It was to be expected. Anyone who has ever preached, blogged, spoken to a small group or a big crowd, and/or created a podcast knows the potential to be misunderstood or not fully heard is pretty significant. The flaw can be in the communicator or in the audience or both; either way sometimes the message just doesn’t get through. Jesus knew this.

There was something more important that he needed to know though. If The Twelve were among the people, they were being asked or had the opportunity to express what they believed. Known as his inner circle, their opinions would be solicited. So Jesus asked,

“Who do you say I am?”

It wasn’t a test. Their answers would not determine if they could stay on as a disciple. He genuinely wanted to know. At this point in their relationship, how did they see him? By what name or title did they understand him to be? The answer would indicate if not what he would do next, then how they could be trusted to answer for him going forward.

“You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”

Simon Peter, the first one called to follow him, the one who had been with him the longest would have had the best perspective. He’d seen all the healings, heard the parables, saw him tangle with the religious authorities and defend the losers, calm the sea, feed the hungry and encourage the brokenhearted. His witness confirmed that Jesus was the one hoped for to rescue people from oppressions both systemic and individual, to save people from the worst of themselves to be the best of themselves. All Jesus gave to him and proclaimed in himself was what no one could do unless from God, who lived as God, and was God.

Simon Peter’s answer, ten words or so, simple and straightforward, contained more than what creeds or theological tomes spill out thousands of times over. So succinct it was because its brevity rose from a revelation, an inspiration that came not of one’s logical deduction but was born of insight from the spirit. Jesus commends Simon Peter and his response.

Yes, Peter. Jesus affirms how he is solid and will be a major leader in the movement which will follow Jesus’ time on earth. That movement also will endure because of Peter’s rock-hard confession, this foundational premise of who Jesus is, the rock on which the church will stand.

Power in a Name

Rock. Names matter, and the name Peter means rock. Church. The word is only used twice by Jesus in this gospel, but never does it mean a place, a building. Jesus’ church is a movement, one furthered by those who confess what Peter confessed, by those gathered not necessarily in physical body but definitely in belief and spiritual perception. This rock-solid confession stands against the tension and destructive assaults on heaven by hell.

Heaven. Hell. Again, names matter. One carries the connotations of light and love, the other implications of regret, hate and separation from hope. Heaven’s keys granted to Peter and his confession will secure whether accepted or rejected, Jesus is identified as the Son of the Living God.

What’s in a Name?

This is huge, for Jesus as well as the disciples. But it’s one thing to proclaim who God is and another to live by it. The Twelve had yet to fully do that. Jesus knew this. So the Son of God told them, next time you are asked who I am, don’t say Messiah. Until their lives more so than their words could make that assertion, rock would be no more stable than loose gravel. Their lives would say what his life meant.

Meaning in one’s life suggests a source, a name. Names matter.

Matthew 16:13-20

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