Gospel: Matthew 16.13-20 Peter’s Declaration about Jesus
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ 14 And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’
15 He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ 16 Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ 17 And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ 20 Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Sermon: “On Rocks and Faith. “
Rocks are many things. Rocks form within the Earth and make up a large part of our planet.
Rocks are so common that most of us take them for granted—cursing when we hit them with the garden hoe or taking advantage of them to drive in tent pegs on summer camping trips.
To geologists, a rock is a natural substance composed of solid crystals of different minerals that have been fused together into a solid lump.
Typically, granite makes up large parts of all the continents. Granite rocks can be old. Some granite, in Australia, is believed to be more than four billion years old.
When the mighty King Bluetooth of Denmark wanted to secure his legacy, his accomplishments and his power, - he erected a large granite Rune Stone with a bold bragging message that he, the mighty King Harld Bluetooth, had managed to unite Norway and Denmark into one Kingdom, and furthermore make the pagan Danes and Norwegians into decent Christian people. To establish his power and set a monument, a massive granite Rune Stone was made: the runes was carved, the sentences engraved, the symbols of Christianity and Monarchy highlighted.
Harald “Blåtand” was a King of Denmark and Norway in the 10 century and for personal and political reasons he was favorably inclined towards Christianity... He did what he could to promote this foreign faith within his kingdom.
That large Rune Stone is a big rock in Danish History – and it is a great greeting stone here at our church, as we are so blessed to have a copy standing at our entrance.
It is big. It is bold. It is not easily moved. It is indeed a rock upon which the Danish Christians Church was built and established, - and thus we name this Rune Stone: the Baptismal Certificate of Denmark…. And in every Danish Passport the image of that rock is printed.
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.”
Oh, I bet bragging vain Harald Bluetooth did not only want to place a solid rock in on Danish soil and in Danish History, but he longed to be called a Rock just like Peter.
The image we have today of somebody called Rock is the massive former wrestler and now actor Dwayne Johnson, also known by his ring name the Rock.
Today the powerful Danish King Bluetooth certainly has made himself a lasting name in modern age and time, that he would not have been able to fathom, as he was communicating by carved runes, letters written in hand and delivered by horse and accustomed to months of waiting for answers.
Today, Harald Blåtand (‘Bluetooth’) is a household name thanks to the wireless technology standard named after him.
According to some scholars, Harald was nicknamed ‘Blåtand’ i.e., ‘Bluetooth’ as he had a dead tooth that looked blue, or dark. Some sources said that Harald had a bad tooth that turned dark or blue. Others said that he loved blueberries. But they were just rumors.
This nickname is today known the world over as it is also the name of a wireless technology standard. The name was chosen due to Swedish telecommunication company Ericsson’s Viking heritage. The founders felt that Harald Bluetooth’s ability to unite people in peaceful negotiations would be appropriate for telecommunications technology.
“Harald had united Denmark and Christianized the Danes! It occurred to me that this would make a good codename for the program.”
The symbol of Bluetooth is the "H" and "B" in the runic symbols that you will find on our Rock just outside.
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.”
Harald Bluetooth built his kingdom on fierce power, unity and faith. And his legacy is a building rock in Danish history and even more has become an iconic unifying technology invention to ensure communication.
In The Gospel today we are with Jesus and his disciples in the first century, long before Harald Bluetooth reign nor his modern tech brand. And the talk is about rocks too.
When Jesus asks his disciples the deeply existential question of who the people and the disciples think he is, his essential question is all about identity: Jesus’ identity, Peter’s Identity, and our identity as Christians.
Who am I? What is my purpose in life? What do I have to offer the world? Where do I fit in? Where do I belong? What do I build my life on – what are the keys to happiness?
All these age-old human questions are certainly questions of our time and culture, but then as now these questions of identity and belonging and purpose are essential, existential, and ageless.
That is why Harald Bluetooth erected his stone: to boldly brag about who he was, how much he accomplished and how majestic he was. So, he would be remembered.
When Jesus calls Peter the Rock upon which the church is to be built…. it sounds like quite a promotion from being one of the 12 to becoming the one, the rock, - the one who is the rock and who even has the keys to the kingdom of heaven! Peter truly is the Rock and must have felt that he was a Rock Star! Like Dwayne Johnson in sandals.
But remember that Peter was not called the rock because of his perfect faith or spotless reputation: he was flawed; he a bad temper; he was running away when it became dangerous; he denounced and betrayed Jesus; –everything after he was named the Rock and given the keys.
Peter did not understand who Jesus truly was until the day of the Resurrection after hiding behind closed doors…. Peter was human, not perfect but still chosen to be a leader and a rock. And thank God for that as we do know our leaders to be human too – they are truly dangerous if they claim to be perfect, to be strong as a rock, or have all the answers.
We must remember that this church is built on faith in God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
A faith that can be moved, challenged, doubted and transformed.
A faith that is rooted in an unfathomable God who works in us, around us, among us in so many ways. Now and then. In history and in the future.
“Faith is a living, busy, active, mighty thing” Martin Luther said as “Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace.”
Grundtvig loved the church – the actual buildings.
But he also wrote in his hymn “Built on the Rock the Church does stand……”
Surely in temples made with hands,
God, the most high, is not dwelling,
High above earth His temple stands,
All earthly temples excelling.
Yet, He whom heavens cannot contain.
Chose to abide on earth with men – built in or bodies His temples.
We are Gods’ house of living stones,
Built for His own habitation….”
Harald erected his rock, Peter was named the Rock, - and we are all building blocks and rocks and living stones of this church that both reside here in our beautiful buildings and history but cannot be contained in buildings or stones alone.
Like Harald Bluetooth, Peter also did get his lasting rock in the world as the beautiful, impressive St. Peters Cathedral in Rome; built on his grave and considered to be the head church of the roman catholic church. According to legend, the apostle Peter died as a martyr on the racetracks of emperor Nero and was buried in a graveyard close by. Approx. about 64.
There are so many rocks and stones of faith in our history and our culture. Cathedrals, Churches, Monuments of faith. They tell us stories about people of faith and courage – but most of all stories about God’s Grace.
Because we can not all preach like Peter, pray like Paul, reform a Church like Martin, or make an entire pagan people Christian like Harald, - but less can do…. If we know what to hold on to, believe in, hope for and belong to.
“Who do you say that I am?” Jesus asked his disciples.
“Who we we think we are?” we constantly ask as we try to find our way.
We are children of God.
And just like Peter who did not truly comprehend who God was but had a bold faith, - we do believe, that God continues to lift us up if we continue to seek more and have bold faith.
“Faith is a living, busy, active, mighty thing. Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace.”
That is what we built on and trust in. Amen