Service Sheet (pdf)
Call to worship
Isaiah 51:1-3
“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn;
look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth.
When I called him he was only one man, and I blessed him and made him many.
The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins;
he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord.
Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.
“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn;
look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth.
When I called him he was only one man, and I blessed him and made him many.
The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins;
he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord.
Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.
Prayer
Lord God, we seek you, and would pursue your righteousness. In these days of uncertainty, help us to remember who we are, cut from the rock of your purposes, hewn from the quarry of your people’s faithfulness. As we look to Abraham and Sarah, we give thanks too for our forebears in faith, especially those whose love and witness shaped our lives and chiseled our character. As we dwell in covid19-times, comfort us with your compassion, and turn these days of distance, difficulty, desert, into your garden, that joy and gladness may be found as was in Eden, and the sound of singing be heard in all the land. Amen.
Hymn
You might like to sing, or reflect on the words of, Hymn StF 101, by John Bell & Graham Maule, Before the world began, which echoes with the refrain, “I am for you”.Reading
Read Matthew 16:13-20, first silently to yourself, then, if you can, out loud.Matthew 16:13-20 New International Version
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’
14 They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’
15 ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’
16 Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’
17 Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades] will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
Prayer exercise
One of the joys of a long journey can be noticing the place names through which you travel. Whether it’s speculating on the historical background, viking or saxon, roundhead or royalist; noting the geographical features; or imagining what a character with the name on the signpost might be like, and making up a story where different places interact. Place names can tell you stuff. Baildon was originally Baegeltun, first seen in 1030, and could be ‘berry hill’ – a good place for berries, or more likely fire hill – from olde English ‘bel dun’ – a hill where a beacon was lit. Shipley is a woodland clearing for sheep. Bradford’s a broad ford.Jesus has gone north to the city of Caesarea Philippi. This is the seat of Roman rule through Herod the Great’s son Philip, a puppet king. He has refounded the city, formerly Paneas, and named it after himself, mimicking but distinguishing it from the other Caesarea, Caesarea Maritima, on the coast, where the Roman governor lived.
Think about the names of the places where you have lived, or spent significant time. Town, village, street name, maybe house name. What do the place names conjure up for you? Both in their meaning, but also in the memories they evoke, and the people they bring to mind. What part have they played in making you the person you are?
Let us pray
Faithful God, thank you for those places that come to mind, and the people who shared them with me. Where memories are joyful, help me to celebrate them. Where they are painful, be close to me. And as I remember, remind me that every place is your place, including the one in which I meet you now. Amen.
I’m sure he didn’t hear anything he hadn’t heard before, but in asking the question Jesus sets the scene for the more crucial one which will follow. And he gives us a sense of the dangerous political climate in which he was operating – each of those answers make him a threat to the established powers, both roman and religious, and he knew it.
These verses in Matthew, with the chapter which follows (with its account of the transfiguration), have been described as the turning point, or hinge, in the gospel. In coming to Caesarea Philippi Jesus has gone about as far from Jerusalem as he will go, and in the conversation we are considering, and the mountaintop experience that will follow, he is testing and turning his disciples. ‘But what about you?’ he asks. ‘Who do you say I am?’
Let’s pause there. Freeze-frame. See the moment before an answer is given. Imagine all that is going on in those Galilean minds. Listen to the cogs whirr. He’s told us all these wonderful stories. He’s done all these amazing things. He’s taught us so much, not least about ourselves. He’s not been afraid to challenge convention and authority. He’s calmed the storm and walked on the water. He’s enabled us to do things beyond our imagining. ‘But what about you?’ he asks. ‘Who do you say I am?’
It’s Simon Peter, not for the first, nor for the last time, who jumps in, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ The Christ, Greek translation for the Hebrew ‘Messiah’, the anointed one, the Son of the living God.
As we hear Simon Peter’s answer, and the affirmation and blessing of Jesus that follows, we witness that turning point in the gospel to which I referred earlier. All that has happened thus far has been bringing us to this moment of recognition – this is who you are, you are the Christ, you are the Son of the living God! And all that will follow will be seeing what it means to be the Christ.
It is in this place, Caesarea Philippi, named by a king as a statement of his own self-importance, that we hear Jesus proclaimed as the Christ, acknowledging the truth of the proclamation, but warning his disciples not to tell anyone. For he needs to show them that his way is not the way of self-importance, but of service and sacrifice. It will not be an easy lesson, to teach or to learn.
Reflection - Caesarea Philippi
To this place whose name speaks of self-importance, with the king renaming his capital after himself, Jesus brings his disciples and asks them the question, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ This could be a bible-study question about the Book of Daniel, but from their answers it’s clear the twelve understand that Jesus is talking about himself. The answers given are interesting. First up is John the Baptist, recently executed by Philip’s brother, Herod Antipas. In coming north Jesus has moved beyond the reach of Herod, perhaps having heard that Herod thought he was the Baptist returned from death (Matthew 14:1-2). We see the paranoia of the powerful in Herod’s dread. Then it’s Elijah – expected to return before the final day of judgement – or Jeremiah (only named in Matthew), a figure combining authority and suffering – or one of the prophets – those who spoke God’s word of judgement in days of old.I’m sure he didn’t hear anything he hadn’t heard before, but in asking the question Jesus sets the scene for the more crucial one which will follow. And he gives us a sense of the dangerous political climate in which he was operating – each of those answers make him a threat to the established powers, both roman and religious, and he knew it.
These verses in Matthew, with the chapter which follows (with its account of the transfiguration), have been described as the turning point, or hinge, in the gospel. In coming to Caesarea Philippi Jesus has gone about as far from Jerusalem as he will go, and in the conversation we are considering, and the mountaintop experience that will follow, he is testing and turning his disciples. ‘But what about you?’ he asks. ‘Who do you say I am?’
Let’s pause there. Freeze-frame. See the moment before an answer is given. Imagine all that is going on in those Galilean minds. Listen to the cogs whirr. He’s told us all these wonderful stories. He’s done all these amazing things. He’s taught us so much, not least about ourselves. He’s not been afraid to challenge convention and authority. He’s calmed the storm and walked on the water. He’s enabled us to do things beyond our imagining. ‘But what about you?’ he asks. ‘Who do you say I am?’
It’s Simon Peter, not for the first, nor for the last time, who jumps in, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ The Christ, Greek translation for the Hebrew ‘Messiah’, the anointed one, the Son of the living God.
As we hear Simon Peter’s answer, and the affirmation and blessing of Jesus that follows, we witness that turning point in the gospel to which I referred earlier. All that has happened thus far has been bringing us to this moment of recognition – this is who you are, you are the Christ, you are the Son of the living God! And all that will follow will be seeing what it means to be the Christ.
It is in this place, Caesarea Philippi, named by a king as a statement of his own self-importance, that we hear Jesus proclaimed as the Christ, acknowledging the truth of the proclamation, but warning his disciples not to tell anyone. For he needs to show them that his way is not the way of self-importance, but of service and sacrifice. It will not be an easy lesson, to teach or to learn.
Hymn
You might like to sing, or reflect on StF 362, Graham Kendrick’s Meekness and majesty – Lord of eternity, dwells in humanity, kneels in humility and washes our feet.Reflection - ‘But what about you?’ he asks. ‘Who do you say I am?’
Those watching the broadcast version of this service will see video clips of various members of our Circuit Leadership Team (CLT) answering this question.For it strikes me that it is not simply a question for the back-then disciples, but for the current followers of Jesus. And the answers we give, both in our words and through our actions, can be turning points, for us and those we seek to serve.
Circuit Steward Jennifer Conroy answers with Brian Doerkson’s Song (StF 628) – Faithful One, so unchanging – ‘You are my rock in times of trouble’.
For Clive Grimshaw, also Circuit Steward, Jesus is ‘a friend who walks alongside day by day’, and carries him in difficult times.
For Stuart Ayrton, our Senior Circuit Steward, Jesus is ‘the One who holds his hand out to me in times of trouble, manifest in the most unusual and ordinary ways’. Stuart goes on, ‘He is a living example of love’, seen in ‘the prayers and daily lives of Christians working in their communities.’
For Roger Butterfield, one of our Safeguarding Officers, Jesus is ‘my teacher, my mentor, showing me how to live my life, hopefully putting other people first, and being merciful’. ‘Mercy,’ says Roger, ‘means compassion with action’.
My colleague Phil Drake, hearing in John’s gospel Jesus say, ‘You are my friends,’ replies, “Jesus, you are my friend.’ He goes on to say, ‘Friendship is about both giving and receiving, and a growing relationship of love. Jesus has proved his friendship in the way he lived and died. I pray I too may prove to be a friend of Jesus.’
Thank you to the members of the CLT, both for their answers today and for their work on behalf of all of us week by week.
‘But what about you?’ he asks. ‘Who do you say that I am?’ There isn’t a right or wrong answer, no tick-list to complete, no required components to score full marks. But it is a question that matters, a question with significance. For how we answer will shape the way we live our lives, face difficulties, make choices, understand the world, live with our neighbours.
Peter’s answer was the raw material Jesus needed to shape him, a response of faith and love. ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’, meant Peter was going to follow, serve, choose the way he saw in Jesus, in whom he believed the living God was at work. He would still make mistakes, struggle to understand, let Jesus down, but Jesus would love, hold, forgive, commission him, and his faith would be the rock on which Jesus would build.
My answer changes daily in its detail, as circumstances change and experiences shift, as life happens and lessons are learned. Different words speak more truthfully to different days. Friend, helper, rescuer, challenger, teacher; light, door, truth, way, life. Some days RS Thomas’ poem The Absence speaks truth.
It is this great absence
that is like a presence, that compels
me to address it without hope
of a reply. It is a room I enter
from which someone has just
gone, the vestibule for the arrival
of one who has not yet come.
I modernise the anachronism
of my language, but he is no more here
than before. Genes and molecules
have no more power to call
him up than the incense of the Hebrews
at their altars. My equations fail
as my words do. What resources have I
other than the emptiness without him of my whole
being, a vacuum he may not abhor?
The detail of my answer will change, different pictures will fit different moments, but Peter’s reply will always work as shorthand and let me stand with him as one of his today-disciples. ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ I hope you can stand with him too.
Hymn
You might like to sing, or reflect on Jennifer Conroy’s choice above, Brian Doerkson’s Song (StF 628) – Faithful One, so unchanging.Praying for others, and ourselves.
Bidding and response - ‘But what about you? Who do you say I am?’ ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’Lord Jesus, born in a borrowed space, we pray for those with no place to call home, with no sense of belonging. Whether through disaster or displacement, in Beirut or Yemen, Calais or Bradford, alone or in a group, we pray blessing, and would work with you to answer our prayer.
‘But what about you? Who do you say I am?’ ‘You are the Christ…’
Lord Jesus, breaker of bread and fish, we pray for those who are hungry, in body or in spirit. Whether through wrong choices made, or circumstance, or other’s action or need, whether in Somalia or Shipley, we pray blessing, and would work with you to answer our prayer. ‘But what about you? Who do you say I am?’ ‘You are the Christ…’
Lord Jesus, with open arms and power to heal, we pray for those who are hurting, suffering, struggling. Whether through disease or infirmity, pain or confusion. We pray too for those who are caring, carrying, comforting, and those who are grieving. We take a few moments to silently hold them, then, on those we hold, we pray blessing, and would work with you to answer our prayer. ‘But what about you? Who do you say I am?’ ‘You are the Christ…’
Lord Jesus, asker of questions, we pray for one another and for ourselves. In this time of uncertainty, distance, difficulty, guide our footsteps. Help us, as churches and circuit, to make right choices as we discern the way forward. As individuals, remind us who we are, and equip us through your Spirit to serve as you intend. On all God’s people, we pray blessing, and would work with you to answer our prayer. ‘But what about you? Who do you say I am?’ ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Amen.
We pray, with all God’s people, the Lord’s Prayer.
Lord Jesus, breaker of bread and fish, we pray for those who are hungry, in body or in spirit. Whether through wrong choices made, or circumstance, or other’s action or need, whether in Somalia or Shipley, we pray blessing, and would work with you to answer our prayer. ‘But what about you? Who do you say I am?’ ‘You are the Christ…’
Lord Jesus, with open arms and power to heal, we pray for those who are hurting, suffering, struggling. Whether through disease or infirmity, pain or confusion. We pray too for those who are caring, carrying, comforting, and those who are grieving. We take a few moments to silently hold them, then, on those we hold, we pray blessing, and would work with you to answer our prayer. ‘But what about you? Who do you say I am?’ ‘You are the Christ…’
Lord Jesus, asker of questions, we pray for one another and for ourselves. In this time of uncertainty, distance, difficulty, guide our footsteps. Help us, as churches and circuit, to make right choices as we discern the way forward. As individuals, remind us who we are, and equip us through your Spirit to serve as you intend. On all God’s people, we pray blessing, and would work with you to answer our prayer. ‘But what about you? Who do you say I am?’ ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Amen.
We pray, with all God’s people, the Lord’s Prayer.
Hymn
You might like to sing, or reflect on, John Ernest Bode’s hymn, (StF 563) O Jesus, I have promised to serve you to the end; Lord, be for ever near me, my master and my friend; I shall not fear the battle if you are by my side, nor wander from the pathway if you will be my guide.Closing blessing:
(which we pray on all who have shared this worship with us, and all who we have touched with our thoughts and prayers)
May the love of the Lord rest upon your soul.
May his love dwell in you throughout every day.
May his countenance shine upon you and be gracious to you.
May his Spirit be upon you as you leave this place. (StF 771)
(CCL No 79951)
May the love of the Lord rest upon your soul.
May his love dwell in you throughout every day.
May his countenance shine upon you and be gracious to you.
May his Spirit be upon you as you leave this place. (StF 771)
(CCL No 79951)
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