Matthew 16-17

Click here to read Matthew 16-17

Christology is the interpretaion of the nature of the Christ, or the Messiah. Today, christology, for obvious reasons, is defined by the study of Jesus. In Jesus' time, there were many christological debates about what the Messiah would do. Most beleived the Messiah to be the one who would deliver the Jewish people from Rome.

Interestingly, in Matthew 16, Peter and Jesus, of all people, engage in a christological debate. Peter understands that Jesus is the Christ, and Jesus even acknowledges that this is revealed to him by God himself. But, even in that understanding of WHO the Messiah is, he still didn't understand WHAT the Messiah is (side note. Read Acts chapter 1 sometime. Even after Jesus died and was ressurected, the disciples still didn't understand what Jesus was all about, not until the Holy Spirit was given to them on Pentecost).

The mission of the Messiah was to die. When Jesus explained that to them, this didn't fit Peter's idea of what the Messiah would be. So, he tried to correct Jesus, saying, "No, this will NEVER happen to you." And Jesus' reaction was very intense. Imagine being Peter, with Jesus responding to your statement by saying, "Get behind me Satan."

But, if you remember back to Jesus' temptation in chapter 4, remember that Jesus' great temptation is to acheive his Messiahship without the cross. Peter's interpretation of the Messiah plays off of that. It's interesting to see Jesus in this moment where he almost seems shaken up.

Sometimes, we all have certain ideas about what Jesus "should" be. The question is how does your christology fit with Jesus'?