Last Sabbath I preached a message from Matthew 16:13-23 entitled Shadow of a Doubt. I challenged the idea that believers are called to live beyond the shadow of a doubt. Instead, we are called to have faith within the shadow. In the text there are two stories, both about Peter and Jesus. When we put these stories side by side there is an interesting contrast.
| Faith Within the Shadow(vv. 13-20) | Certainty Beyond the Shadow(vv. 21-23) |
| Confusion about Christ (vv.13-14) | Clarity about Christ (v.21) |
| Faith in Christ (vv.15-16) | Certainty about Christ (v.22) |
| Affirmation from Christ (v.17) | Rebuke from Christ (v.23) |
| “Blessed are you, Simon” (v.17) | “Get behind me, Satan” (v.23) |
| Truth Revealed to the Mind by God(v.17) | Not Mindful of the Things of God (v.23) |
| Where the Church is Built (v.18) | Where the Church is Threatened (v.23) |
When Peter had faith in the shadows Jesus said, “Blessed are you, Simon. God has revealed this to you”. But when Peter had certainty beyond the shadow Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan. You do not have in mind the things of God”. One day we will live beyond the shadow, but for now, we are called to live within it (Psalm 23:4; John 16:33; 17:15; 1 Corinthians 13:12).It is the work of Satan to make us live now with the certainty that is reserved for then, so that we don’t live with the faith that is needed now and no longer needed them.
Here is what I forgot to say…Imagine if Peter would have responded with faith and not certainty in the second story. In verse 21 Jesus intimately shares the truth about his death and resurrection. Peter doesn’t get it. In fact, it makes him nervous. So what do we do when we don’t understand God? Well, Peter chose to rebuke Him and deny that God’s plan should happen. In his certainty he tried to resisted God’s will and would have liked to cancel the plan of salvation. But what if he would have responded to his confusion with questions instead of answers? With surrender instead of rebuke? With admitting he didn’t understand instead of claiming that he did? With faith in the shadow instead of certainty beyond the shadow? He would have had an intimate faith building experience with Jesus. Imagine where Jesus might have taken the conversation if Peter would have said, “Jesus, I don’t get it, but I trust you.” Jesus needed comfort. Peter needed clarity. And that conversation, that never happened, could have met both of their needs. Those next 30 minutes could have been filled with the most amazing conversation of Peter’s life. Then, as Jesus was arrested and brought to trial, Peter could have stood in support of is Savior unsteady of denying him. And perhaps, when Jesus and Peter locked eyes, that look would not have filled Peter with guilt that caused him to weep bitterly(Luke 22:61-63). Instead, that moment of eye contact might have reminded both Peter and Jesus that of their love for one another. In responding to uncertainty with certainty Peter missed out on the opportunity to have an intimate connection with Jesus in the last moments before the cross. If Peter would have stepped into the shadow with faith he would have had an experience with Jesus that he could never have while hiding in the certainty beyond the shadow.What connection with Jesus are we missing out on because we are unwilling to let go of our certainty and to step into the shadow with faith?