Keys to the Kingdom
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 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. 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. 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.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. Matthew 16:13-20
This morning I read accounts of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. As He rides a donkey, adoring crowds welcome and praise Him. In response to their welcoming cheers, Jesus weeps because He knows they do not understand who He is. They saw His miraculous signs, deeds and wonders. They saw Him do things only God could do. They heard Him teach with authority unlike any man, but they do not see that He truly is the Messiah, Son of God, God. Luke records the scene like this:
As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. Luke 19:41-42
John records the scene like this:
Although he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. This was to fulfill the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
“Lord, who has believed our message,
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
And so they could not believe, because Isaiah also said,
“He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,
so that they might not look with their eyes,
and understand with their heart and turn –
and I would heal them.”
Isaiah said this because he saw his glory and spoke about him. Nevertheless many, even of the authorities, believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human glory more than the glory that comes from God. John 12:37-43
Jesus wept over the city because they were unable to see who He is. They saw the signs and wonders that only God could perform, they heard His teaching, but they did not believe in Him. They simply did not have eyes to see.
As I read the passages, imagining the donkey, the dusty road covered with palm leaves, the crowds, and Jesus’ weeping, another scene comes to mind. Jesus sits with the disciples in Caesarea Philippi talking. Peter declares Jesus to be the Messiah and Jesus praises Him, saying the truth had been revealed to Peter by God the Father. He praises Peter because his communion with God allowed Peter to see, hear and understand, and Jesus continues explaining,
“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.” Matthew 16:19
Peter’s eyes were opened to see Jesus as the Messiah. Eventually the other Apostles saw as well. They saw Jesus for who He is and by virtue of their faith, through their teaching and their ministry, through God’s holy word and the indwelling Holy Spirit, we too have the keys to the kingdom. The kingdom is open to everyone who believes. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16). And the choices we make here on earth have eternal impact.
We have God’s holy word, Jesus stands knocking at the door, God’s holy grace showers over us, the keys to the kingdom are available, but many are unable to see and fail to receive His holy gift of grace. Through Christ Jesus, by God’s holy grace and by faith, we are able to see God’s glory. It is a holy mystery – we gain faith and see by God’s holy grace, but we have responsibility in the equation. After Peter declares Jesus to be the Messiah, Jesus says,
“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.” Matthew 16:17
By grace God revealed the truth to Peter, but Peter had responsibility to allow or receive it. And so it is with us. God’s holy word explains,
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God – not the result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
And
But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. Romans 3:21-25
We are justified or saved by God’s holy grace through Christ Jesus through faith. Faith comes from God. Faith is a gift from God, but we must receive, open and utilize the gift. His holy grace blends with our responsibility. We know that faith originates with God and “faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17), which means we have great responsibility to read His holy word, to prayerfully meditate on His holy word, to know His holy word and to share the good news of Christ Jesus to everyone!
God’s holy graces showers over us and around us. His glory is revealed in many ways continuously, but many are unable to see it. Christ Jesus offers the keys to the kingdom of God. He offers His redemption, justification, salvation to everyone, but many will miss out on His holy gift of grace, so as He directs a donkey into Jerusalem, He pauses and weeps for each lost soul who fails to see. Jesus said that He came to seek out and save the lost (see Luke 19:10), and He weeps as He sees so many still unable to see. Many saw His signs, deeds and wonders, and heard His teaching, yet they failed to see who He is, they failed to believe, they failed to have faith, they missed out on God’s holy gift of grace, and many others see and believe, but refuse to confess their faith because they prefer human glory over God’s glory.
Through Christ Jesus, through God’s holy word, through His holy grace, He offers the keys to the kingdom of heaven to each of us, but not all will see, and our decisions made while on earth have eternal impact. Will you choose Christ Jesus? Will you confess your faith to others? Will you explain to others the good news of Christ Jesus? May God’s glory continue to be revealed through you. Amen.