Hastings: Stories in the stones — The rock at Caesarea Philippi

“Who do you say that I am?” — Matthew 16:15 The Inclusive Bible

Before Jesus left Galilee to “suffer many things,” he wanted his followers to be clear about his true identity and his earthly mission. So he asked his disciples, “What do people say about who the Chosen One is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptizer, others say Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

Beside a mountain-sized rock near Caesarea Philippi on the north side of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah … the Firstborn of the Living God!” Jesus affirmed, “Blessed are you, Simon ben-Jonah … your name now is ‘Rock,’ and on bedrock like this I will build my community, and the jaws of death will not prevail against it.”

Then Jesus told the disciples about his upcoming suffering in Jerusalem where he would be killed and be raised to life on the third day. This did not set well with Rock. For him, “Messiah” and “suffering” did not belong in the same sentence. So he took Jesus aside and said, “Never, Rabbi … This will never happen to you!” Jesus rebuked Peter for trying to deter him from the pain of his mission.

Peter, like many disciples, was not quite ready to “take up the instrument of your own death” to follow in his teacher’s footsteps. During the Lenten journey, many people of faith also struggle with the paradox: “If you would save your life, you will lose it; but if you would lose your life for my sake, you will find it.”

A glimpse into the annual cycle of a Middle Eastern shepherd may offer perspective. When the tender green grass of early springtime has turned brittle and brown, the shepherd must lead sheep to the highland mesa where there is plenty of lush summer grass. The only way to get there is to go through a dangerous valley, along a rugged and steep path where snakes, wild animals and thieves may lurk. The shepherd walks ahead of the sheep, and the sheep walk in single file on a narrow winding path without being able to see the shepherd or the way ahead. Because the sheep know the sound of the shepherd’s voice, they trust and follow.

The Middle Eastern shepherd’s care and feeding of the sheep necessitates leading them through places of great danger. The rock-solid trust of the sheep in their shepherd protects them as they go “through the valley of the shadow of death.”

The Rev. Celia M. Hastings has a master’s degree in religious education from Western Theological Seminary in Holland. She is author of “The Wisdom Series” and “The Undertaker’s Wife.”

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Hastings: Stories in the stones — The rock at Caesarea Philippi