Daily Lectionary | Exodus 14 and Matthew 16:13-28
Exodus 14
Summary
It looked like Israel was wandering in the land. So Pharaoh sees an opportunity, reconsiders, and pursues them. Once again, Pharaoh sees his labor force escaping: “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?”
The people of Israel miss no opportunity to complain to the Lord and Moses. They insist they would have been better off in Egypt! But Moses responds: “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today” (Ex. 14:13).
The LORD calls Moses to use his staff to divide the Red Sea. Through this act, salvation will come for Israel and judgment on Egypt. Egypt has been thoroughly depleted. And now, Egypt's warriors will be wiped out.
The pillar of cloud now goes behind Israel, creating a separation between the people of God and her enemy. It seems like darkness came on Egypt, but bright light on Israel.
Moses stretches out his staff, and dry land appears. This echoes the third day of creation when dry land emerges from the water. The LORD’s salvation is a new creation for Israel. But it will be another flood-type event for Egypt, who will be judged by water.
The Egyptians threw Hebrew babies into the water in the opening of Exodus. Now they are cast into the water.
Reflection
Read the Psalmists reflection on the exodus in Psalm 77:10-20. What does this Psalm add to our understanding of the exodus event?
Matthew 16:13-28
Summary
The identity of Jesus is always in question in the gospels. So Jesus asks Simon, “Who do people say that I am?” Peter makes the right confession: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter calls Jesus the Christ, the Messiah. Now Jesus has a name for Simon: “You are Peter (literally, “rock”), and on this rock I will build my church…”
Jesus is the chief cornerstone of the church, the founder, and chief architect. But here Peter is the starting rock of this building project of the church. The church is an assembly of living stones. But at its foundation are the rocks of the apostles (Eph. 2:20). Peter is clearly the first among the apostles. James and John are “rocks” of the church, too, but Peter does have precedence in the Gospels. This doesn’t have to mean that he was the first pope, a doctrine that developed much later in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. While Peter has a primary role in the first part of Acts, he all but falls out of the picture in the second half, and it’s James, not Peter, who is in charge at the Jerusalem council (Acts 15).
“Binding and loosing” refers to binding decisions as the apostles will have to make. Jesus is giving authority to Peter as the chief apostolic representative. Peter and the other apostles will lay down a foundation of teaching and authority that will be unique, just like the cross, resurrection, and ascension were unique events. The church will be built on this solid, rocky foundation. The battering ram of hell will not prevail against it.
Remarkably, right after Peter’s great confession he rebukes Jesus when Jesus speaks of his coming suffering. Jesus’ rebuke of Peter couldn’t be stronger: “Get behind me, Satan!” Jesus then speaks of the cost of following him. To find your life, you must lose it for Jesus’ sake.
Reflection
What might self-denial and “loosing” your life for Christ’s sake look like practically?