Our Gospel this morning is part of the great transitions in the story of Jesus. Jesus two questions to the disciples - "What are others saying about me?" and "Who do you say that I am?" take the disciples from the position of being followers of a great teacher to that of being believers in the Son of God. It was this turning point after which Jesus could then point them at the Cross - the purpose of his being, and the shared task of every believer.

We have from Scripture images of the great judgement day. The dead standing before the Lord with the great books open. Each one to be questioned and this is the Question - Jesus says - "Who do you say that I am?" our answer will determine our eternity. Of course it is not enough to just learn the answer, for what will be under review is our response to that realisation - Our faith in action - As I have often said, what we believe will be evidence in the way we behave and the things we do?

So let us look at the passage and see how it applies.

I believe that this is an intensively personal thing. My story and your story will probably not be the same. In my own case, my science background affirmed my belief in God, but I could not get my head around Jesus. It was one special night that the shutters fell from my eyes and rather like Paul, I encountered the risen Christ and I understood. And at that point I could believe. The Jesus from the bible stories at Sunday School became a real and living person, and I ceased to learn about him, and began to develop a relationship with him.

In our society, so influenced by the great enlightenment, there is the temptation to confuse these two things. We see many church focusing on the "Teaching" and forgetting that it is one thing to learn about someone - it is another to meet them. Just the other day, I had an E-mail from a friend who has moved to NSW and their comment was that they had found a church where the "Teaching" was excellent. But was it a place where they could meet Jesus? The difference between the answers of the others and the answer of Peter was one group knew about Jesus, the disciples knew him.

Perhaps then the first point of this story is to confront us with our own position - Do we know about Jesus? Or do we know him? As a diocese looking for a new Bishop should we seek someone who can teach us about Jesus, or someone who can introduce us to him?

But Scripture is more than just for personal reflection - It was preserved for the good of the Church. It is if you like, our guide book as the people of God. This passage not only confronts us as individuals, but directs us as the people of God in our mission. If the vital question is "Who do you say that I am?", then our purpose should be to help people to answer it. Together, we ought to affirm the person of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Individually and corporately those whom we encounter should see in us this understanding - our faith should be transparent to others.

I believe that this is the fundamental principle of evangelism, not telling others what they should believe, but showing it in our lives, in the way we live, the way we treat each other and the way that we engage the world. Christianity has a bad name, in some circles, because we have seen our selves as advisers to the world rather than servants of it.

But it is not us that is important. Although we will be the midwives in the process, our example is not the beginning and the end of the process. When Peter answered Jesus, Jesus reply is the telling one "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."

Flesh and Blood has not revealed this to you - but my Father in Heaven. Here is the key to evangelism - it is not us at all, but our Father in Heaven that is the revealer. Evangelism as a church and as individuals is about letting God get involved. It is not about running a course or learning a formula, but rather allow God into the situation. The personal encounter with Christ, is not about us doing things, but about creating space for it to happen. People need to know of the Power of Christ in our own lives, but each must make the individual journey to meet him. For some this will happen quickly and while they are young, for others old age will be the time. The one assurance we have is that Jesus stands at the door and knocks.

Let us then take passage to heart, first as individuals and see where it is we stand, and corporately as the people of God. Bishop Owen shared with the area deanery on Thursday a comment that a Priest had made when he was young about another - "I wish that he would get out of the way, and let them see Jesus". May this be our aim for the coming year, that those who look upon the Parish of Cressy will see Jesus and our prayer be that they will respond.

AMEN.