Since we dumped “cable” I watch more Public Television and I really like Masterpiece Theater.  I’ve liked mysteries since reading Encyclopedia Brown as a kid and the PBS mysteries are intriguing.  One of the interesting distinctions I have noticed between British and American Detectives is that Americans usually shoot the bad guys while the Brits coerce a confession.  Don’t get all Second Amendment on me (if you know me you should know better).  The British Detectives keep gathering information and sorting clues.  I hardly ever figure out who the bad guy is even though the clues are there.  I would be a terrible British Detective.  It’s easier to tell who the bad guy is when he is shooting at the good guy!   By process of elimination the Brits narrow their field of suspects to one, convincingly present the evidence and await the “Yes I did it—and…”  Now that I think of it, Perry Mason was pretty good at getting confessions too, I don’t remember him ever shooting anybody either.  The Confession we plan to study on Sunday from Matthew 16 is not that of a criminal but that of an apprentice of Jesus.  To confess means to “say the same thing”.  It doesn’t always refer to sin but we often think of it that way.  But, a confession of faith is a statement about what one believes.   That’s what Peter did at Caesarea Philippi when Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?”  Peter responded, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”  Jesus was pleased but reminded Peter that he didn’t figure that out on his own.  He had received assistance from the Father.  Peter wasn’t coerced into a confession but he was given clues, discernment and plenty of evidence from Jesus’ life.  We have the same.  One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father…the evidence will be overwhelming.  It would be far better for us to not wait that long.  Today is the day of salvation, let us call upon the name of the Lord.