Who is the Messiah?
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27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”
Background:
Traveling around
In the last year of Jesus’ ministry - He is headed to the cross here pretty soon
So, He asks them this question:
• Who do people say that I am?
Jesus would already know – why ask?
• Wasn't for Jesus – for disciples - Jesus doesn’t ask questions because because He is curious. He does so to teach something!
One of the tools that Jesus uses to teach is questions!
In fact, He asks 307 questions in the Gospels.....
So, He asks: “Who do people say that I am?”
Who do people say that Jesus is?
I want you to think about this question.
Who do the people around you say that Jesus is?
I challenge you this week just to ask people.
Not to get into some deep theological argument, or to make people angry. Just do so out of inquiry. Just to see what people say.
I am going to this week.
28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”
Notice who they say...
◦ John the Baptist - doesn’t even make since. He has already been beheaded, in fact, pretty recently.
◦ Elijah - makes a little more sense, but still not much. For, us it sounds a little crazy, but they believed in reincarnation in the sense that when someone dies, their soul is transferred to a new body.
◦ One of the prophets - well, they got that right…but not quite!
Notice the camp of people that others put Jesus in here....The people Jesus has already made an impact. People knew of Him. They had heard stories and seen it with their own eyes.
So, now Jesus is going to change the question and direct it at them, His disciples.
29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”
But, who do you say that I am?
This is probable the most important question in scripture!
It is probably the most important question that we have to answer!
Who do you say that Jesus is?
You see, Jesus asks His disciples this question. The ones that have left everything to follow Him!
So, if He has His disciples this question....maybe we too, should answer it!
What impact has He made on your life?
None at all! Who is this Jesus?
I have heard about Him, but “it isn’t for me”
I have heard about Him and am still seeking
I am saved!
I am saved and have submitted my life to Him! I am walking with Him daily!
I want you to think about this question this week. For some of you, it may be a quick answer, for others it may take a bit.
So, He asks this question to His disciples. Again, He doesn’t do it for His sake, but for the sake of what is about to happen.
He asks for Peter's sake, and the sake of the disciples. And for our sake.
29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”
“You are the Christ”
This was HUGE!
Parallel in Matthew 16:16-17
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.
Son of the living God!
This is the most honest and true answer!
You are the messiah, the Christ, the Holy and Anointed one!
Jesus is the literally “the anointed one!” sent to redeem the world!
Is He the anointed one in your life? Sent to redeem the world! And sent to redeem you?
“Flesh did not reveal it, but My Father in heaven”
This is a pinnacle moment here!
Peter declares who Jesus is and Jesus responds by telling Him that the Father is the one who revealed this to him!
how often do we think it is us?
How often do we take the credit?
Coach Carter - I tied that bow!
Often, when things go bad, we run to Jesus to save us, but when things are good we puff out our chest, ready to accept the praise and glory!
God is bigger and more active then we know! Constantly revealing the truth of God to us!
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
Peter – petra – petros means rock
2 Trains of thought here
On Peter, Christ will build His church!
On the declaration that Jesus is the Christ is how He will build His church!
The stance that I go with is more of Peter’s declaration.
God's church will be built because of Peter's declaration
◦ It’s not by Peter’s work, but because of God’s work. After all, God is the one who revealed to Him who Jesus is!
And the gates of Hades with not overpower it
◦ interesting word “overpower”
◦ Seems to be an offensive word or a word of action
◦ gates are not meant for offense, but defense
◦ the gates of hell are not coming after us – we go to them
◦ The church is to literally grow even to and through hell
Because of Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the revelation of the Father, we can proclaim to Gospel to everyone, everywhere, even to the gates of hell!
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
◦ Keys – Gospel – Jesus is the Christ
◦ Bind and loose
With this mindset, one that allows for God to speak truth, and to be active in the world, we can make heavenly decision on earth that are in in sync with heaven!
We can preach and proclaim the gospel, which brings the kingdom of heaven to earth!
30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
The word “warned” is a stern word. In fact, It’s the same context when Jesus was casting out demons!
So, He tells them sternly “don’t tell anyone about this!” Why?
Most commentaries say that they people were not ready for the Messiah yet
It wasn’t wasn't time for Christ to be crucified
some indication for vs 31
2. some believe maybe the apostles were not ready – they still needed to grow vs 32?
31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.
• foretelling of what is to come
◦ interesting who he mentions
▪ elders
▪ chief priests
▪ scribes
◦ Like saying your pastor won't believe and will hand Jesus over
32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
• “plainly” - so maybe they were sure to understand
• so it was not another parable to them
• apparently did not set well with peter – took him aside
33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
• If he would say this to Peter, what would He say to us sometimes?
• This is how serious Jesus is about His Kingdom!
In Matthew 18…verse 18 He says that on Peter’s declaration He will build His Church
Then in Matthew 18…verse 23 He tells peter to get behind Him Satan.
In 5 verses, Peter goes from getting it....to not...
The Kingdom of God is no joke to Jesus! This is why it is so important to Jesus that Peter, and the rest of us get it!
If Peter can go from being God’s messenger to Satan in 5 verses.....how much more do we need to watch out thoughts?!?!
Now, we have a bit of change of scenery
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
• first thing to do to come after Christ is deny ourselves
◦ “deny” - disown, abstain, contradict
◦ how easy would submission and humility be if we already denied ourselves?
• Interesting Jesus says “cross” here
◦ they only associated the cross with capital punishment
Jesus is basically saying to to be His disciple, we have to be willing to accept death!
Sharing the gospel is not going to be an easy thing. In fact, some, many, will die because of it!
But that passion and drive is where you find life!
Worship Team
36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
“not everything has to be about Jesus!”
Well, for me, I’d rather gain nothing, but have Jesus, than gain everything and not have Jesus!
38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
•You know what this verse means?
You better – by all means – share those posts on FB!
Seriously though.....when life is found in the person of Jesus Christ, what is there to be ashamed of?
As we close today, I want you to think about who Jesus is!
None at all! Who is this Jesus?
I have heard about Him, but “it isn’t for me”
I have heard about Him and am still seeking
I am saved!
I am saved and have submitted my life to Him! I am walking with Him daily!
If you have not accepted Him, now is the time!
The Bible says that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved.
and
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to purify us from all unrighteousness.
Jesus says that He has come that we may have life and have it abundantly.
Jesus is offering life, and forgiveness, and love…if you will accept it!
If you want prayer, you are welcome to come up!