The Great Confession
The Life Of Christ • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
An article in a religious publication wrote about “Four Jesus Images” and ask the question, “Which Jesus do we believe?”
Is Jesus the “Free-market Messiah who gives his thumbs-up to global capitalism.”
Is Jesus the “Peace-and-Justice Jesus, the bearded, leftist, Nazarene who topples the status quo and exalts community.”
Is Jesus the “Silence of the Lamb (of God) Jesus, the Christ of church-going skeptics who doubt most of what the New Testament attributes to Him?”
Is Jesus the “Redeemer Revisited Jesus, who second coming is an all-consuming drama for those whose pessimism about this evil world leaves the impression that Satan has more power than God.”
If nothing else, this list demonstrates the ever changing views those in “Christendom” manipulate Jesus into fitting whatever whim or fancy they have for him.
This of course is why I and others often talk about the “Real Jesus” of the Bible, not these “make-believe” versions.
In our text found in Matthew 16:13-20, we have a similar question, as asked a second ago, raise by Jesus.
Jesus asked his disciples…
Matthew 16:13 (ESV)
13 …“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
Both the response by Peter and Jesus’ reaction to that response are both beautiful and wonderful to be reminded of.
And so this morning we are going to look at, “The Great Confession” of Peter and Jesus’ response to his observation.
So, with this in mind, let’s examine our lesson for this morning.
The Setting
The Setting
Caesarea Philippi.
Caesarea Philippi.
We find in out text that Jesus and his disciples have come to the district of Caesarea Philippi.
Now Caesarea Philippi, the modern reserve of Banias in the Golan Heights region of Israel, was established by Greeks as a Hellenistic city.
The city, which sits at the foot of Mount Hermon, butts up against a large cliff, referred to as the “Rock of the Gods’.”
This is because it is the place where the goddess Pan was worshiped along with the Caesar of the time, and possibly the fertility goddess Nemesis.
In the center of the rock was a huge cave that was called the “Gates of Hades” because it was believed that Bail would enter and leave the underworld through places where water came out of.
This cave had a stream of water that flowed out of it making it an ideal site to worship idols.
Israel considered Caesarea Philippi the equivalent of our modern-day “Sin City” Las Vegas.
Why know all this?
Because in our text Jesus has taken his disciples 16 miles from Bethsaida to Caesarea Philippi or “Sin City” for a reason.
Jesus has literally taken them to “The Gates of Hades.”
This is the only recorded trip to Caesarea Philippi that Jesus ever took.
Summary
Summary
Context matters and knowing what we know now will help us as we get into the lesson Jesus is trying to get across to his apostles.
He wants them to see the sin, degradation, and human depravity that mankind has gotten themselves into, to help drive home the point he is going to make.
Which brings us to…
The Question & Answers
The Question & Answers
The Question.
The Question.
We already read this but with all this other information in mind, let’s read Jesus’ question to his disciples again, here in Matthew 16:13.
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
The description “Son of Man” is taken from Old Testament prophecies such as Daniel 7:13.
Daniel 7:13 (ESV)
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
This, of course, is an oft title for our Messiah.
56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Now the disciples had been hearing other people opinions and opines on Jesus and answered what they had heard, which brings us to their…
General Answer.
General Answer.
The disciples answered Jesus in Matthew 16:14…
14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
John the Baptist had clearly pointed out that he wasn’t the Messiah.
19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
This is a perfect example of how people ignore truth right in front of their face to try and appease their own thoughts and wants.
Elijah is mentioned as well.
Perhaps Jesus’ lifestyle was similar and there is no doubt their message resembled each other, but his disciples and those around them had heard Jesus clearly point to John the Baptist being the “Elijah” that would prepare the way.
14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.
Lastly, Jeremiah specifically was mentioned that the people thought Jesus might be, and again there are similarities between the two.
Both were young prophets chosen by God to preach to Judah in her final hours of temple-centered Judaism, to repent.
Both were known to “weep” for Jerusalem.
Jeremiah was considered the “Weeping Prophet” who wrote an entire book called “Lamentations.”
Jesus wept for Jerusalem as well many times over.
Isaiah 53:3 (ESV)
3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Upon hearing these names given Jesus asked a most important question to his apostles.
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
That brings us to Peter’s very…
Specific Answer.
Specific Answer.
Though Jesus had asked for the “others opinions” about him, he now wanted to ask his apostles for an “expression of faith.”
Jesus’ time on earth was running out, and these men were going to be left behind to continue the His work.
Yes, Jesus would be with them spiritually (Matthew 28:20) but not physically anymore.
So Peter, as usual in these situations, was first to respond to Jesus’ question.
Peter boldly proclaimed…
16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
For Peter to proclaim this meant that…
He believed Jesus was sent from God.
He also believed that Jesus was the long awaited and anticipated Messiah.
That Jesus was in fact, God in the flesh.
Now don’t get me wrong, this wasn’t the first time the disciples had made this proclamation.
They had done it earlier after seeing Jesus walk on the water and calm the storm (Matthew 14:22-33).
Nathanael had exclaimed Jesus was the “Son of God” in John 1:49.
Peter had earlier expressed Jesus was the “Holy One of God” after Jesus taught he was the Bread of Life (John 6:68-69).
However, there is a reason God want’s us “confessing Jesus’ name” because there is power in recognition.
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
Summary
Summary
God knows our heart (Romans 8:27) but he knows we need to proclaim our faith in God often and fearlessly due to all the sin and the attacks Satan brings our way.
The sin in this old sinful world will challenge us and create doubts in our faith if we are not fearless and uncompromising in proclaiming our faith in God to all that will hear.
This brings us to the reason Jesus brought his disciples this sum 16 miles from where they had been.
Jesus brought his disciples to Caesarea Philippi and the “Gates of Hades” to deliver this…
Vital Message
Vital Message
Sin Will Not Win.
Sin Will Not Win.
Upon hearing Peter’s great confession that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus declared…
Matthew 16:18–19 (NASB95)
18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”
Jesus told Peter and all the apostles listening that he was going to build “his church.”
I often hear people in the denominational world say things to members of the Lord’s church, “the church of Christ think they are the only one’s going to heaven.”
I used to get nervous answer that statement and trying to find just the right words to declare this statement true but without turning people off the from that reality.
However, as I have gotten older or hopefully wiser my answer has become simple, direct, and put back to those that say such in a question to them, “Do you think someone can go to heaven without being apart of Jesus’ church?”
The answer, is a resounding no, and from there we can discuss the realities of there only being one church in the bible (Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:4).
Jesus not only told his apostles that he would build his one and only church but that it would not be defeated by sin!
Remember Jesus and his disciples are at “Sin City.”
They are mostly likely looking down at all the pagan worship to manmade idols as if they are living beings.
They are seeing debauchery in all sorts of manners.
It’s here Jesus reminds them, that even though they will see all this and have people ignore the life saving message of salvation to revel in this debauchery, Jesus has overcome sin and his message will prevail.
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Summary
Summary
Peter, given the keys to the kingdom, preached the first “gospel sermon” in the church and 3,000 souls obeyed that saving message, that vital message that Jesus has conquered sin.
Conclusion
Conclusion
…
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.