Rightly Responding to Jesus

Greetings from Poquoson Baptist Church in the United States.

Thank you for welcoming us to this beautiful country, and your even more beautiful church.

Some predictions demand a response.

Before we traveled to Turkey, we considered traffic predictions so we could respond rightly by arriving at the airport on time.

We considered weather predictions so we could respond rightly by packing the right sorts of clothes.

Everyone on our team received an itinerary with predictions from our leader about what we would do while we were here, so we could respond rightly by planning ahead.

Some predictions demand a response.

If that’s true with something as relatively simple as a trip to another country, how much more is it true in matters of eternal significance?

Turn to Matthew 16:13

Jesus is near the middle of His earthly ministry.

So far He has taught with authority, healed lepers, and forgiven sin.

He has opened the eyes of the blind, cast out demons, and walked on water

He has calmed storms, miraculously fed thousands of people, and even raised the dead.

But there is one thing He has yet to do at this point in Matthew’s gospel.

He has yet to clearly tell people the primary reason for His coming.

All that will change in today’s passage, where for the first time Jesus predicts His death and resurrection.

This is a prediction that demands a response.

Jesus isn’t merely predicting the future to impress His disciples with His supernatural knowledge.

He wants His disciples (and the entire world!) to respond rightly to it.

From the moment He first predicted His resurrection, Jesus demanded we respond rightly to it.

With God’s help, I want to show you from His Word the Three Steps everyone must take if they want to respond rightly to Jesus.

1) Know who Jesus is.

2) Understand why Jesus came.

3) Follow Jesus with joy.

1) KNOW Who He Is.

Matthew 16:13-14—Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

If you’re a follower of Jesus, you know those answers are absolutely wrong.

But before we move on too quickly, think about how flattering those answers are.

John the Baptist, Elijah, and Jeremiah were all incredible men of God!

Imagine someone saying those things about you!

Those men pointed to the Messiah, but they weren't the Messiah.

If Jesus is the Messiah, if He's God in human flesh, than all of this flattery is really insulting!!!

That would be like if you saw me walking down the street with my wife...

...and you asked me who she was...

...and I introduced her as the women who makes me dinner.

That’s insulting to her!!! Yes, she is a good cook but she’s so much more than that!

And Jesus is so much more than a prophet!

So He asks His disciples another question...

16:15—He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

This is perhaps the most important question in the universe.

Who do you say Jesus is? Do you know who He is?

There’s only one right answer...

16:16—Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Peter confesses two essential truths about Jesus:

He is “the Christ,” the long-awaited Messiah. He is the fulfillment of all the promises God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

He is “the Son of the Living God.” Jesus did not begin existing in Bethlehem when He was born. He is the eternal Son of God!

Is that what you believe about Jesus?

Believing anything less is the greatest error you’ll ever make! Jesus is clear that Peter has answered correctly...

16:17-20—And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Jesus gives two important responses to Peter’s confession.

The Father enables us to respond rightly to Jesus.

Peter can believe this because the Father revealed it to Him.

If you’re a Christian, don’t be proud! You know who Jesus is because God is great, not because you are great!

The church is born out of those who respond rightly to Jesus.

This is what a church is! It’s a gathering of people who believe the truth about Jesus and seek to follow Him!

If you know who Jesus is, you should belong to a church!

But knowing who Jesus is isn’t enough.

16:20—Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.”

Have you ever wondered why Jesus sometimes tells His disciples not to talk about Him being the Messiah?

Part of the reason is because even though they knew who He was, they didn’t yet understand why He came.

That leads us to the second step we must take if we’re going to respond rightly to Jesus...

2) UNDERSTAND Why He Came.

As you read through the Old Testament, you’ll notice there’s two types of prophesies about the Messiah...

Some that point to a suffering Messiah...

Isaiah 53:5—But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”

And others that point to a triumphant Messiah...

Isaiah 2:4—He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”

Most Jewish people didn’t understand that those prophecies referred to two comings of the Messiah, not just one.

So the disciples were expecting a triumphant Messiah who would destroy God’s enemies.

Jesus’ explanation about why He came must have been an incredible shock...

16:21—From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

It’s as if Jesus is saying, “You understand who I am? That’s good. But now it’s time you understand why I’m here.”

Christianity is not a cute, clean religion all about being a good person. It’s a bloody, offensive religion.

It says you are a filthy sinner.

It says that you deserve to die separated from God in a place called hell.

But praise be to God, it offers a substitute!

Jesus is saying, I am that substitute!

How did the disciples respond to this incredibly offensive teaching?

16:22—And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”

Peter “rebukes” Jesus. That word is used in connection with casting demons out of people.

Peter isn’t gently disagreeing with Jesus. He is firmly rejecting Jesus’ teaching!

What about you? Do you understand why Jesus came?

Was it so you could live a comfortable life?

So your marriage could prosper?

So you wouldn’t have to worry about death?

Those things may be (for some of you) results of Jesus’ influence in your life, but that’s not why Jesus came!

Notice who Jesus responds to Peter’s rejection...

16:23—But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

If Peter’s rebuke of Jesus was harsh, Jesus’ rebuke of Peter seems even harsher.

This is a good reminder that it’s possible to know believe some truth about Jesus, and yet still reject the most important truths about Jesus!

Jesus will not tolerate any rejection of the cross!

He clearly tells us why He came in Mark 10:45—For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.

Those words require us to believe three crucial truths:

God is the holy Creator. He demands holiness from His creatures.

Humanity is cursed by sin. All of us have sinned, and as a result we are separated from God.

Christ is our substitute. He lived a sinless life and died a sinner’s death in our place.

On Judgment Day, we will either pay for our own sins in hell or we will point to the One who paid for our sins on the cross.

Do you understand that this is why Jesus came?

As important as this is, there is still one final step we must take if we’re going to respond rightly to Jesus...

3) FOLLOW Him With Joy.

Did you know it’s possible to know who Jesus is and understand why He came and still go to hell?

James 2:19—You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

The demons knew who Jesus was. The first created voice that called Jesus "the Son of God” wasn’t one of the disciples. It was a demon.

We can’t say for certain what the demons knew about God’s plan before the crucifixion, but they certainly know now why Jesus came.

They believe two crucial truths about Jesus, but they’ll still be separated from their Creator forever in a place called hell.

Why? Because knowing who Jesus is and understanding why He came isn’t enough.

We must also follow Him with joy.

That’s the point Jesus is making in...

16:24—Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Now Jesus is getting personal! It’s not enough to believe that He’s going to die on a cross, Jesus commands His followers to take up a cross and follow Him!

What does it mean to “take up your cross”? It means that you can only follow Jesus if you die first.

Not a literal death, but a death to your preferences, comfort, desires, will, plans, opinions, etc.

Why would anybody want to do that?

In the next few verses, Jesus gives us three reasons to follow Him...

Follow Jesus because He’s the only path to lasting joy!

16:25-26—For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

You can live your life pursuing all sorts of things, but you’ll lose it all in the end.

Or, you can live your life joyfully following Jesus, and even if you lose everything in this life you’ll gain everything in the next!

Are you living for things that won’t last? If you are, you’ll lose everything! How much better to joyfully follow Jesus!

Follow Jesus because He’s the only path to lasting joy! But there’s more...

Follow Jesus because the Victory Has Already Been Won!

We’re not skipping verse 27, but let’s look at verse 28 so we can consider these reasons in chronological order.

16:28—Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

What does this verse mean? Certainly not that the disciples would live to see Jesus' 2nd Coming. It’s been almost 2000 years and we’re still waiting.

Perhaps it’s referring to the disciples who would follow Jesus up a mountain a few days later and see Him transfigured in His glory.

But I think it’s ultimately referring to the resurrection. There is no greater sign that Jesus is the King of Kings than that the tomb was empty!

Follow Jesus because the victory has already been won! But there’s still more...

Follow Jesus because He’s coming again to reward His people!

16:27—For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

When we think of Jesus coming to repay people according to what they’ve done, many of us may be tempted to think of that in negative terms. Jesus is going to pay you back for all the evil you did!

Yes, it’s true, that hell awaits those who do not repent and believe in Jesus.

But I think here the emphasis is on the reward that awaits His people.

2 Corinthians 4:17—For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

Are you joyfully following Jesus?

You can begin today by repenting of your sins and believing in Jesus.

Have you taken the first step of obedience by following Jesus in baptism?

Are you following Jesus by faithfully gathering with His people in a church?

Perhaps most of us came into this room already knowing who Jesus is, understanding why He came, and following Him with joy. That’s why we’re here!

Some predictions demand a response.

Jesus predicted His death and resurrection, and we have rightly responded to it.

But sometimes people aren’t able to respond because there’s nobody to predict what’s going to happen next.

Like the massive earthquake in February that has taken the lives of nearly 50,000 people in Turkey.

Because nobody knew it was coming, nobody was able to prepare.

To the Christians in this room, are we helping our friends, neighbors, and family be prepared for the second coming of Jesus?