Who do you say I am?

Intro

Capture the flag.

Explain the game

3 types of players

All in - gear stealth

joiners. If they think they will win

the line testers - they basically play a different game - tag

You ask the whole camp if they want to play they...

Most campers don’t actually like capture the flag…

They won’t fully commit to the game.

Main Point

Are you willing to declare Christ as Lord of your life?

So What

There is no going back. If Jesus is Lord then he rules your life. It is a willing submission. If we say no or but or hold on or wait. Maybe we have an idol or two.

What is an Idol?

Anything that replaces the authority of God in your life. Something we worship in his place. If we say yeah BUT or Wait there is something that we value more than his command.

This is what Jesus was asking his Disciples when he says “ Who do you say I am?”

Let’s take a look.

Scripture

Matthew 16:13–20 NIV

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 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. 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. 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.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Let me set the scene for you,

Matthew C. The Dawn of Understanding in the Disciples (16:13–20)

It was a quiet place at the headwaters of the Jordan River, a place long associated with idol worship and pagan deities

Matthew C. The Dawn of Understanding in the Disciples (16:13–20)

Standing beneath the idols of a so-called deity, Pan, carved into the cliff-side, Jesus knew the timing was right to raise and settle this question. It was time to lead his disciples into a clear proclamation of his deity.

This is a MAJOR transition in this Gospel.

This is the first time Jesus is recorded in the book of Matthew claiming that He is the Son of God.

Matthew speaks to it in the first 15 chapters:

Matthew makes general references through the crowds - 1:1-4:16

God the Father does - 3:17 “This is my son...”

Demons do - 8:29 “What do you want with us son of God”

John the Baptist 3:11-12 “one will come who is greater”

Herod did - 14:1-2 - “Is this JB the return?”

Here Jesus clears this up clearly for the Disciples. But the crowds are still on their own to figure it out.

13 - Who are people talking about? Who is the son of man?

14 - John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, maybe other prophets.

The Son of Man - is simply a substitution for I in this case. Other Gospels that have this conversation simply use the work I instead.

Many believed Jesus was one of the prophets come back.

But Jesus tells us that even John the Baptist was greater than a prophet in Matthew 11:9

Matthew 11:9 NIV

Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

So how much more than a prophet is Jesus?

People were using THEIR own understanding to place the messiah into context. Jesus was saying that He and John are so much more than prophets. They are something new. Something unseen.

15 - What about you? Who do you say I am?

Notice here that Jesus doesn’t say think or believe. He is asking what they are willing to confess to.

Are you willing to step across that line?

16 - Peter: You are the Messiah. The son of the living God.

What about you?

The Disciples already knew what was up. Of course Peter was the one to blurt it out.

It was their experience of Jesus that lead them to this revelation.

Who do you say I am?

Jesus expects the RIGHT answer here not a general guess.

Peter says, “You are the Messiah” The word in the greek here i khris-tos or Christ.

Matthew C. The Dawn of Understanding in the Disciples (16:13–20)

By the utterance of the word Christ, Peter attributed to Jesus all the hopes and promises, all the prophecies and all the messianic honor of the entire Hebrew Scriptures. No longer was Jesus merely a miracle-working prophet from God. He was now the king himself, the Savior who was promised. He was truly the one and only Son of the living God

That is also the question we all need to answer for ourselves. Who do we say Jesus is?

17 - You know this because of what God has Shown you.

I think this was a PHEW moment for Jesus. You can almost see his relief in this time. Remember He was also fully human.

“They are starting to get it.”

Did Peter fully understand? No.

But he was blessed for stating the truth. He knows something is important and different than before and that Jesus is God’s Son.

18 - You are Peter. You will be the foundation for my Church. The gates of hades (death) will not overcome my Church.

Peter declares Jesus’ true significance

Jesus states the significance of Peter in a name. Jesus is now revealing why he chose the name for Peter.

Greek time: The feminine word for rock, petra, is necessarily changed to the masculine petros (stone) to give a man’s name, but the word-play is unmistakable

Peter was the rock or Foundation stone.

Jesus is the guide for making things clear.

Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary xi. Jesus Is the Messiah (16:13–20)

So Peter is to be the foundation-stone of Jesus’ new community of the restored people of God, a community which will last for ever

Death holds no authority.

19 - What you do here (earth) matters.

People in authority have keys.

People with keys have authority for admission.

So does this mean he decides who comes and goes? No, salvation is for all of us.

The keys signify the Authority by which Peter has to lead. Peter has keys for EVERYONE we then share that authority.

Imagine a Key that duplicates itself and when I give it to you, you can then have the ability to give it to anyone else you choose. You have the right and authority.

Even if you find a key on your own and by your self. Mere possession of that key/knowledge is enough.

Peter Doesn’t decide he is passing on the decision that has already been made by God in Heaven.

20 - Keep it quiet for now boys.

If people found out too early or things were confirmed in the wrong way it would have hindered Jesus purpose.

Application

Are you willing to step across that line?

Have you claimed the step across that line but it is just a toe? or maybe you are leaning over it?

Once you step over it you have the keys. But just having keys isn’t enough. You also have to USE THEM. If I give you a key...

Closing