JESUS ASKS THE ULTIMATE QUESTION

What Did Jesus Do? Why is it Significant?

Week 4 / 6

Last week we learned: JESUS PROVIDES PARABLES

1.) The Parables were meant to SHAKE and SHIFT our PERSPECTIVE

Meaning that parables help us understand the Kingdom of Heaven, the things of God, & help us to focus our attention on Jesus - instead of our temporary lives in this world

2.) God alone SAVES and God alone REVEALS the truth about the GOSEPL

Ephesians 2:1-10 tells us that it is by Grace alone, through faith alone, plus nothing that saves. That no one can boast about their salvation because it is a free gift given from God. Salvation is not something you can earn or acheive by good merit, rather it is by graces grace that you are saved. Therefore, none can boast - Instead we are to give thanks, praise, and glory to God for saving sinners like you and me

3.) Seed can only flourish on the GOOD GROUND/SOIL

Meaning that your faith can only grow when it is rooted in Jesus Christ - the good soil

This week were are going to focus our attention on Mark 8:27–30

“And Jesus and his disciples went out to the villages of Caesarea Philippi, and on the way he asked his disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am?” And they told him, saying, “John the Baptist, and others Elijah, and others that you are one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to him, “You are the Christ!” And he warned them that they should tell no one about him.”

This week we see that JESUS ASKS THE ULTIMATE QUESTION

Notice the first question Jesus asks his disciples in verse 27, “… and on the way he asked his disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am”?

Jesus knows that not everyone has the same opinion about who he is… in fact he knows that the world is going to tell lies about him and who he is and claims to be…

THE WORLD WILL TELL YOU:

1.) Jesus was a good teacher that brought good lessons for life… but he was not the Son of God

2.) Jesus was just a man and that he did not resurect from the grave

3.) Jesus is not the Son of God - that he is a liar - that there are multiple ways to get to heaven not just through Jesus

4.) Jesus is not loving, rather that he is only judgmental and hates all sinners

You see Jesus knows what the world thinks of him… he knows the answer before the disciples answer the quesiton…

LOOK AT THE DISCIPLES RESPONSE:

“… And they told him, saying, “John the Baptist, and others Elijah, and others that you are one of the prophets”.

The disciples confirm that other people are saying that he is another propeht like Elijah or John the Baptsist… but surely nothing more than that.... surely not anything beyond that.... just simply another man with good morals who knows things about God… But surely not the Son of God…

Leads to POINT #1: SALVATION CAN ONLY BE RECEIVED BY GRACE alone, through FAITH alone in JESUS CHRIST alone, plus NOTHING.

John 14:6 (LEB)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

You need to understand that World and those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as LORD and SAVIOR hate statements like this…

The world wants you to believe that Jesus is not the only way to heaven… that if you persue what you want and try to be nice, kind, and caring along the way… that it will be good enough for you to enter the Kingdom of heaven…

THATS JUST NOT TRUE… Jesus is undeniabley exclusive … yet all accepting… Meaning that he is the only way that you can be made right, clean, and accepted before God the Father…

While at the same time accepting of all sinners who would choose to come to him for the forgiveness of their sins… turn away from their sinful life … and pursue a life with Jesus Christ…

JESUS LOVES ALL AND WILL SAVE ANY THAT PLACE THEIR FAITH IN HIM… BUT HE IS THE ONLY WAY… NO EXCEPTIONS… NO SPECIAL RULE … NO OTHER OPTION…

John 10:9 LEB

I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will come in and will go out and will find pasture.

ONE DOOR to enter into heaven - JESUS CHRIST

Other religions will paint a picture of good works and good deeds will provide you with access into heaven… that if you are just good enough … then you will make it…

Christianity is the only religion that is not based on works and points to the work that is already been done by Jesus Christ at the Cross…

Its not about what you do… its about if you believe in what Jesus Christ has already done on your behalf…

POINT #2) THIS QUESTION WAS MEANT FOR YOU

VS 29) “And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am”?

The answer to this question matters more than anything else...

It matters more than who you marry, the career you want to have, the friends you want to make, the people you want to meet… the college you want to attend…

The answer to this question is crucial, critial, and must taken seriously…

Jesus wants to know who you believe he is… in your inner most being… deep within your heart … Jesus wants to know what you think… and who you believe he is…

This question that Jesus asks his disciples cuts through bone and flesh and cuts the heart wide open…

This question forces you to to evaluate your life… who you are… the decisions you have made… and causes you to be honest about if you truly believe that Jesus is the son of God!

Because if you do believe that Jesus is the Son of God… that he lived a perfect life… that he died the death he did not deserve on your behalf… that he was raised to life - defeating death and sin on the 3rd day… and assended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God… Then your life will relfect and show a heart this is dedicated to Jesus Christ and treasures him above anything else…

JESUS IS AFTER YOUR HEART…

Matthew 6:19–21 (LEB)

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and consuming insect destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor consuming insect destroy and where thieves do not break in or steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

If you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and not just a man, not just a prophet, not just a good teacher… then you will put him of the most value in your heart… You will treasure Jesus and your relationship with him above everthing else… You will value Jesus more than anything esle… more than your friends, career, college, eduction, popularity, and everthing else…

Peter answers this question correctly…

VS 29) “YOU ARE THE CHRIST”!

CHRIST = fulfiller of Israelite expectation of a deliverer, the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Christ

In other words Peter is saying… you are the one that the prophets have spoken of… you are the true King… you are the deliver … that one that will rule, region, and release the Israelite people… you are the promised Messiah… you are it… you are him… you are the Son of God...

QUESTION:

IS YOUR RESPONSE THE SAME AS PETERS? WHO DO YOU SAY THAT JESUS IS?

IS HE YOUR DELIVER? IS HE YOUR KING? IS HE YOUR MESSIAH? HE IS THE ONE YOU HAVE BEEN LONGING FOR? DO YOU KNOW WHO JESUS REALLY IS?

OR IS HE JUST A GOOD TEACHER? A GOOD PERSON WITH GOOD MORALS? JUST SOMEONE YOU HEAR ABOUT WEEK IN AND WEEK OF ON SUNDAY?

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO “But who do you say I am”?

POINT #3) THERE IS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME

Time is of the essence… meaning … you will not have all the time in the world to answer this question… you are on borrowed time … time given to you by God the Father…

No man knows his last day on earth … none of us know how much time we have on this planet… each second … minute … day … week … month … year … matters…

God dictates how long you live … God gives breathe and life and has the authority to take it when he so pleases …

PSALM 39:4-6

“O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! 5 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!”

Handout - MS Takeover

9/24/23 - Sunday

Answering the Question: What did Jesus do? Why is it Significant?

JESUS ASKS THE ULTIMATE QUESTION

Passage: Mark 8:27-30,

“And Jesus and his disciples went out to the villages of Caesarea Philippi, and on the way he asked his disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am?” And they told him, saying, “John the Baptist, and others Elijah, and others that you are one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to him, “You are the Christ!” And he warned them that they should tell no one about him.”

POINT #1) _______________ CAN ONLY BE RECEIVED BY _______________ alone, through _______________ alone in JESUS CHRIST alone, plus _______________.

POINT #2) THIS _______________ WAS MEANT FOR _______________

POINT #3) THERE IS A _______________ AMOUNT OF _______________

Questions

HS Takeover

9/24/23 - SUNDAY

Answering the question: What did Jesus do? Why is it Significant?

JESUS ASKS THE ULTIMATE QUESTION

Passage:

MARK 8:27 - 30,

“And Jesus and his disciples went out to the villages of Caesarea Philippi, and on the way he asked his disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am?” And they told him, saying, “John the Baptist, and others Elijah, and others that you are one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to him, “You are the Christ!” And he warned them that they should tell no one about him.”

1.) If Jesus asked you, “Who do people say that I am?”, what would be your response?

2.) What does the world say about Jesus and Christianity?

3.) Have you ever asked someone about who Jesus is? What was their response?

4.) If Jesus asked you personally, “Who do you say that I am?”, what would be your response? What would you say and why?

5.) Would your response match Peters response?

6.) When Peter says, “You are the Christ”, what does that mean? What is he actually saying?

7.) We have a limited amount of time on earth, how does this truth impact your life?

8.) Are you living each day like it matters? To make an impact on this world for Christ? or are you waiting to live for Christ and taking time for granted?

9.) How does this passage and lesson directly impact your life? How can you apply it in your own life?