Jesus is the Rightful Owner

Service Notes

Testimony service this afternoon and presentation by an aspiring missionary.

Bible Reading

In the Gospels, Jesus only mentioned the church twice: Matthew 16:18 and Matthew 18:17 (Instructing his disciples on how to respond to a sinning brother.)

So this chapter takes us, as the church, back to our roots. It is one of the most important chapters in all of Matthew.

I want to show you the initial institution and confession of the church in the NT. And in the process I want us to consider the huge implications this text has for us understanding who we are and what we believe as a church.

Matthew 16:13–29 (KJV)

13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Jesus gives us a wonderful promise:

· Jesus brings His people together : I will build.

· Jesus builds on a firm foundation: On this rock I will build.

· Jesus builds something that belongs to Him: My church.

· Jesus builds it into a stronghold: the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Sermon Introduction

Opening Story / At the house on the lake. I wanted the plumber to think I was the land owner. Who men believe that I am is of very little relevance but who men say that Jesus is matters immensely and eternally.

Background to the question

In chapter 15, Jesus had journeyed into explicitly Gentile territory, where he had healed a Canaanite/Gentile woman as well as many others, and then He had fed over 4,000 Gentiles with seven loaves of bread and a few small fish.

At the end of chapter 15, He gets into a boat with His disciples and comes back into Jewish territory, and just as soon as He does, He is greeted by a group of Pharisees and Sadducees.

Chapter 16 begins on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee

The Characters in Matthew 16 …

Now there are basically two groups of characters: the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the disciples.

So they came to Jesus, wanting to test Him, asking Him to show them a sign from heaven. Matthew 16:1 “1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.”

Jesus looks back at them and starts talking about the weather. Matthew 16:2–3 “2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. 3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?”

Jesus tells these leaders that they were focused on temporal matters.

Constantly paying attention to changes in the weather, and predicting what would happen as a result of this or that sign in the sky.

Yet all the while, they were blind to eternal realities.

Could they not see?

Ignoring the signs of far more important realities right in front of them.

Matthew 16:4 “4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.”

We learned in in Matthew 12:28, which is a reference to Jesus’ resurrection.

Self-indulgence and self-righteousness will both blind you from seeing and knowing Jesus.

The Disciples …

Now clearly the disciples are slow, as evidenced in this chapter.

Jesus says, “O you of little faith,” and then He asks them various questions: “Do you not yet perceive?”

Do you not remember this or that? How is it that you fail to understand?”

Disciples of Jesus unlike Pharisees are are not marked by self-righteousness or self-indulgence.

Jesus did not take place in Rome because Jesus did not need man’s political endorsement. 

Jesus did not take place in Athens because Jesus did not need academic certification. 

Jesus did not take place in Jerusalem because Jesus did not need the approval of the religious establishment.

Jesus took his disciples to a key headquarter of false religion.

Once there, he did not preach a sermon, make a speech, or start a debate. Jesus asked two big questions: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “But who do you say that I am?” 

Christianity is not about cultural, political, or theological viewpoints. It is about Jesus.

Most important question you will answer individually and most important question we answer as a church.

Who do you say that I am?

It was fine for the disciples to know what others thought about Jesus. But Jesus had to ask them, as individuals, what they believed about Him.

“Our Lord presupposes that his disciples would not have the same thoughts as ‘men’ had. They would not follow the spirit of the age, and shape their views by those of the ‘cultured’ persons of the period.” (Spurgeon)

Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Jesus is the builder of the Church

Jesus is the rightful owner of this church.

1. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Matthew 16:15–16 “15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Peter answers on behalf of all the disciples.

Growing up Peter would have heard and quoted Deuteronomy 6:4 “4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:”

This statement would be as signing the “Declaration of Independence”

Doesn’t say some believe or “it’s my opinion”. He make a definitive statement.

By saying that, He is saying, “Jesus, you are the Messiah. You are the one prophesied by all the prophets.  You are the long-awaited deliverer of all God's people.

The popular opinion has always been the wrong opinion concerning Jesus.

Some thought Jesus was John the Baptist. According to Mark 6:16, when Herod heard about Jesus, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” Herod’s opinion was the paranoia of a guilty conscience. Others shared his illogical conclusion.

Some thought Jesus was Elijah. Elijah did not die. In 2 Kings 2:11, Elijah was snatched alive to heaven in a whirlwind. Malachi 4:5 says Elijah must come before the day of the Lord.

Some thought Jesus was Jeremiah or of the prophets. There was no consensus about the identity of Jesus. But the different answers were in the same category. People thought Jesus was a prophet.

These answers reflect high approval ratings.

Like John, Jesus proclaimed the kingdom and called for repentance. 

Like Elijah, Jesus demonstrated supernatural power. 

Like Jeremiah, the character and conduct of Jesus were prophetic.

Their opinion was accurate but inadequate.

They viewed Jesus to be a forerunner, at best. They did not consider Jesus to be the Messiah.

The high view of Jesus was the wrong view of Jesus. It is wrong to view Jesus as just a wise rabbi, great prophet, or miracle worker.

The diverse opinions about Jesus prove he is greater than them all.

“A half-truth masquerading as a whole truth is a whole lie.” 

Jesus is the anointed one.

If you think Jesus is a good teacher, then you will follow Him like you would a good teacher.

If you think Jesus has good ideas, then you will listen to what He says every once in while.

If you think Jesus is a good example, then you will try to follow His example.

If you believe, that Jesus is the promised Messiah who came to the earth to save us from our sins, to conquer sin and death, and to reign and rule over all as Lord, then that changes everything about how you live.

"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." - Tozer

Peter is not the only one who will say this.

Remember Martha who was once to busy to spend time with Jesus. John 11:27 “27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”

This is Paul’s testimony when he went from persecutor of the church to being a Christian. Acts 9:19–20 “19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.”

This is our happy confession as believers.

We are blessed to have this revealed to us by God.

Matthew 16:17 “17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”

The grace of God is the only way that anyone can behold the beauty of Christ.

This is how Paul describes his coming to Christ. Galatians 1:16 “16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:”

Transitional Statement: Having Jesus revealed to us is what has brought us all together. Every church is a divine miracle.

2. Jesus is the builder of the Church

Matthew 16:17–18 “17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

As a pastor I do not know if there are 3 words that bring me more comfort. I will build.

He promises to build upon this rock.

That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Does it mean upon Peter? If so than maybe we should be looking to him as the first pope and looking to the latest Pope for direction.

Does it mean upon the Apostles? Peter was a representative of the group as he spoke and we do know in Ephesians that the Apostles doctrine is foundational to what we know as Christians.

Does it mean upon the confessional statement that Peter has given? Is the church built upon this common confession that Jesus is the Christ.

Let’s knock out the option of Peter being the first pope with a quick glance at vs. 23.

Peter will receive another nickname. Matthew 16:23 “23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”

There is a play on words with Peter’s name and the Rock.

It would not be in harmony with Scripture to believe that Jesus was meaning the church would be built on the character of Peter.

Peter makes it very clear that the foundation of the church is Christ, the rock; he does not believe that the church is built upon him.

1 Peter 2:4–5 “4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”

The church grows as people respond to Jesus call to “come to him.”

According to Peter, Jesus Christ is “a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious

Example of a church formed in Acts 16.

The Lord comes to Lydia, the seller of purple, and the Lord opened her heart. Acts 16:14 “14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.”

In the name of Jesus Paul casts out a demon from a slave girl. Acts 16:18 “18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.”

Paul and Silas get thrown in prison and the story continues. Acts 16:30–31 “30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

A church: You have a businesswoman, a slave girl, and employee of the local jail.

Picture of Kyle and Hannah at a church in Chile. Picture of Kason and Bethany in Ecuador.

Three truths before we move forward.

Although the rock upon which the church is built is not Peter personally or officially, the rock certainly with his confession of the divine revelation, which itself points to Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11 “11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

The foundation of the church is Jesus Christ, and the apostles, including Peter, share in that foundation alongside the prophets as inspired witnesses to the Word that is now our Bible. Ephesians 2:20 “20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;”

It is impossible to overstate the importance of the church in the eternal plan of God. We are not the message but the church is built as we share the message and the message is revealed to others in this world. 1 Timothy 3:15 “15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

Transitional Statement: Being the cornerstone and builder makes Jesus the uncontested owner of the church.

3. Jesus is the rightful owner of this church

Matthew 16:18 “18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Jesus loves the church and gave His life for her. Ephesians 5:25 “25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”

No one has given more for the church. Acts 20:28 “28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

Christ is the rightful head of the church. Ephesians 1:22 “22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,”

The word church, collective noun, literally means the called-out. We have been called out by the Gospel unto Him before we called one to another.

No one takes sin in the church more seriously than Jesus. Ephesians 5:26 “26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,”

The church does not display our wisdom but displays the manifold wisdom of God. Ephesians 3:10 “10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,”

We will seek to make God’s great love for the church our own.

Stephanie has decided to become a fan of PCC Eagles Basketball. When someone you care is on the team, you are all in.

Since Jesus, whome we love, committed Himself to the church, it changes everything about our own commitment. 1 John 4:11 “11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”

Conclusion

Upon proper explanation by Peter, on who Jesus is, Jesus immediately speaks about the church.

In helping the disciples know who He is, Jesus wanted them to know He was a church builder and righful owner of the church.

The church is of no small importance to Jesus.

The church exists because God has designed it to be. It’s not according to “flesh and blood” creativity, but to God’s eternal purpose that he has realized in Jesus

Jesus doesn’t lament the church he has rescued or look for another to capture His attention. Christ welcomes the church as His beautiful treasure and joy. The church isn’t just about organization, leadership, function, and vision. Jesus sees more. His gaze reveals the beauty of our Father, the sufficiency of his cross, and the fulfillment of his mission in the world. He sees sinners being rescued, redeemed, and renewed.

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