The Messianic Mission

The Path of the Messiah: Embracing God's Plan

Bible Passage: Matthew 16:21–23

Summary: In this pivotal passage, Jesus reveals to His disciples for the first time that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer, die, and then be raised on the third day. Peter, however, reacts strongly against this notion, leading Jesus to rebuke him, highlighting the clash between human expectations of the Messiah and God's divine purpose.

Application: This sermon invites Christians to embrace God's vision over our own expectations and desires. It challenges believers to trust in God's plan even when it diverges from what they envision for their lives, helping them find peace in difficult situations.

Teaching: The sermon teaches that the Messiah's mission was one of suffering and sacrifice, and that true discipleship calls for a radical redefinition of success and strength in light of God's kingdom values.

How this passage could point to Christ: This passage points to Christ's ultimate purpose and fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies regarding the suffering servant. It underscores that through His suffering, Jesus accomplished the very salvation for which He came, revealing His identity not just as a triumphant King but as a Savior who suffers for His people.

Big Idea: God's plan for salvation comes through suffering, and as followers of Christ, we must align our lives with His mission rather than our own expectations.

Setting

Matthew is coming out the greatest confession ever made

The culmination of the the entire:

Gospel Narrative

Authority of Jesus

as the Christ

as the Son of Man

as the the Son of God

Rest on Matthew 16:16 “Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.””

Acclamation given to him of Jesus

Matthew 16:17 “And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”

Consider the response of Jesus to Peter now

Conflict: This very conflict of understanding that is illuminated by Peter demonstrates the problem of the disciples

Problem:

You are the Christ, sent to give us freedom

Nationally - Jerusalem will be Justified

Personally - Your Relationship to God will be Reconciled

Socially - Your identification as God’s Image Bearers to the world will be restored as in the Garden

What does that mean to us?

What does that mean for our relationship to the world?

What does it mean to be holy and set apart for God?

What does that mean for our relationship to our sin?

As the implement that separates us from God...

What must be done to fix this sin problem?

Is it enough to be good?

Problem: You are the Savior (as demonstrated in Peter’s Confession)

But are you Lord of all?

1. God's Necessary Path

Matthew 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 be raised up on the third day.”

Jesus turns His:

Path to Jerusalem - He and His disciples will confront the persecution of the Jews and the Roman Government

The capital city of Israel, heart of the power and influence of the Jewish authorities

Path is toward the Cross, unto death and His ultimate conquest of this enemy

Attention to the Disciples - Now using this opportunity to:

Correct the disciples misunderstandings of the Mission of the Messiah

and to instruct them on the mission of His disciples

Messianic Mission: What must be done to

Justify the People of God

Reconcile them to Him

Restore the natural order of God, man, and creation

This is what must be done: He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.

2. Peter's Predictable Protest

Matthew 16:22

No, Lord!

Peter’s response indicates his ignorance to what must be done

In fact, Peter speaks corporately for the disciples

There is a huge gap in understanding:

What is the penalty of Sin?

Genesis 3 (NASB95)

Adam sides with the Evil One, and consequence and judgment are immediate

enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent (in fact: you and your descendants will navigate in an infestation of a Brood of Vipers)

Grief and Sorrow in Childbearing

You will forever be in search of the One who will bring you peace

But your offspring will be insufficient and disappointing

Your job (function) your identification as the Image Bearers of God will be confused

You will be confused and lost

You will not understand righteousness

You will not understand who God is

Most of all: we are banished from the presence of God

3. Rejection of Satan's Scheme

Matthew 16:23

Peter’s confusion is the work of Satan from the Beginning

How can we understand what Christ has done, if we do not understand the offense of our Sin?

In Judgment:

God initiates His plan of redemption:

Problem: You cannot measure up to God’s standard of righteousness

You cannot fully comprehend what that is

Solution: He sends Him who will

Isa 53-54