The Beginning of the End

Welcome

Intro

Last week Pastor Rustan Launched us into the Final Presentation of Jesus as King Messiah.

Matthew Began His Gospel with the

Chapters 1:1- 4:16 contain The Preparation for the Arrival of the Messiah.

Chapters 4:17-16:12 contain The Presentation, Program, and Preparation of the Kingdom of the Messiah

From now until the End of Matthew’s Gospel Account we will see the Acceleration towards the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus.

With that there will be some important Revelations about Jesus that will take place Setting Up the Disciples of the King to be transformed into Ambassadors for the Kingdom.

As Pastor Rustan pointed out last week Jesus has taken the Disciples north to the Region of Caesarea Philippi.

Matthew Presents Yeshua, King Messiah (A Messianic Commentary) The Revelation of His True Identity 16:13–17

Since it was at the headwaters of the Jordan River, the area is striking in its beauty, with an abundance of fresh water flowing from underground springs through the impressive cliff that surrounds it.

Matthew Presents Yeshua, King Messiah (A Messianic Commentary) The Revelation of His True Identity 16:13–17

Because of its extreme northern location, the area of Caesarea Philippi was largely inhabited by a pagan Gentile populace and consequently was a center of idolatrous worship. In the Israelite period, the tribe of Dan settled in the area and often fell prey to the pagan influences at its border. It is a rather strange yet appropriate setting for the ensuing dialogue between Yeshua and his disciples.

It was here that Jesus

Both Questioned and Affirmed His Divine Identity.

Before I get into today’s passage I want to first look at the Jewishness of one scripture.

Matthew 16:19 CSB

19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.”

In Christian Circles we tend to Hyper spiritualize this scripture. But in Rabbinic writings and teachings far before Jesus the terms Binding and Loosing are used as Legislative terms.

Binding meaning to Forbid.

Loosing meaning to permit.

Due to Peters confession the Jesus is the Messiah.

Jesus recognizes that God has confirmed Peter and the Apostles as the New Governors of the Jesus’ Halakhah.

Jesus’ Way of Life.

This is considered a holy endeavor that brings a person closer to God, influencing all aspects of life with proper awareness and a connection to divine will. 

He is taking the authority of Shepharding the Way away from the Romes Established Leadership and Placed it in the Hands of the Apostles

Meaning He is giving them the Wisdom to Shephard the what is allowed and disallowed for the Covenant.

This is essential in us understanding that What the Apostles wrote down in the Bible was Both Sanctioned By God and Inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Now as we move into today’s Message Jesus is going to continue preparing His Talmidim to continue His earthly ministry.

Remember a Talmid is the pupil of a Rabbi which practices 4 disciplines.

1. Deep Discipleship- this is an apprenticeship where the students ultimate desire is to become like his teacher, live like his teacher, and maintain his teachers image.

2. Imitation- at the core of this apprenticeship is imitation of the rabbi’s actions, choices, an way of life. They are not observers they are imitators

3. Living with the Rabbi- to achieve the deepest level of connection the pupil lived with the Rabbi, learning through constant example and presence.

4. Memorization and Transmission- a talmid is expected to memorize the rabbi’s teaching and then go out and teach it to others.

This is the Beginning of the End of Jesus’ Earthly Ministry.

Body

Matthew 16:21–23 CSB

21 From then on Jesus began to point out to his disciples that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, “Oh no, Lord! This will never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned and told Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns but human concerns.”

He would first need to Go to Jerusalem. This is the epicenter for the Work of the Messiah. It is where He will Suffer, Die, Resurrect and Eventually Return to Establish His Kingdom.

Then he tells him who he will have to submit himself to…….

The Earthly Authority. This is how the Roman Government worked.

They take you over. They then allow you to govern yourself through thier proxys as long as you follow their rules and keep the peace.

This means the Pharissees, Sadducees, Scribes, Chief Priest, and Elder that are in authority are were all put into authority by The Roman Government.

That would be like the Leadership of this Church being appointed by The US Government.

There is a major power Struggle and No one is Getting their orders from Heaven……..

So then Peter Grabs Jesus by the Arm and Physically pulls Him to the side and says Not on My Watch……

Jesus then rebukes Peter by calling him Satan.

Satan’s core mission is to stop Jesus from accomplishing the mission. At the Cross Jesus will Pay the Ransom to Free Us from the Satan’s Captivity.

So Jesus could be saying that Satan is influencing Peter

Satan in Hebrew can also mean opposition or obstacle.

Could it be that Jesus is calling Peter a road block.

He just told Peter he was a rock that the church would be built on.

Could it be now Jesus is calling Him a Rock that is blocking the road to the Kingdom.

I see many Christ followers who have the potential to be a building block but in the effort to keep things the way they want them they become a Road Block keeping the church from Gods’ mission.

The Cross is Step 1.

The Resurrection is Step 2.

Matthew 16:24–26 CSB

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it. 26 For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life?

Notice here Jesus uses the Cross. A pagan form of capital punishment. Not a Jewish form of capital punishment.

Jewish Forms supposedly were to be quick and without torture

The Romans engineered the most painful and torturous form of Capital Punishment.

The disciples would have seen people being crucified daily. It is estimated that 10s of Thousands of Jews where Crucified on the The Roman Death Stake.

Jesus is outlining the cost of discipleship.

You see there is a difference between saying a Sinner’s Prayer and Making a decision to Follow Jesus.

So many of us are stuck a Step 1 The Cross

When what we have been invited into is Step 2 The High Priest.

In Step 1 Jesus showed us how to live.

In Step 2 Jesus is interceding for us and leading us through life.

To Follow Jesus will cost you nothing and everything all at once.

It means exchanging your way for His Way.

Matthew 16:26 CSB

26 For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life?

I saw a clip from Judah Smith this week………In 44 years he has never met someone who has benefitted by doing it their way……..

John Crist podcast………..

It isn’t that God makes us miserable it is that our souls long for relationship with our Creator.

So many Christians have punched their Cross ticket but have stepped into the invitation to Join the Talmidim

Discipleship isn’t about knowing about God it is about walking in Relationship with God.

Invitation

Let’s talk about Freedom Groups our call to Discipleship.

Next Week we will begin Freedom Groups…………….

Offering

Announcements

Volunteer Refresh and On Boarding Brunch next Saturday Morning at 10am