Peter's Confession: Christ's Resurrection

I. Peter’s Confession and Jesus’ Correction ()

Matthew 16:13–24 ESV

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. 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 on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

A. Christ’s Question - “Who do you say that I am?” (13-15)

Matthew 16:13–15 ESV

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Matthew 16:

This is a question we all must answer!

This is the question which affirms our salvation.

This is the question by which we enter into salvation.

Romans 10:9–10 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Romans 10:

This is the question which affirms our salvation.

1 Corinthians 12:3 ESV

Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

B. Peter’s Confession - “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” (16)

Matthew 16:16 ESV

Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Matthew

Peter affirms Jesus is the Christ.

Peter affirms Jesus’ deity.

Peters confession is affirmed by Jesus.

What an awesome moment in Peter’s life! He understood who Christ was, but the grace and power of God. Jesus praised Peter and Blessed Peter for His knowledge and confession. Jesus even promises Peter a position of authority for him and the church that was to come.

J.C. Ryle was helpful in reminding us that we must remember the context of Peter’s confession. This is what makes is so magnificent! Peter was in the midst of unbelieving Jews those who despised Christ. At this point Jesus was “without wealth, without royal dignity, without any visible mark of a King.” So for Peter to profess that Jesus was the Christ the Son of the Living God was a bold proclamation that took great faith, zeal, and knowledge!

Think about it this way, it is really easy to come to worship today and proclaim the divinity of Christ. To preach that he has risen from the dead, that he was the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world, and who will return in judgment to condemn those who refuse to repent and believe and gather His bride.

It is another thing to go into our workplaces, our schools, and the streets and proclaim Christ is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God! We love the message, the world loathes the message!

Therefore J.C. Ryle writes,

Matthew: Crossway Classic Commentaries 1. The Noble Confession Which Peter Makes

With all his faults, Peter was a fervent, single-minded servant of Christ; with all his imperfections, he has given us a pattern that many Christians would be wise to follow. Zeal like his may have its ebbs and flows, and sometimes lacks steadiness of purpose; zeal like his may be ill-directed, and sometimes makes sad mistakes. But zeal like his is not to be despised. It wakes up the sleepy; it stirs the sluggish; it provokes others to action. Anything is better than sluggishness, luke-warmness and torpor in the church of Christ. It would have been happy for Christendom had there been more Christians like Simon Peter and Martin Luther.

Consider how Jesus responded to Peter’s message...

Matthew 16:17–19 ESV

And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Matthew 16:17-

It was a blessing that Peter understood the Person of Christ, but what we are about to see is, Peter did not understand the work of Christ. He understood who Christ was, but he didn’t understand what Jesus was going to do. Look back at verse 21-23.

C. Jesus’ Correction - “Get behind me, Satan!”

Matthew 16:22–23 ESV

And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Matthew 16:

Peter ignorantly rebuked Jesus

Now we have to be careful here as well. It is easy to look back at Peter and say, how could you not see that Jesus had to be crucified? and plainly point to the cross! Jesus had to did in order to pay for our sin? Remember, Jesus had to leave so that he might send the Helper, the Counselor, the Holy Spirit to teach them in all truth and proclaim to them all that Christ has said and done!

They didn’t have Paul’s writings, the Gospels that gave an account of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.

Matthew: Crossway Classic Commentaries Peter Rebuked (16:21–23)

It is almost impossible for us to conceive how strange and incomprehensible these tidings must have seemed to his disciples. Like most of the Jews, they could form no idea of a suffering Messiah. They did not understand that Isaiah 53 had to be fulfilled literally; they did not see that the sacrifices of the law were all meant to point them to the death of the true Lamb of God. They thought of nothing but the second glorious coming of Messiah, which is yet to take place at the end of the world. They thought so much of the Messiah’s crown, that they lost sight of his cross. We shall do well to remember this: a right understanding of this matter throws strong light on the lessons which this passage contains.

However, Jesus wanted Peter to know he should know these things, and he needed to listen to and submit to what Jesus was saying! That is why....

Peter is rebuked by Jesus

The great thing about this passage is we know the rest of the story! We know it doesn’t end here, but we do know we can learn from Peter and this interchange he had with Jesus.

Who do we say that Jesus is?

How did you come to know these truths about Jesus?

How and where from do you point others to who Jesus is?

How do we keep from ignorantly saying wrong things about Jesus?

Do you believe that Jesus died for your sins? Do you believe Him when he said it is finished? JW yesterday....

II. Peter Witnesses Jesus’ Messianic Testimony ()

Matthew 22:41–46 ESV

Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet” ’? If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

Here we see Jesus questioning the Pharisees. Who of course were the experts in the Scriptures, who know all things about God, His Word, and His law. But Jesus is about to show them, that their knowledge is not as great as they think it is and that their hearts are hardened and their eyes are blinded to the things of God.

Notice he asks them basically the same Question he asks Peter earlier....

A. Jesus’ Question - “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?”

Jesus wants them to understand you don’t know what you think you know. Worse than that you don’t know who you think you know and who you profess to know so well.

B. The disciples’s answer - “The son of David.”

They are referencing,

Psalm 110 ESV

A Psalm of David. The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies! Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours. The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will shatter chiefs over the wide earth. He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore he will lift up his head.

Can you imagine their attitude? Well you are the “son of David,” we know who you are! They are looking around at each other all proud, thinking we answered Him this time....We know our Scriptures....

But, our all wise, all knowing, Sovereign Savior once again puts them in their place,

C. Jesus Questions them further — “If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?”

In essence Jesus is saying, you have read and remembered, but you do not understand! Read the text again… How can I be the son of David if David calls me LORD? How can I be David’s son,

if The Lord said to David’s Lord sit at my right hand,

if I am going to make your enemies your footstool

If I am the mighty scepter

if I am going to rule in the midst of your enemies

if I am a priest in the order of Melchizedek

if I am at the Lord’s right hand

if i will shatter kings on the day of wrath

if i will execute judgement among the nations, filling them with corpses, scattering chiefs

David Platt explains it this way,

“He was forcing them to see that David himself spoke to this mysterious reality in Scripture. The Messiah would be both human (an heir of David) and divine (David’s Lord)…This Messiah who was both human and divine was standing before them.”

Platt goes on to say “three questions arise here.”

Am I the Christ? Do we believe that Jesus is the promised Messiah?

Am I the Son of God? Do we believe that Jesus was more than just a prophet? Is He, divine?

Am I the King of your heart? Have you submitted to Jesus, not only with your head but with your heart?

III. The foretelling of Peter’s Three Denials of Jesus

Matthew 26:31–35 ESV

Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

A. Jesus’ Foretold of Peter’s Falling Away

Jesus quoted,

Zechariah 13:7 ESV

“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,” declares the Lord of hosts. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.

Zechariah 13:7

Jesus once again explains to the disciples that their weakness will be revealed. The Scriptures have once again prophesied when the Shepherd is struck the sheep will scatter. But don’t worry I will rise again, the Shepherd will not stay dead!

Jesus is telling them you will run, but remember, I will be resurrected.

You will flee, but I will not fail you.

You will leave me, but I will not lay down forever, I will rise up.

How would we respond to this statement by Jesus?

What if he told you, look you are going to fall in to disbelief and sin. You are going to betray me, you are going to show a lack of love for me, but don’t fear, I will be back....

I think we would be a lot like Peter. I little arrogant, prideful, boastful. But notice,

B. Peter Failed to Believe He Would Fall Away

Peter said, all those other losers will leave, but I will stand with you!

The Gospel of the Kingdom: A Commentary on the Book of Matthew Chapter 26:31–35: The King Again Prophesying

This was a very presumptuous speech, not only because of the self-confidence it betrayed, but also because it was a flat contradiction of the Master’s declaration.

Spurgeon is saying, Jesus said and instead of submitting to the truth of His impending sacrifice, Peter is denying the truth spoken by Jesus.

Why would Peter deny Jesus? Why would the other disciples flee? Like Peter we would probably say, Lord I aint doing that! I would never betray you, deny you, sin against you...

Bu, Are we ever guilty of this? Do we ever refuse to believe a truth taught in Scripture because it contradicts what we think is good, right, or fair? Do we ever deny our own fallibility? Do we refuse to see the fact that we can be wrong....Notice what else Spurgeon says,

The Gospel of the Kingdom: A Commentary on the Book of Matthew Chapter 26:31–35: The King Again Prophesying

No doubt these words were spoken from his heart; but “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” Peter must have been amazed, the next morning, as he discovered the deceitfulness and wickedness of his own heart, as manifested in his triple denial of his Lord.

He who thinks himself so much stronger than his brethren, is the very man who will prove to be weaker than any of them, as did Peter, not many hours after his boast was uttered.

How many of us get that attitude...

Lord I am the faithful one....

Lord I am thankful I am not like those others...

Lord so and so is a special kind of sinner, but I am super sanctified

In our pride and arrogance we can look down on everyone else, think we know better, and believe we are past the point of sin and failure.

So Jesus say’s Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.

Peter says, not me Lord, I will die with you! Then all the disciple follow his suit....

The Gospel of the Kingdom: A Commentary on the Book of Matthew Chapter 26:31–35: The King Again Prophesying

Here again Peter contradicts his Master straight to his face. It was a pity that he should have boasted once after his Lord’s plain prophecy that all the disciples would that night be offended because of him; but it was shameful that Peter should repeat his self-confident declaration in the teeth of Christ’s express prediction concerning him. He was not alone in his utterance, for likewise also said all the disciples. They all felt that under no circumstances could they deny their Lord.

How do we keep from denying the LORD? Do we depend on our own strength, wisdom and fortitude?

I know Jonathan Edwards resolved to live a Holy life and we should as well, but we must recognize that apart for the living by the Spirit and not by the flesh we will all die!

Do we trust in the power and wisdom of the Spirit?

IV. Peter Denies Jesus - Jesus Affirms He is the Christ

Matthew

Matthew 26:69–75 ESV

Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

A. Peter Denied Being with Jesus

Now, before we jump on Peter for denying being with Jesus. We need to remember our own frailty! We need to remember none of us are as strong, as faithful, and holy as we think we may be. We are all prone to wander, prone to leave our Lord we profess to love!

That is why our daily prayer ought to be;

Oh, to grace how great a debtor Daily I'm constrained to be Let that goodness like a fetter Bind my wandering heart to Thee

Here's my heart, oh, take and seal it Seal it for Thy courts above

We all like Peter need to be bound to the Savior by His restraining grace! Or we could end up not only deny being with Jesus, respond like Peter, when,

B. Peter Denied Knowing Jesus

What will we do when we feel like Jesus is gone? When Jesus is not with us, when it looks like the enemy is winning? Will we deny even knowing Jesus? Remember Peter is in the midst of something that many of us will never experience. Not only has Jesus been arrested, but He is about to be brutally crucified! Jesus and his followers were in the midst of a life or death situation!

What might be some circumstances that would cause us to deny Jesus?

Now we may be tempted fall when we are persecuted with words, not just with

Protecting our life...

Protecting relationships...

Protecting our wallet....

Protecting our reputation...

Hopefully, none of us will fall into this temptation and fall away, but we must remember none of us are above sinning!

Notice finally,

C. Peter Remembered the Words of Jesus

Matthew 26:75 ESV

And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Matthew 26:

Now can you imagine the sorrow that filled Peter’s heart?

Does sorrow fill our heart when we fail to remain faithful?

How do we respond when we realize we have sinned against our Savior who was our substitute on the cross?

Do we weep bitterly over our sin?

We can learn from Peter’s falling away, but the good news is the story doesn’t stop here! After Peter fell away, Christ rose from the dead, returned to His disciples, fed them and forgave him!

V. Peter Restored and Commissioned ()

A. Jesus Called the Disciples to Feed Them

John 21:11–12 ESV

So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.

Can you imagine the sorry and joy that filled Peter’s heart when he saw the risen LORD?

Jesus didn’t show up and rebuke the disciples for running away, instead he supernaturally caught them some fish, then said bring them here so I can feed you!

Do you see,

The mercy of Jesus - Peter and the disciples deserved to be cast away but Jesus calls them to come eat.

The grace of Jesus - They did not deserve Jesus love and forgiveness but Jesus forgave them and fed them fish.

The authority of Jesus - He made the fish get into the net and the disciples come to the shore.

The love of Jesus - they left him but He did not leave them....

Next,

B. Jesus Called Peter to Feed His Sheep

John 21:15–17 ESV

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

John 21:15-17

Peter was call out specifically by his Lord whom he had betrayed. But he was called not for rebuke this time, but to confess and confirm His love for the Savior. Jesus knew was Peter would answer, but you have to imagine, Jesus wanted Peter to hear his confession of love for Christ.

Yes, Lord you know that I love you...

Yes, Lord you know that I love you...

Lord, you know everything, you know that I love you...

When you consider this exchange Peter had with Jesus doesn’t have a little sweeter sound to it.

1 Peter 1:8 ESV

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,

I Peter 1:

Peter had seen Him and spoke of His individual love for Him 3 times!

Here is the application question?

Do you love Him?

Do you believe in Him?

Do you rejoice in Him?

C. Jesus Called Peter to Follow Him

John 21:18–19 ESV

Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

John 21:18

John 1:

Will you follow Him?

IV. Peter Preaches at Pentecost ()

We will finish up this morning as Peter preaches the resurrection of Christ at Pentecost. We see this in three stages,

First, Luke describes,

A. Spirit Filled Declaration by the Disciples

English Standard Version Chapter 2

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.

B. Spirit Filled Proclamation by Peter

English Standard Version Chapter 2

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

C. Spirit Filled Devotion from the Congregation

C. Spirit Filled Devotion of the Congregation

English Standard Version Chapter 2

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.