Take up your Cross
Notes
Transcript
From Confession to Realisation
From Confession to Realisation
Who is Jesus?
Who have you come to meet this morning?
Who have you come to SEE … this morning?
WHY?
Peter’s answer:
29 “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.”
For Peter:
That moment of realisation!
Jesus is the Messiah!
But who (what) is the MESSIAH?)
Peter misunderstands
The misunderstanding continues!
Our walk through Sydney, yesterday: - everywhere signs of people getting ready for a celebration;
What was it that the people were getting ready to celebrate?
Came back to Roseville … to church:- everywhere signs of our preparation for a celebration (Esti, Sunday School; The Music group, music;
What was it that the people were getting ready to celebrate?
Peter had made a confession, but he still did not get it!
And so Jesus began to teach them - openly - because God knows, soon, it would be displayed - openly! (point to the Cross)
But at that point, the people did not get it!
Do you get it, yet, brothers and sisters?
Who is the Messiah?
Why were so many people waiting for Him … still waiting for Him?
Who have you come to meet this morning?
Who have you come to SEE … this morning?
Is it still your plea: “Please, sir, we want to see Jesus”?
WHY?
Because, clearly, something is wrong!
Something was wrong then, there in Cesarea Philippi, in Palestine, in the first century AD;
there, in Sydney, yesterday;
Here, in Roseville Lindfield Killara, still, even this morning -
And something needs to change!
And for that change to happen ...
… we need to understand who Jesus is!
Because then, our lives will change; the church will change, Sydney will change!
If only we will see!!!!
31 Then he began to teach them that it was necessary for the Son of Man to suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and rise after three days.
Something needed to happen, you see:
in History
in Peter’s life
in our own hearts and minds ...
And something has happened
that would bring about the change that would have even the blind see!
(… that was the purpose and message of last Sunday’s sermon)
The uncomfortable truth
The uncomfortable truth
But … can you see, friends, that presents as an uncomfortable problem; a problem in confidence, based on a lack of understanding!
JESUS had to suffer (must!)
JESUS had to be rejected (must!)
JESUS had to die (must!)
JESUS had to rise (must!)
But, WHY?
Because there is something wrong in this world!
Now go and try and convince those in Sydney about that ...
Try and convince our neighbours here in Roseville, or whatever suburb you live in, about that …that there is something wrong in the world.
And sometimes, we won’t even try to convince ourselves, do we, loved ones?
Have you heard this before: “Oh, the world isn’t all that bad;
As long as I keep to myself, I won’t be bothered by … abortion laws, same sex marriage; dogma; and biblical inerrancy ...
Your truth is your truth and my truth is my truth, so let’s not try and convince each other … that, SOMETHING IS WRONG!
And now we have seen that a law has been passed, that prohibits anyone trying to convince someone else that something is wrong!
It did not suit Peter!
32 He spoke openly about this. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
And Jesus knows the source of Peter’s protest: Satan!
33 But turning around and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! You are not thinking about God’s concerns but human concerns.”
You see, a debt was owing:
For the sins of Adam and Eve
For the sin of Israel
For the sin of Sydney-siders
For the Sin of Roseviliians
For your sin and mine!
For the sin of the world ...
31 Then he began to teach them that it was necessary for the Son of Man to suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and rise after three days.
And so He did!
Jesus died on the Cross, for you and me!!!
He was the Messiah, after all!
(Isn’t that who you have come to meet this morning?
Isn’t that who you have come to see, this morning?
You see, ours is a celebration, too!
A celebration of LIFE, no less!
What kind of celebration took place in Sydney yesterday?
Take up your Cross
Take up your Cross
So, friends, something changed
and because it did, a change is imminent in the life of everyone who would start to see who Jesus is!
Now, if something did change (and it did) ...
and you have truly come to see
(perhaps, for the first time this morning)
something will have to be seen to be different in your life and mine!
34 Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
Think about this in these terms, perhaps: -
How much is your soul worth?
And, considering, we are in serious debt before our maker, for our sin and selfishness; for our denying God; for living as if we controlled tomorrow ...
What would be a fair price to pay
for peace, for forgiveness, for love?
Your life?
(If you really loved someone, would you be willing to sacrifice your all for that someone?)
((You know what it means if you say yes, I hope …))
The simple - if gruesome - reality, is that that is indeed the price for your soul!
After all, you do get it that the contravention of the law will be punished!
(It is what is behind the punishment for murder , in which ever way you think about it: “a life for a life” (A life behind bars is a life …!)
So, what would you be willing to pay!
Well, here is the Good news - the Gospel!
Jesus died for the sins of all, so that those who would believe in Him, have everlasting life. For them the bankruptcy sheet has been cleared!
And that is what we celebrate here, this morning, friends!
Jesus had to suffer, die and rise from the dead ...
so that our deserved death would be measured on Him!
Jesus!
I pray that that is who you have come to meet this morning!
I pray that that is who you have come to see … and taste … this morning!
Let’s pray!