The Most Important Things

I. The Most Important Question.

A. Jesus and the disciples traveled to the coasts of Caesarea Philippi.

1. Jesus and the disciples had been apart for a little while. We are not sure how long but Luke 9:18 tells us that Jesus had been alone praying before He asks them this very important question. We see a turning point in the ministry of Jesus. Things are about to change quickly for them. It’s time for them to realize that. Right after this Jesus begins telling them explicitly about how He is going to die (21). I think Jesus is praying for the disciples. He is preparing them for the days that are coming.

2. They come to the coasts of Caesarea Philippi. Originally named Paneas after Greek god Pan. It was said he was born in a cave in that region. Caesar Augusts made Herod the Great ruler of that region. Herod had a temple built there in honor of the emperor. After Herod died his son, Philip the Tetrarch took over that region. He renamed the city Caesarea Philippi after Caesar and himself. This name would distinguish it from the Caesarea West of Jerusalem.

3. It was a beautiful area. The city sat on a plateau near the mouth of the Jordan river. From the city you could see Mount Hermon towering 9,000 plus feet into the air. Certain times of the year you could see the snow covering its peak (Psalm 133-dew of Hermon). Jesus and the disciples were pretty far North at this time. I think Jesus was there to separate Himself from the religious leaders, Herod, and the crowds. It was time to prepare the disciples for His departure.

B. Jesus asks the disciples the most important question. This question would determine if they had been listening for the last 2 ½ years. No question was more important than the one they were about to hear.

1. First Jesus asks them a question about other people. “Who do men say that I am?” He probably wasn’t talking about the religious leaders. Everyone knew what they thought of Jesus they were vocal. They said Jesus was a drunk, a glutton, demon possessed, a false teacher, an illegitimate child, etc. Jesus is probably referring to the crowds of people. Most of them were not convince about who Jesus was. Look at the answers- John the Baptist. That seems crazy but some people had just been introduced to Jesus, after John w as killed. Their message of repentance was the same so some thought John had come back from the dead, Herod was scared to death because of that. Elijah- this was a little more Biblical. Malachi 4:5 teaches that Elijah would return before the Messiah did. We know that John the Baptist fulfilled that prophecy coming in the spirit and power of Elijah. But Jews at Passover today still sit an empty seat at the table in hopes of Elijah returning to announce the coming of the Messiah. Jeremiah- Some Jews thought that before the Messiah came Jeremiah the prophet would return bringing with him the Ark and the altar of incense, restoring it to the Temple. 2 Maccabees 2:4-8 says that Jeremiah took the Ark and the altar of incense out of the Temple and hid it before the Babylonians destroyed the Temple. One of the prophets- Luke 9:19 explains that further as they believed one of the dead prophets of old had risen again. 2. The point is that there was a lot of speculation about Who Jesus was. Rumors were flying around. Things were not that different than they were today. If you were to ask 5 different people who Jesus was you might get 5 different answers.

3. Jesus asks the disciples “Who do you say that I am?” As if Jesus is saying “I hope you don’t believe all that mess!” I mean, all of those people could not be right. Peter steps up to the plate and immediately cries out “You are the Christ the Son of the Living God!” Thank God for Peter! What a profession. Peter was right. Jesus doesn’t call him lucky, smart, righteous. Jesus calls him blessed. The Father revealed this to Peter, and that is how Peter knew it.

C. The way we answer that question says everything about our relationship with God.

1. The question itself proves that it matters what we think about the person of Jesus. Jesus Himself wants us to define who we think He is. It is not enough to say “I believe in Jesus”. The question is “Who is Jesus?” Some say He is the Archangel Michael. These folks are not blessed like Peter. Some say He is a good teacher, a prophet, one of many gods, etc. Most people have not even thought long enough about the question to determine who Jesus is to them.

2. Our eternity depends on how we answer this question. There is only one Savior from sin. There is only one name under heaven whereby we can be saved. The question is “Can the Jesus you believe in save you from your sin?” If it is not the Jesus of the Scripture then he cannot. How important it is that we determine what we believe about Jesus. A Jesus that is any less than the One revealed in Scripture will not be honored, treasures, valued as he rightfully deserves.

3. Every creature will eventually answer the question Peter answered. Scripture says that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. That is all will know who He is someday. But only those that seek Him now will be saved. Who Jesus is, is so important that everyone will proclaim it. That gives us a glimpse of how worthy the Lord Jesus is. Friends this is the most important question. What is our answer? Peter’s confession means that Jesus is the Promised Messiah of the Old testament equal in honor and glory with the Father.

II. The Most Important Institution.

A. Jesus makes a statement that has been twisted by many in verse 18. So let’s consider that for a moment.

1. The Catholic Church uses this verse to elevate Peter. This verse has led to the idea of apostolic succession. That is that Peter was the first pope and that through his authority a pope has been elected ever since then to be God’s mouth piece to the church. This isn’t what this verse means at all.

2. It is true that Peter acted as the leader of the twelve. We see him speaking more and Jesus speaks to him more than any other Apostle. Peter did unique miracles, led the preaching and miracle of the early church. But he was not “the greatest” In fact in 18:1-4 the disciples asked who the greatest among them was. Jesus didn’t say Peter, he took a child in His arms and used the child as an example of greatness. Peter called himself an elder (1 P 5:1), an Apostle (1 P 1:1) and a servant (2 P 1:1). Scripture does not elevate Peter above the other apostles.

3. Peter is not the foundation of the church. 1 Cor. 3:11 says that no other foundation can be laid except the one that has already been laid which is Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:20 does say that the church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, but it also says in that verse that Jesus is the Chief cornerstone. Paul’s point was that the church is built upon the truth taught about Jesus by these men.

B. The meaning of verse 18.

1. Jesus makes a comparison between Peter and the foundation of His church. “Peter” is “petros” in the Greek. It means “Little stone”. Nothing wrong with that. Peter tells us in 1 P 2:5 that as believers we are all living stones. But then Jesus says “Upon this rock”. That word is “petras” in the Greek. It means “a Rocky mountain or peak”. You can’t build anything on a small stone. You can build something on a large mountainous expanse of stone.

2. Jesus would build His church on the truth of Who he is. The statement that Peter made is what Jesus would build His church upon. From that statement we get the gospel. The disciples would take the truth of who Jesus is to the world and the church would be built on that. Folks we are still building on the truth of the Person of Jesus Christ.

3. Here is an application for us from this verse. Who we are is of very little significance, what we have to say is of the utmost importance. Because what we say is what god is using to build the most important institution on the face of the earth.

C. Why the church is the most important institution on the earth.

1. Because the church is where people that have been delivered from death belong. Jesus says “the gates of hell shall not prevail”. I think Jesus is talking about death here, not necessarily Satan. The word hell also means “grave”. We have an enemy in death. Death has shut its gates on many a person since the Garden of Eden. But the gates of the grave, the dead, hell will not stay shut for those who know Christ. They will open up to the voice of Christ. Death and hell would prevail if the gates stayed shut. Christ opens the gates through what He has done for us.

2. Because of the One that is building it. It is Christ that is building it. The sacrifice He made for it, the length of time He has put in it, where He will place it, all of this shows that Christ is building something important, amazing. Not to mention the announcement of it, inviting so many, I mean this thing is awesome and will be even more awesome. Jesus would not have invested so much in it if was not.

3. It is the only earthly institution that will last. I like that. I am a part of something that will never end. No matter how evil the world gets, how unfaithful believers become, God will have a church. He will always have a representation on earth and He will always have a church throughout all of eternity. There won’t always be an ocean, sun, moon, stars, Wal-Mart, skyscraper, Grand Canyon, but there will always be a church.

III. The Most Important Responsibility.

A. Verse 19 is another difficult verse.

1. This verse has been butchered by people. They range from saying that the pope has sole authority to allow people into heaven all the way to people using it to justify binding demons or claiming some tangible thing on earth. We won’t get into a lot of that, but just know this verse has been taken out of context by many.

2. Let’s consider the two main things in the passage. The “keys” and the “Kingdom”. The kingdom is the rule of God. It begins in the heart of the believer and is practiced in the world. Keys allow entrance. They open, unlock. The message that Peter proclaimed about Jesus was in fact the keys to entering the kingdom of heaven. The gospel opens up heaven so that people can be saved.

3. The word of God gives believers authority. In fact in Chapter 18 we will see that it even gives authority for believers to practice church discipline (18:17-18). We share the Word of God. If a person receives the Word of God, heaven is opened to them. If they reject the word of God, they are bound from entering heaven. Simple interpretation to a difficult verse.

B. We need to emphasize our responsibility.

1. We have the keys! There is power in that alone. I work in a place with many gates. When I have to go certain place those gates may be locked. When they are I have to wait on someone to open the gate that has the key. I am at the mercy of the person with the key. The key to heaven is the gospel. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

2. The keys are used for correction as well. We are to use the Word of God not only to convert the lost but correct to the saved. That is why the same language is used in Matthew 18 referring to discipline in the church. It is our responsibility to warn saints when they go wayward.

3. This is our responsibility. The devil doesn’t want us to do this. So he convinces us that we are judging people when we share the gospel. We are judging people when we confront their sin. Satan has done a great job at scaring people away from their responsibility. This is our responsibility folks!

C. The outcome of using the keys or not using them.

1. There could be a positive outcome. Folks could get saved and say “Amen” to Peter’s confession. Folks could get restored and receive the blessings of God back in their life. I think everyone would want that to happen.

2. If we do not use the keys nothing good will happen. People won’t get saved or restored. We can count on that. People will be locked out of the kingdom and locked in their sin.

3. If you are saved you have the keys. Matthew 18:18, John 20:23 given to all the disciples, not just Peter. We have the most important responsibility to ask folks the most important question so they can become a part of the most important institution. Let’s be faithful.