The Great Confession
Notes
Transcript
The Great Confession
The Great Confession
Good morning everyone!
I am blessed to see you in God’s house today, this is in my belief the most important day of the week.
The Scriptures tell us to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together as some choose to do… Hebrews 10:25 , we are instead to encourage one another all the more as the day draws near.
This time is the refueling station if you will to put gas in our tank so to speak as we face the new week. Here we are strengthened, encouraged, prepared and reminded of our duties as we live in front of the Lord and the world we live.
So as we worship here this morning I would encourage you to pray and ask God to work in you by His Holy Spirit to prepare your heart for life and the week to come.
Now, this morning we return to the Gospel of Matthew, and we come back to chapter 16 .
It is here in this chapter that we come to one of the most important confessions concerning the person and work of Jesus. We will examine it today.
I want to remind you there are many opinions concerning Jesus, but there is only one true opinion.
So lets look at our text...
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 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. 18 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. 19 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.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
Now we will talk about this, they are north of the sea of Galilee in the area of Cesarea Philippi, which is a gentile district that is uniquely Roman in culture, nature and function.
We will examine more about that in just a minute and see what Jesus is saying..
So lets begin with this point this morning as we open our text....
1. What Do People Say about Jesus.....
The greatest decision a person can make is the decision as to who Jesus Christ is for their own lives.
But the sad news is this, many, many groups have and teach many different opinions about Jesus Christ.
And this is not a new issue, there has always been different opinions concerning Jesus Christ.
Let go to our text and open it up today...
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
As Jesus walked and lived there were many opinions about Jesus and what He came to do while here on earth.
So we know that Jesus and His disciples have come to the district of Caesarea Philippi which lay about 25 miles north of the sea of Galilee. This had been and was still during that day a center for pagan worship.
It was a area were the pagan god Baal was worshiped, the Greek god Pan. Without a doubt it was a great cultural area, having been ruled for by Phillip the Tetrarch, who were one of the 4 sons of Herod the Great who personally sought to kill Jesus by issues a decree that all male children 2 years of age and younger be put to death.
And it is here in this polytheistic region, Jesus asks His disciples an important question.
Who do the people say that the Son of Man is....? Let’s begin with this thought, Jesus calls himself the Son of Man.... What does that mean?
A. The Son of Man...
The Son of Man is Jesus favorite self designation if you will, it appears 80 times in the gospel.
Jesus is the humble servant, the god man, the human-divine person who came to save people, Whose death burial and resurrection would bless mankind and provide them with the necessary sacrifice to save them from their sin.
In Daniel 7, we find the story of the Daniel vision and there he sees the Son of Man. Earlier on, in Daniel 3 we find the story of the three Hebrew children, and when cast into the fire, the King saw 4 men walking around and the 4th looked like the son of God.
Jesus is the suffering servant who came to redeem us.
Lets move on....
Jesus asked who do they say I am?
B. Some say John the Baptist?
Now this is really interesting, do you know why? , We know that He lept for joy in His mother Elizabeth womb when Mary came to visit her when she was carrying the baby Jesus and Elizabeth was about 6 months pregnant.
They have been seen together in the past, namely the at the river Jordan.
Here is where it get even more interesting...
Some, like Herod feared that He was John the Baptist, raised from the dead. We see this in Matthew 14, verses 1- 2
1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus, 2 and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.”
Herod the tetrarch is one of 4 sons of Herod the great, just like Phillip and the region that he renamed when His Father divided his kingdom between the 4 sons.
So some thought Jesus was the now dead John the Baptist… namely because of all the miracles that Jesus was preforming during the those days.
C. Some say Elijah....
Now this one, well it isn’t really a surprise. And you know why… Elijah, is considered the greatest of the Old Testament prophets, and one reason is that He didn’t die, he wasn’t taken from this world by the grave.
In 2 Kings 2, He was taken away in a firery chariot up into heaven. Could you imagine with me what that ride would have been like.... I cannot… But I bet it was cool...
Elijah has always been seen as a forerunner to the Messiah. In fact He is one of the two men seen with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration.
D. Then finally some say Jeremiah…
Some were thinking that Jesus was the prophet Jeremiah was resurrected from the dead. Jeremiah is that kind and compassionate character whose nature would be seen in the Messiah… when you look back at Jeremiah, you can see that he was one who came preaching about judgement and repentance. And Like Jesus, Jeremiah was one who was widely rejected by the those in leadership.
There was so much speculation about who the Messiah was, what His mission and purpose would look like and just how He would deliver the children of Israel.
And it hasn’t changed much, even today there is still speculation about the Messiah. If you remember back in 2020, there was a group of leading Rabbi’s who said they were holding talks with the messiah and he would soon be revealed.
I want to tell you my friends, the world has many views about the God’s Messiah but the Scriptures tell us that Jesus came and was that one and only Messiah, He lived, died by the hands of sinful men, but not an ordinary death. It was a sacrificial death, one that would atone for the sins of the world. And on the third day, He was raised from the dead and is alive at the right hand side of God. His death saved us and His resurrections means our resurrection will happen one day as well.
What do you think about that!
Wow.... Isn’t He good!
There are many opinions, but there is only one truth!
Now lets move on to our second thought for the day.
2. Peter’s Confession....
Peter’s confession is one of the greatest points in time during Jesus public ministry while here on earth.
The reason is this, there is a notable shift in the disciples understanding of Jesus, who he was as the Son of God.
I am not saying they understood the nature of His mission, that he would die as a suffering servant, but they did understand that He is God’s own Son.
So lets open our text here as Jesus presents the next question, this one directed to the disciples.
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Now you might say, these men have been following Jesus for some time, why did He even ask for their opinion, He knew their thoughts and the intent of their hearts.
Well I would offer this to you my friends: There is something important about the vocalization of what one knows or even believes.
So Jesus says “...But who do you say that I am?” The word “You” is emphatic, there is power behind it, Jesus is calling them to confess their beliefs and I think He is giving them a little hint… who do You say that I am? The “I AM: is important, that is the designation of Jesus being God himself.
Jesus in His discussion with the religious leaders, He says this in John 8:58
58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
There is one who has always been, without beginning and without ending, His name is Jesus. The second portion of the trinity who John confessed in John 1:1 was God
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Now as Jesus is addressing His disciples, He isn’t looking for one opinion but the collective of the disciples, who do you all say that I am.
And we know who would step up, the most vocal, the most out doing of all the disciples. Peter, He always seems to be the vocal representative fro the entire group. And listen to this confession..
“...You, are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” verse 16
What exactly is Peter saying?
Again the word “You” is emphatic, very important, without doubt, you are the Christ… “Christos” the Messiah Anointed One.... And this Anointed One, This Messiah would be so special…
Let me share with you just who Jesus is.... As the Christ Jesus would be the following:
A. Chief Prophet
Peter is referring to the Mediator who was set apart and ordained by God the Father and anointed by God’s own Spirit to be the chief prophet of God… The one who communicates God’s divine plan to the world.
Listen to Moses in Deut 18:15
15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—
And then in Luke 24:19
19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
He would come telling people of God’s love and the Father’s desire to save the people from their sin.
B. As the long awaited Christ He would be the great High Priest..
One of the most glorious scene we are allowed to see in the Scriptures is the fact that as Jesus died upon the cross, the veil of the Temple was torn in to from bottom to the top.
No longer would man need a earthy priest to make offerings and sacrifices for the sins of the people, He has a great High priest who entered once and for all into the Heavenly Temple and made sacrifice for our sins.
Listen to the Psalmist...
4 The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever
after the order of Melchizedek.”
And then the writer of Hebrews, says this....
20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.
24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.
Jesus is our great High Priest and then listen to this .....
C. And as the Christ, the God the Father’s Messiah, He is also an eternal king.
Jesus is and will come one day in the future and sit on the throne of Father David and will rule this world with righteousness and Justice, with mercy and love.
He is King Jesus and we are waiting for His reign, in fact this world cries out in pain, longing for His entrance into the world.
Listen to the prophet Zechariah, and He for tells the coming Messiah
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Do you remember that day, Palm Sunday we celebrate when Jesus rode in to Jerusalem. The people cried out even though the religious leaders tried to rebuke them. Jesus knew if they ceased the very rocks would cry out.
Jesus rode into town that day humble and meek… but one day He is coming on a white horse to rule this world, to restore His people and his city… and we will be there with Him… Glory to God
And listen to the Apostle Paul as he writes to the church as Ephesus.
20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
And then to make sure there is no misunderstanding in what Peter is saying, Peter adds this final thought…
Not only are you the Christ, the Messiah the long awaited Anointed One of God, but you are also the very Son of God. The one true living God in contrast to those dead, false gods the pagans worshiped in the world.
Aren’t you glad that we serve a living God, every aspect, Father, Son and Holy Spirit they are all alive and well and at work in our life and in this world.
Wow.....
Now Just One last thought...
3. A Wonderful Proclamation...
Upon hearing the confession, this unified word of the disciples that has been delivered by Simon Peter, that disciple who is one of the three who are a little closer than the rest of the 9.
And Jesus blessed Peter and his confession. Listen to what He says
Verses 17-19
17 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. 18 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. 19 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.”
Now the phrase, Simon bar Jonah, we all know just simply means, Simon the son of Jonah…
And Jesus brings a unique truth to light very quickly… Peter, you and your fellow disciples, (my emphasis) the knowledge you have just expressed did not come upon you naturally.
But … Your confession is made possible because of the work of the Holy Spirit from God the Father.
Now I included the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit will tell us all that the Father wants to say to us. John 14:46.
What is being said… natural man is not able to come to God, to find God in our own flesh… we may have a desire but the outcome is dependent of the Holy Spirit who bring illumination, He brings to light, to our understanding what we do need… We need Jesus more than anything else and the Spirit of God speaks to us, draws us and reveals our sad condition.
The choice is ours, and He reveals what we need.
People were lost, People were in a sad shape but God in His great love has sent us the Savior.
I remember the day the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said you need Jesus for salvation.
That is God’s work, not ours.
God the Father has enabled Peter and the disciples to see, to know that Jesus is the Son of the living God. What a wonderful blessing my friends...
Then Jesus makes this stunning declaration, look at verses 18-19
18 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. 19 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.”
These are some of the most hotly debated words in the whole Bible. Here is why?
Jesus parallel’s Peter words, Just as Peter said Jesus was the Christ, Jesus says I tell you that you are Peter…Petros, which in the Greek which carries the idea of a small stone.
Now there is a lot of division here.. What is Jesus saying here?
And we could spend a lot of time telling you why the Catholic church holds so hotly to this verse, but I dont want to do that… I just want to tell you the truth and we move on...
Jesus is using a play on words, Jesus renames his disciple Peter (Greek petros small stone ) and promises to found Messiah’s church on “this rock” (Greek petra large rock, like a foundation stone).
Jesus isn’t establishing His church on Peter, but on the confession. You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Jesus is the foundation, and the belief we hold builds off of that… we are holding to Peter’s confession, we say that is true, Jesus is Lord. And hell cannot stand against that truth.!
The church is built on one person, The Lord Jesus. It will stand.
Listen, you want the church to succeed, keep it built on Christ and not man.
You want your life to stand and do well, build it on Jesus
You want your family, your marriage… no matter what it is … you want peace, success, happiness… build it all on Jesus .
Throw away your misconceptions, your poor theology and just depend on Jesus
Amen.
Now Jesus says I will give you the keys to the Kingdom.. look at verse 19 again.
19 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.”
Remember if you will, the great truth here is the confession of who Jesus is, He is the Christ, the Son of the living God… The Keys to the kingdom refer to the message of who Jesus is... people have to believe this truth in order to be saved.
Remember how can a person believe unless they hear.
Those who hear and respond, asking Jesus into their hearts are loosed from the penalty of sin, from hell itself.
Those who reject, they are still in the bondage of sin and those are accountable still before God because they are unforgiven.
My friends I want you to see that everything revolves around the person and work of Jesus.
Jesus would restore Peter after his denial, Peter would preach in the days to come and some 3000 would be freed at Pentecost. And it will continue as anyone picks up the message of Jesus and are saved.
They are freed and then it is continues as that saved person picks up the message and share it with others...
How wonder… the more that hear, the more that are freed and it all is tied to that great confession.
You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
What do you believe my friends....
Is He your Lord?
Are you following and serving Him faithfully?
What has the Holy Spirit told you to do today?
Be obedient and follow Him all the way...