The Great Commission
Part 12 – Jesus Foretells His death
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith – www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mar 30th 6:00PM Evening Service at the church –
“Seminary Students will be preaching”
March 30th – Grace Steadman
April 6th – Lori Ulman
April 13th – Lynnette Higgins
April 20th – Walker Spriggs
April 27th – Deacon Kurt Ulman
WHERE WE ARE AT
† Peter confesses Jesus is God
† Jesus foretells His death
INTRODUCTION
At this point in time in Jesus’ Ministry, we see a shift in His teaching.
He goes from teaching crowds in Parables, to concentrating on preparing the Disciples for His coming death.
He will only spend approximately 3 ½ years with the Disciples before His crucifixion.
There is a lot to be done in this period of time.
SCRIPTURE READING
Matthew 16:21 – 28
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. 28 I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
I. FROM THAT TIME ON
a. Jesus prepared the Disciples for what was coming
“From that time forth…”
This tells us that once Jesus began preparing the Disciples, He did not stop ‘preparing’ them until His death.
He told them He would suffer many things at the hands of the Elders, Chief Priests, and Scribes (or teachers of the Law).
He already hinted at this when He said, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." – John 2:19
But now, He began to speak it plainly to them.
Until now, He did not do this plainly because the Disciples were weak.
But now, strong in faith, and knowledge of understanding of the Word of God, they were capable to receive this Truth.
Note: Christ reveals his mind to his people gradually, and lets in light as they can bear it, and are fit to receive it.
b. What did He foretell?
i. The place He would suffer – Jerusalem, the Holy City. Though He lived most of His life in Galilee, He must die in Jerusalem, because that is where all the sacrifices were offered, He being the Great and true sacrifice.
ii. The persons by whom He would suffer. Although it was the Romans who handed out the actual punishment, it was at the prompting of the Elders, Chief Priests and Scribes.
c. Why did He do this
To prepare them for the work which was at hand, and that they (the Disciples themselves) were a product of an eternal counsel and consent; agreed upon by God Himself.
To show that foreknowledge and preparation had been made, and that God was in total control.
Also: The disciples, believing Jesus was the Messiah, did not understand the Spiritual implications of His position.
They assumed He was going to rise up and be a great leader among the men of earth, not fully understanding the separation sin had caused, and the true need for a Savior, to reconcile us to God our Creator.
Man’s views are always small in comparison to the REAL picture of things.
Telling them also allowed them time to reflect on the matter and prepare themselves not just for the heartache to come, but the work at hand.
II. PETER’S REBUKE
a. The Offense
22 “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"
Rebuke – to straightly forbid.
Perhaps Peter was a little elevated with the great things Christ had just said to him, which made him more bold with Christ. (Previous verse about Simon being called Peter).
It is difficult sometimes to keep our spirit low and humble in the midst of great advancements!
God does great things in your life, and you forget reverence.
Great things His Spirit does through you, and your pride swells.
God used you for His Glory, and you steal it.
At that moment, your spirit stands, and God’s Spirit departs.
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." – James 4:6
Are you in opposition to the Lord today?
b. Man vs. God’s Plan
Peter, in the wisdom of man, said “God’s plan shall not be!”
If he would have been listening to the Spirit of Truth, he would have known this was God’s plan, and not rebuked Jesus.
c. Christ’s Displeasure
Did this upset Jesus? Absolutely it did.
23 “Get behind me Satan (Hebrew for ‘the accuser’) …
You are an offense to me.
For you think not of the things that be of God, but those that are of men.”
When we resist the Spirit of God, we are in OPPOSITION to the Lord.
When we are in opposition to the Lord, we are an offense to Jesus!
Is your pride causing you to be a contradiction to the Lord? An offense?
III. LAW OF DISCIPLESHIP
Jesus decides to not only rebuke Peter, but set the record straight on what it means to be a follower of Christ.
Because at this moment, Peter was not.
a. What is a Disciple of Christ?
It is to come after Him.
When Christ called the Disciples, it was with a command, “Follow me”.
A true Disciples of Christ follows Him in duty, and will follow Him to Glory.
Peter forgot His place, and tried leading Jesus, instead of following.
A disciple comes after Christ like the sheep after the shepherd.
A disciple of Christ walks like Jesus, in the Spirit.
b. What is required?
i. Let him deny himself
(LIT. If any man be willing to come…)
It is a deliberate choice.
AND with cheerfulness and resolution in that choice.
Peter was quick to advise Jesus to spare His life, and even did so himself when the time was at hand, denying he even knew Jesus to save himself.
But Christ tells us that we must be so far from sparing ourselves, that we actually DENY ourselves.
We must be in a state of self-denial.
Denying our flesh and its desires and understanding. It’s leading.
It’s only then, we can follow the Spirit’s leading.
ii. Let him take up his cross
We must bear the trails, tribulation and sufferings which come with following Christ.
Providential afflictions, persecution for righteousness’ sake, every trouble that befalls us.
These troubles are called crosses.
Every disciple of Christ has his cross.
Every Disciple must take up that which God has made your cross.
The cross lies in our way when we receive Christ.
Unless we pick up that mission, that special duty that the infinite and all wise Lord of all has chosen for each of us, we can not follow Jesus.
Many of us choose our own cross, which is not of God.
We must recognize that which God has given, and serve Him where He has called us, and not where we ‘think’ in our human wisdom where we should be.
This is what placed Peter in opposition to the Lord.
Following his human wisdom over the leading of God’s Spirit.
iii. Let him follow Me
We must look upon Jesus for direction, and encouragement. For God’s Grace alone is sufficient!
Jesus bore the heavy end of the cross…the end that had the curse!
But our yoke is light.
Followers of Christ must study Him, to imitate their Master, and conform themselves in everything to his example.
CONCLUSION
25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.
28 I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom." (Resurrection & beginning of the Spiritual Kingdom we are born into when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.)
