2025.07.06. Sermon Notes. THE QUESTION THAT DEFINES ETERNITY - MATTHEW 16:13-28
PART 2
William Akehurst, HSWC
THE CHRIST, THE CROSS, AND THE CALL - MATTHEW 16:13-28
SCRIPTURES: Matthew 16:13-28, Mark 16:19-20, Ephesians 1:20-23
THE QUESTION THAT DEFINES ETERNITY:
"Who Do You Say Jesus Is? Confessing, Following, and Carrying the Cross"
BIG IDEA: True discipleship begins with a right confession of who Jesus is, embraces the necessity of the cross, and responds with wholehearted surrender to follow Him; regardless of the cost.
INTRODUCTION:
One of the most defining passages in all the Gospels, Jesus brings His disciples to a place called Caesarea Philippi—a region known for its pagan temples, idol worship, and political power. It was here, in the shadow of false gods and worldly kingdoms, that Jesus asked the most important question in the universe:
It’s here, against the backdrop of spiritual darkness, false gods and worldly kingdoms, that JESUS asks the most important question in human history:
“Who do you say that I am?”
That question wasn’t just for Peter or the disciples.
It’s a question every soul: man, woman, and child must answer.
Who do you say Jesus is?
• Is HE your Sunday Savior, or is HE the LORD of your life?
• Is HE a good teacher in your mind, or the CHRIST in your heart?
Three (3) MAIN POINTS of Matthew 16:13-28
1. The Confession of Christ (vv. 13–20)
• Who Jesus is (The Christ, Son of the Living God)
2. The Mission of the Messiah (vv. 21–23)
• What Jesus came to do (suffer, die, and rise again)
3. The Call to the Cross (vv. 24–28)
• What He calls us to do (deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him)
POINT: Knowing Christ leads to following Christ. Following Christ means carrying the cross.
I. THE CONFESSION OF CHRIST (13–20)
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ (Mark 8:27–30; Luke 9:18–20)
13-17 THE QUESTION THAT DEFINES ETERNITY
"Who Do You Say Jesus Is? Confessing, Following, and Carrying the Cross"
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ (Mark 8:27–30; Luke 9:18–20)
13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some 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 answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
THE QUESTION:
Jesus begins with a question:
“Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” v.13
THEIR ANSWER
The disciples respond with a list of public opinion:
“Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” v.14
In other words, “Jesus, people think You’re a good man… a powerful preacher… even a prophet.”
THE DIRECT QUESTION
But Jesus isn’t interested in what the crowd says. He turns the question:
“But who do you say that I am?” v15
THAT’S the question that matters.
16:15 “WHO do you say that I AM?” - THE QUESTION THAT DEFINES ETERNITY
IMPORTANT: This is THE QUESTION that Defines Eternity!
Who is JESUS to you?
KEY POINT: Jesus leads His disciples to a moment of personal revelation and confession.
PETER ANSWERS
And Peter, bold and inspired, speaks up:
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Peter declares what God the Father revealed to him—Jesus is not just a teacher, healer, or prophet. He is Messiah, the Anointed One. He is the Son of God, co-equal with the Father.
This is the first clear confession of Jesus as Messiah in the Gospel of Matthew.
JESUS RESPONDS
“Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” V. 17
Peter didn’t figure this out on his own. This was a divine revelation.
16:16-17 Holy Spirit Revelation
APPLICATION:
• Every believer must answer this question personally.
• Knowing about Jesus is not enough — we must know Him intimately.
18-20 THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
20 Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.
“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church…”
“Upon this rock I will build My church…”
Not on Peter the man, but on the truth Peter confessed—that Jesus is the Christ.
• Jesus isn’t saying He’s building His Church on Peter the man—but on the truth Peter declared: that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
16:18 Church foundation is Christ. Rock.
KEY POINT: The Church is built on the revelation of Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God.
16:20. Church must be built on the testimony of Jesus crucified, dead, buried, risen from the dead, ascended and made head over all things
Ephesians 1:20-23
(NKJV) 20 which 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 principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
And then Jesus makes a powerful promise:
“The gates of (hell) Hades shall not prevail against it.”
The Church is not weak or passive. That means the Church isn’t a fragile institution.
• It’s a victorious movement founded on truth and led by Christ Himself.
• It’s built on unshakable truth and backed by divine authority.
• Hell can’t stop it. Culture can’t cancel it. The devil can’t destroy it.
POINT: Our identity, purpose, and power as the Church are rooted in Christ alone
APPLICATION
• Who do you say Jesus is? This is not a theological quiz. It’s the foundation of your life and eternity.
• Is He Lord of your heart—or just a religious figure on your calendar?
• Is your faith built on personal revelation or secondhand religion?
• The Church is not man-made. It is Christ’s Church, and He is still building it.
• Are we part of what HE Is building or merely attending?
LESSON LEARNED: The Church isn’t built on crowds or buildings. It’s built on the confession that Jesus is the Christ. And that confession changes everything.
II. THE MISSION OF THE MESSIAH (21–23)
Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection (Mark 8:31–33; Luke 9:21, 22)
21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”
23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
Now that the disciples know who Jesus is, He begins to tell them what He came to do.
“From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things… and be killed, and be raised the third day.”
NOTE: This is the first time Jesus plainly tells them about His death and resurrection.
16:21 revelation of death, burial, resurrection.
“He must go to Jerusalem… suffer… be killed… and be raised the third day.”
Key Point: This is the first clear prophecy of His death and resurrection.
But Peter pulls Jesus aside and rebukes Him
Jesus reveals the suffering path ahead — but Peter tries to prevent it.
Peter goes from revelation to rebuke in a matter of verses.
“Far be it from You, Lord! This shall not happen to You!”
Peter doesn’t understand. He’s still thinking about power, not sacrifice… glory, not suffering.
Peter wanted a conquering King, not a suffering Servant.
JESUS RESPONDS SHARPLY:
And Jesus turns to Peter and says something shocking
“Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
WHY?? – WHAA??
Why so harsh?
16:23 Like Satan tempting JESUS in the wilderness.
BECAUSE Peter—without realizing it—is echoing the same temptation Satan offered in the wilderness: Glory without the cross. A crown without the suffering.
• But Jesus didn’t come just to perform miracles. He came to DIE.
• The cross wasn’t Plan B. It was THE PLAN from The Beginning.
• Jesus rebukes Peter: “You are not mindful of the things of God.”
POINT:
• Our comfort zone often clashes with God's will.
• Following Jesus means understanding the cost — and trusting the resurrection hope.
APPLICATION
• Don’t make the mistake Peter made.
• Don’t try to reshape Jesus to fit your comfort.
• Don’t reject the cross in favor of convenience.
• God’s will often includes suffering before glory—but it always leads to resurrection.
POINT: Do you embrace the full gospel, including the suffering of Christ?
LESSONS LEARNED:
• God’s plan often includes pain for a greater purpose.
• Don’t rebuke what God wants to use for redemption.
III. THE CALL OF THE CROSS (24–28)
The COST of Discipleship
Take Up the Cross and Follow Him (Mark 8:34–38; Luke 9:23–26)
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. 28 Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
Then Jesus turns to all of them—disciples, crowds, anyone who would follow Him—and says:
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” v. 24
16:24. Deny your own ways of life. Take up the cross, a path to death pain persecution and follow me. Go the distance of following Christ even unto death. The cross represents horrible death. Jesus took up the cross for us and endured, despising the shame, and for the joy of our salvation, completed the mission.
KEY POINT: True discipleship means self-denial, sacrifice, and surrender.
To gain life, we must lose it. To follow Jesus, we must let go of self.
Jesus now turns to everyone. The path He walked is the path we must walk. Three actions define discipleship:
Jesus lays out the cost of discipleship in three commands:
1. Deny yourself – That’s not just giving up chocolate or social media. It’s surrendering control of your life. Surrender your will.
2. Take up your cross – The cross wasn’t a necklace; it was an execution device. This means being willing to die to self. Embrace the cost
3. Follow Me – Not once, but daily. A life of obedience. Obey continually.
JESUS CONTINUES:
“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” v. 25
16:25-26 no profit of this world. Lose this world for gain of the kingdom.
He flips the world’s logic upside down. You don’t find life by chasing it. You find it by surrendering it.
In other words, living for self leads to death, but dying to self leads to life.
And then this sobering line:
“What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”
You can gain followers, fortune, fame—and still lose your soul.
16:27. Jesus will come into glory of FATHER and reward according to everyone's works.
SIDE NOTE
v.28 “there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
There were some there who would die before JESUS would be resurrected. John the Baptist.
There would be those who would see JESUS ascend into Heaven.
40 days after HIS Resurrection, Peter, James, John and the rest of the apostles, saw JESUS ascend into heaven.
Mark 16:19-20 Jesus ascension in Kingdom.
Mark 16:19-20
19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
Stephen, the first Christian martyr, saw the resurrected JESUS in heaven. John, Paul and Stephen were in the presence of deity, and there was no doubt in their minds.
APPLICATION
ASK: What am I clinging to (holding onto) that keeps me from fully following Jesus?
• What “world” are you trying to gain, and is it worth your soul?
o Have you truly denied self—or is Jesus just a part of your life, not your Lord?
ASK: Am I willing to carry my cross — embracing God’s purpose even when it’s hard?
• The cross is not an option—it’s the only path to true life.
o What “cross” has God asked you to carry?
o Don’t trade your soul for temporary success or comfort.
SUMMARY OF KEY TRUTHS:
1. The Christ – He is the Son of the Living God. Our foundation.
2. The Cross – Necessary for salvation. Jesus' mission.
3. The Call – A personal invitation to discipleship, not comfort.
CONCLUSION
• The Confession: Jesus is the Christ.
• The Mission: He must suffer, die, and rise again.
• The Call: If we follow Him, we must take up our cross too.
This is not comfortable Christianity. It’s costly Christianity.
But it’s also victorious Christianity—because the same Jesus who died also rose, and the same power that raised Him lives in us.
Let’s Pray,
LORD JESUS, YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD. Thank You for being the Bread of Life and the Truth that sets us free. Today, we surrender again to YOUR Lordship. We reject shallow religion and cling to the Truth of YOUR Word. Help us to deny ourselves, to take up our cross, and to follow YOU wherever YOU lead. Help us to be people of faith who do not seek signs but trust in Your Word. May we not seek the world but seek first YOUR Kingdom. Give us discernment to recognize and reject false teaching, and help us walk in truth and love. Protect Your Church from deception and strengthen us to stand firm on the foundation of Your Word Build YOUR Church in us and through us, and may the gates of hell never prevail against it.
In JESUS’ Name, Amen.
Be blessed and be a blessing,
Bill
HYMNS
#58 “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
#200 “Lead Me to Calvary”
#211 “Jesus Is Tenderly Calling You Home”
#161 “Standing on the Promises” – for faith and discernment.
#506 “Open My Eyes, That I May See” – based on discernment and revelation.
#1 “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” – standing strong in truth amid deception.
#405 “Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken”
#293 My Hope is Built on Nothing Less
#335 “Take My Life and Let It Be”
#267 “Nothing by the Blood”
