“IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS, IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU”
By
Jerry Falwell
Matthew 16:13-23
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some [say that thou art] John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. 21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men (Matthew 16:13-23).
Much of our Christianity is concerned about me. Christians emphasize my forgiveness, my answered prayers, my blessings, and my spiritual gifts, and my Christian service.
But at Easter, Peter had to learn, “It’s about Jesus, it’s not about you.”
Go back six months before the first Easter. Think back to when Jesus took His disciples to Caesarea Philippi. It is a beautiful place where I have visited. Today, it is a national park and is the place where the headwaters of the Jordan River come out of the ground. Jesus asked the 12 disciples the question, “Who do men say that I the Son of Man am?” (Matt. 16:13). He got all kinds of answers. Some disciples said that He was John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Only Peter gave the right answer,
“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16).
That was a wonderful answer by Peter, as far as he understood. Remember, Peter and all the disciples were looking for an earthly Messiah. When Peter called Jesus “THE CHRIST,” he was calling Jesus, “the Messiah.” All Israel was looking for the Messiah, i.e., the Deliverer who would defeat the Romans and drive them into the sea. Israel wanted a Deliverer like David who would drive out the heathen and rule over them. Peter was no different from the common men of his day. He was looking for an earthly ruler, so he answered Jesus, “Thou art the Christ, i.e., the Messiah . . . the Son of the living God.”
Jesus commended Peter, answering him, “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:16). Jesus said that Peter’s statement was a wonderful answer, but that Peter got his answer from the Heavenly Father; Peter didn’t think it up himself.
But immediately, Peter and Jesus went on different tracks; heading into different directions. Jesus was thinking of the cross and suffering. Peter was thinking of the Kingdom and its glories.
“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” (Matthew 16:21). Jesus knew the cross waited for Him where He would die for the sins of the world. The cross was the next great item on the agenda of Jesus and He knew He could not by-pass the cross.
It’s been said, everything in life is perception and expectation. Jesus expected the cross, Peter expected to live in a glorious kingdom. Jesus was about the cross. Peter was about the Kingdom.
Because Peter had the wrong expectations, he had to learn a very important lesson. “Peter, it’s about Jesus; it’s not about you.”
Peter rebuked Jesus saying, “Be it far from thee,
Lord . . .” (Matthew 16:22). Peter didn’t want anything to do with the cross because it was ghastly . . . it was agony . . . it was humiliation . . . it was final. Peter didn’t have any room in his life for the cross.
But Jesus had other thoughts, Jesus said to Peter, “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men” (Matthew 16:23). What did Jesus call Peter? He called him “Satan” because Peter wanted Jesus to by-pass the cross for the glories of the Kingdom. Peter wanted the same thing that Satan wanted.
Some people listening to me today want to by-pass the cross, they want to by-pass the humiliation and agony of Jesus’ death, just to enjoy the good things of the Christian life. Be careful, just as Jesus said to Peter, “Get thee behind Me, Satan.” He may say the same thing to you.
MARK 14:66-72
Jesus said that Peter wanted to enjoy the things of man, not the things of God. Remember the point of this sermon, “It’s about Jesus, Peter; it’s not about you.”
66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: 67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. 68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest . . . . 69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is [one] of them. 70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art [one] of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth [thereto]. 71 But he began to curse and to swear, [saying], I know not this man of whom ye speak. 72 And . . . Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept (Mark 14:66-72).
Let’s move quickly to the blackness of Jesus’ arrest and trial. While Jesus was being tried before the High Priest, Caiaphas, Peter was outside warming himself by the fires, “He sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire” (Mark 14:54).
(1) Peter was trying to follow the Lord, at least he had followed Jesus to the place where Jesus was tried;
(2) Peter was concerned about his physical feelings, i.e., he was cold;
(3) Peter was with the wrong crowd.
As Peter was warming himself, “There cometh one of the maids . . . and when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth” (Mark 14:66-67). Here was the place Peter would have to stand up for Jesus, but he didn’t.
Remember, a few hours earlier Peter had vehemently proclaimed that he would never deny the Lord. Peter had claimed that he would die for Jesus, “I will lay down my life for Thy sake” (John 13:37). But when the maid accused him of being a follower of Jesus, “He denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew” (Mark 14:68).
Peter was confused because he wanted Jesus to drive the enemy into the sea. But the enemy had Jesus on trial for treason and blasphemy. This was not what Peter wanted. Remember, “It’s about Jesus, Peter; it’s not about you.”
Peter had an opportunity to set the record straight. He was given the chance to cover up his first denial. A second maid saw him and she said, “This is one of them” (Mark 7:69). Here Peter could have identified himself with Jesus, his sufferings and the eventual cross. Was Peter still concerned about the glories of the Kingdom? What did he do? “He denied it again” (Mark 14:70). Jesus had predicted that Peter would deny Him three times, and this is the second time that Peter denied his Lord.
“And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art [one] of them: for thou art a Galilean, and thy speech agreeth [thereto]” (Mark 14:70). Now they had some evidence against Peter. They recognized Peter’s dialect and accused him of being with Jesus.
Did Peter take a stand? Did Peter identify with Jesus? Did Peter support Jesus in His trials and sufferings? This was an opportunity for Peter to stand boldly. “But he began to curse and to swear, [saying], I know not this man of whom ye speak” (Mark 14:71).
Notice the response of Peter. First, he cursed. Why did he do that? What’s in the heart, comes out of the mouth; and when Peter ran away from the Lord, his heart became black, and was filled with unbelief. The natural response to unbelief is to curse.
But there was a second thing about Peter’s response. He said, “I know not this man.” Peter had spent three years with Jesus, and yet he said, “I don’t know this man.” Why? Because Peter was still looking for Jesus to usher in the glories of the Kingdom. He was looking for outward success. He was looking for victory over the Romans. Peter was not looking for the cross.
Even in this darkest hour, Peter should have understood, “It’s about Jesus, Peter; it’s not about you.”
JOHN 21:15-17
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep (John 21:15-17).
After Easter, Jesus met Peter on a Galilean beach. It is there that Jesus provided a miraculous catch of fish, and it was on a beach that they enjoyed an early morning breakfast together. After the breakfast was over, Jesus asked, “Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?” (John 21:15). Notice two or three things that Jesus said.
First, Jesus called him Simon which was his old name. Because Peter had gone back to the old ways, Jesus addressed him by his old name. Remember, when Jesus met Peter, He gave him the new name Petros, i.e., rock which is the word Peter. Because Peter had backslidden, he was Simon, the old man, following the old ways, with the old name.
Second, Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him more than these. The authorities tell us that the Greek word these is a reference to fish. Jesus was asking Peter if he loved Him more than his old occupation and the things he got from working.
Today Jesus would ask you if you love Him more than money? Do you love Him more than your job? Most of us are so wrapped up in the things that we have and the things that we get from this life, that we forget about living the Christian life for Jesus Christ. “It’s about Jesus, Peter; it’s not about you.”
We have all heard the sermon that explained that Jesus used the word agape for love, i.e., deep, passionate love. Jesus used the word for love that means the sacrificial love of the mother for the child.
Peter couldn’t answer that he had deep self-sacrificial love for Jesus. All Peter could say was that he liked Jesus. Peter used a superficial word philo, the word from which we get Philadelphia. Philo is the love of brotherhood. Peter knew that he had denied the Lord and forsaken Him. Peter knew that he didn’t have sacrificial love, he could only say, “I like you.” Peter was about to learn, “It’s about Jesus, it’s not about Peter.”
Jesus asked Peter three times, “Lovest thou Me?” The Bible says, “Peter was grieved because he saith unto him a third time” (John 217). Because Peter had denied Jesus three times, he was grieved when the Lord asked him three times, “Lovest thou me?” Peter had traveled down a long road in denying the Lord, and now it was a long way back. He had to tell the Lord three times that he loved Him. “It’s about Jesus, Peter; it’s not about you.”
But also, Jesus humbled Peter by using a different word. The third time that Jesus asked Peter, “Lovest thou Me?” Jesus used the superficial word philo. Jesus was saying, “Do you really like Me?”
This revelation must have crushed Peter’s ego, because he could only say, “Lord, I like you.”
There are many here today who have denied the Lord in several ways. You have denied the Lord by cursing, just like Peter. You have denied the Lord by hanging around with sinners at the fire, rather than being with God’s people in the church house. You have denied the Lord by never witnessing for Him. You have told your friends, “I do not know this Man.”
Remember, the Christian life is “It’s all about Jesus, it’s not about you.” It’s not about how you feel, or what you get out of it. The Christian life is about Jesus Christ. The cross is about Jesus, He died for you. The resurrection is about Jesus, He was raised for you. Now what does He expect? He expects you to come to Him, to follow Him, to give Him everything. He expects you to fall on your knees and say “I’m sorry,” and to get up from your knees and follow Him.
And what can God do for you today? Remember, that Peter who denied the Lord in the blackness of night, stood mightily for God on the day of Pentecost. He was the powerful preacher when three thousand people became Christians. On that day, “It was all about Jesus; it was not about Peter.”
Yes, those with a broken wing can fly again. Yes, you who have strayed from God can come back. Yes, you who have denied the Lord can be used greatly. This is a message of Easter, this is your message today. “It’s about Jesus; it’s not about you.”
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Contact us and ask for a copy of The How To Book or use The How To Book Online (Falwell.com). It is a booklet that will answer many of the questions you are sure to have about living the Christian life. And when you contact us, tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.
