Have you ever come out with the right answer by mistake? I mean, you had no idea it was right… no way you could tell somebody how you got the answer… no explanation… maybe it was just a guess, but it turned out to be right nonetheless? You’re as surprised as anyone? That is sort of where Peter found himself here in this morning’s text: Matt. 16.
We’re continuing our series on first principles this a.m.: “First Things First” going back to the basics of Christianity to look again and to look afresh at those fundamentals of our faith. What really matters? What do Christians really believe? Two weeks ago, we talked about THE most basic element of our faith: There is a God (and that makes a difference in how we live our lives). Last week we examined in more detail the fundamental nature of that God. He is a loving Father who wants to know us as his children. This morning, I want to pose to you the question that Jesus asks in this text: “Who do people say that I am?” Indeed, who is this Jesus? Because fundamental to Christianity is the claim that Jesus is the Son of God… but what do we mean by that?
In Matt. 16, we’re told that Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi and its “Pop Quiz” time!
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
• “What are people saying?” Jesus asks. We see in the disciples answer that there are varying ideas of who he is… just as there is today.
• But polling the multitudes isn’t exactly what Jesus is interested in. He wants to know what THEY (his disciples) think.
15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
• Now, its Peter who is usually the first to answer, the kid with his hand up even before the teacher finishes asking the question…
16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 20 Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ. NIV
• RIGHT, Peter! How did you know?
• Peter’s great confession of the Sonship of Jesus here has been repeated by countless Christians ever since!
• It is this great confession, this great truth, that God’s church will be built upon. There is no more fundamental cornerstone to our faith than this: that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God!
But, did Peter have ANY idea what he was saying? Sure, it was the right answer… but did Peter know why it was right? What did he THINK he was saying?
• You Are the CHRIST or christos: He uses the Greek equivalent to the OT Hebrew mashiach (messiah) that means “the anointed one” and usually refers to someone who has been chosen or anointed by God for a particular service.
• In the O.T., there were at least three positions that were said to be “anointed”: Prophets, priests & kings.
o Prophets were anointed to their teaching role of speaking God’s Word before the people. (A sometimes thankless job)
o Priests were anointed to lead the worship of Israel… and to make intercession on behalf of the people for God.
o Kings were anointed to positions of authority and leadership of the nation.
• The Son of God! We usually use the word “son of…” to talk about somebody’s heritage… who’s their daddy?
o Its used that way here in vs. 17 to describe Peter or “Simon, son of Jonah”.
o But its also commonly used in Eastern & Semitic cultures to describe a person’s nature. Thus: Barnabas- “son of Encouragement”. It’s a way to describe what a person is like.
o THAT’s how its used here of Jesus. “Son of God” describes Jesus’ nature, not just his parentage. He’s a son in the sense that he shares his very essence with God.
o Jesus is deity! He is God. John’s gospel tells us, “The Word was God” (John 1:1)
o For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, Colossians 2:9 NIV
Now, we live in a country (or at least a community) where Jesus is still pretty well respected… if not admired. But, I’m not sure how well he is really understood… EVEN by a lot of Christians.
Most people in our world don’t have a problem seeing Jesus as a prophet or great teacher.
• In fact, most all major religions acknowledge that Jesus was a great teacher. The 21% of the world’s population that are Islam believe Jesus to be a great prophet of God. So do some of the world’s 14 million Jews.
• Now, I certainly believe that Jesus had some wise words of teaching… but I wonder, is that ALL Jesus was about? Did he come JUST to give us a lot of good advice?
• You can see this view of Jesus by just going to the religion section of a bookstore. Some book titles…
o Jesus CEO: Using Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership
o When Jesus Came to Harvard: Making Moral Choices Today
o What Would Jesus Eat? The Ultimate Program for Eating Well, Feeling Great, and Living Longer.
o Jesus’ Little Instruction Book
• We often treat Jesus like Dr. Phil… or a wise, old grandfather. He’s there to give us tips for living and for some good old-fashioned advice that we ought to listen to… but often fail to.
• But don’t you see that reduces Christianity (and Jesus himself) to just another shelf in the self-help section.
• Certainly teaching was a part of his ministry… but was that ALL?
The 33% of the world’s population that claim some form of Christianity will acknowledge Jesus as a priest, one who intercedes to God on our behalf!
• We don’t often talk about priests… but when we get ourselves into trouble, we sure like to know that one is around.
o Its funny… even how non-religious people will often call for a minister or a priest when they are on their deathbed.
o And especially, when we come to the realization that we’ve really messed up… or that we’re really in over our heads… maybe its just natural we reach out for someone who will go to bat for us before God.
o I heard a story of a single mom who was struggling with her young son all through church one Sunday. She tried everything, but he just kept fidgeting and misbehaving. She gave him books to look at, candy to eat, things to keep his attention, but nothing worked. Finally, she had had enough! She picked him up, threw him over her shoulder and as she carried him out of the auditorium in anger and frustration, that boy looked over his mother’s shoulder at the eyes of the congregation— which were all following her out. And he pleaded, “Ya’ll pray for me!”
• Deep down, we all know that we’re sinners and in need of someone to stand between us and God to make intercession for us. God is too holy for us to come to him with all of our sin and so we are thankful that Jesus stands in the gap and is our great high priest… The writer of Hebrews emphasizes Jesus as our great high priest.
• But, still… is that ALL Jesus came to do? To fix our sin problem so that we wouldn’t have to go to hell? Did God send his Son just so that we’d have a good lawyer?
And King! THIS is what distinguishes Christianity from everything else… the claim that Jesus is King… he is sovereign, Lord, Master & Commander! THIS is what Peter was certain of, right?
• Jesus was king… Peter was so certain that when Jesus had predicted his death (back in Matt. 16:21-ff) Peter had boldly said, “NEVER, Lord! This will never happen to you!”
• And later in the upper room just after eating their last meal together, Jesus tells them that they will all fall away from him (Matt. 26:32-35). Peter can’t even imagine it. He says, “oh, no… even if everybody else falls away… I never will! Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”
• And then in the garden (Matt. 26:51) he’s ready for ACTION! When one of the men approaches Jesus, Peter grabs his sword and whacks off the man’s ear! Do you think he was aiming for the ear… or maybe the man’s head?
• Oh, Peter is thoroughly convinced that Jesus is the Son of God… isn’t he? He would die for him!
…So, why (in vss. 69-ff) does Peter run and hide? Why does he deny him?
• When he finally gets the chance to stand up and defend Jesus… Peter denies him and runs?
• I don’t understand… Was he scared? Peter? Look at the account of his denial again (vs. 69)…
o Only moments before, he had been ready to die with Jesus! In the garden he faced an armed crowd of people—armed with swords & clubs! (cf. vs. 47)
o Are you going to tell me that now—all of a sudden—when questioned by a servant girl that Peter is scared?
o I don’t think so.
• I wonder what it could have been that made Peter cower so?
I think about the story of the Alamo… “remember the Alamo?”
• Disney sort of romanticized it a bit in their differing versions of the story… but what I think about is all of those men who came to San Antonio in the winter of 1835-36 to fight for Texan independence from Mexico. I am sure they came fully believing that—not only was their cause worth fighting for—but that it was “winnable.” A small band of volunteers had successfully taken back the city from Mexican forces after five days of “house to house” fighting before settling into the fortified mission known as the Alamo. What they didn’t count on was the arrival of General Santa Anna and his army on Feb. 23, 1836. After 13 days of siege, the Alamo fell and every one of its almost 200 defenders went down with it.
• Now, at some point it had to have become obvious that there was no hope… that a tiny band of 200 volunteers were no match for Gen. Santa Anna’s army. They had to realize (at some point) that they were going to be on the wrong side of this thing. And yet, legend holds that Col. Travis drew a line in the sand and asked all who were willing to stay and fight to step over… all except one did.
• What would you have done… knowing that decision was going to mean certain defeat?
• Its easy to play for the winning team… as long as you’re winning. But to keep the jersey on… when that jersey only brings embarrassment, shame and ridicule from everybody you know… that’s a different thing!
You know, when things were going well, Peter was glad to be on Jesus’ team!
• At the Transfiguration when all of Jesus’ glory was on display… Peter sees Moses & Elijah there … God says from heaven, “This is my Son… Listen to Him!” Peter says, “I’m just so proud to be here.”
• When Jesus had ridden triumphantly into Jerusalem just last week on the fold of that donkey… just like Zechariah had said the Messiah would (Zech. 9:9)… Peter was there shouting, “Hosanna to the son of David!”
Peter thought he had picked a winner in Jesus!
• We know that there had been other “would-be” messiahs around in the 1st century. Gamaliel mentions a Theudus in Acts 5 for example. They had all had their 30 minutes of fame and then either faded away or flamed out…. But they had all ended in bitter disappointment.
• Peter had thought Jesus would be different… that he would come into Jerusalem, overthrow the occupying forces… put Caesar in his place once and for all and reign upon the throne of David.
• He thought he had picked a winner in Jesus!
But now, here was his so-called “Messiah”…
• … who was supposed to be so wise, yet had allowed himself to be tricked by a friend.
• … who was supposed to be so powerful, yet was bound, beaten and tortured by the very government he was supposed to overthrow.
• … who was supposed to be so revered and respected as king, yet was mocked, ridiculed and spat upon… then sentenced to the cruelest and most shameful of punishments… THE CROSS.
• Only criminals got the Cross… not Messiahs.
• Imagine, NOT Peter’s fear… but his bitter disappointment. All of his hopes and dreams for what Jesus was going to do have been DASHED! The Messiah was supposed to conquer… not go down in humiliation.
o Oh, it would’ve been one thing to go down fighting! Peter could’ve gotten into that!
o But to go down in humiliation… on the cross?
o To give up so easily? Without so much as drawing a sword?
o What kind of leader, what kind of Messiah would do that?
Well, the Son of God, that’s who! See, I don’t think Peter was scared or frightened into denying Jesus… I think he was embarrassed.
• He realized all of a sudden that following Jesus wasn’t going to lead him to power and glory and a throne… it was going to lead him to defeat!
• Peter had no problem going to the mat for Jesus when he thought it would take him to victory, but when he realized it was going to take him to the cross and humiliating defeat… he wouldn’t go there!
• Maybe we shouldn’t be too harsh on Peter. This is a tough challenge, isn’t it?
For followers of Jesus today, the true mark of discipleship isn’t whether or not we’re willing to follow Jesus to Heaven… {Everybody wants that!} … but will we follow him to the cross?
• The cross is why he came, right?
the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matt 20:28 NIV)
• Would we be willing to give our lives like Jesus did?
• In some respects, I’m amazed that 33% of the world says, “I follow Jesus” because the path Jesus walked is not paved very smoothly. In fact, its pretty bumpy!
o All of the twelve disciples except John gave their lives for their belief that Jesus was the Son of God.
o Down through the ages other folks like John Wycliffe would die because they dared to put the Bible into the hands of common believers. Even in the more ‘civilized’ 20th century, men like Dietrich Bonhoeffer would give their lives for their faith.
• Why are we surprised at this? Jesus said, ’If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. John 15:20 NIV
• Where will following in the footsteps of Jesus lead us?
• If we knew it was going to lead us to the Cross, would we still go with him?
“Who do YOU say that I am?”… the million $$ question, isn’t it?
• Do you remember making that good confession when you became a Christian? Did the preacher ask you what you believed about Jesus? Did you say, “I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God?”
• Where has he taken you since that day… and have you been following?
• Are you willing to go with him… WHEREVER he takes you… and EVEN if it takes you to the cross?
• Its one thing to confess him when it means coming in to our nice, air-conditioned building, sitting on padded pews, next to folks who are our friends & neighbors, … in comfort…
o Its relatively easy to be bold when we’re in such comfortable surroundings… when its still ‘respectable.’
• But what about when it means going to the cross with him…?
What would you say? Would you still go? Would you still answer the question… “Yes, Jesus. You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”?
o Whether we realize it or not when we say it… the fundamental principle of Christianity claims that Jesus is not only a great teacher full of wisdom… or a great high priest who ministers on our behalf… but that he is the Son of the living God who absolutely blows our expectations and calls us to follow him.
o Won’t you get in line and follow him this morning?
