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Who IS Jesus? This one question has sparked more literature, debates, sermons, and changed lives than any other issue. Who we say Jesus is, is the FOUNDATION for our faith. Today we examine this most important question, that JESUS asked His disciples.
Caesarea Philippi is located in Northern Israel, about 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee, on a 1,700 foot incline.
This is a largely Gentile area littered with pagan shrines and temples, originally built in honor of August Caesar by King Herod the Great, who died shortly after the birth of Jesus.
This city had later been renovated by Herod Philip (son of Herod the Great) to honor Tiberius Caesar, the ruling emperor during the life of Jesus. This area has long been rubble with the exception of remnants from temples and pagan shrines at the base of the mountain.
It’s near this pagan place, where a temple built in honor of Caesar Augustus stood, along with the Temple to Pan (half man/half goat - god of shepherds/sheep/nature), as well as several other sites to worship other deities.
Who do people say the Son of Man is?
- Some say John the Baptist - who has already been beheaded. They believe that Jesus is John risen from the dead. This is incorrect, BUT…it is an incredible statement of faith!
- Others say Elijah (prophet from 850 BC whom God took to heaven before death). Jews believed the Scriptures from Malachi about Elijah returning before the coming of the Messiah (Mal 3:1, Mal 4:5-6, Mt 11:7-14).
- Others thought Jesus was a prophet who had died long ago, like Jeremiah, prophets who must have been resurrected from the dead. These people were wrong, but they viewed Jesus as someone incredibly special.
MESSIAH
Peter calls Jesus the Messiah (Greek Christ) - meaning the “the anointed one”. These 2 terms - Messiah/Christ mean the same thing (Jn 1:41, 4:25-26) from 2 different languages (Hebrew/Greek).
The Bible refers to Jesus as Messiah/“Christ” 235 TIMES!
“Jesus Christ” = Hebrew Yeshua (Yahweh saves) Messiah (the Anointed One)
SON OF GOD
When Jesus was baptized the voice from heaven said, “This is my one dear Son; in him I take great delight.” (Mt 3:17)
- In Matthew’s gospel, only Satan (Mt 4:3,6), demons (Mt 8:29), & disciples of Jesus (Mt 14:33) referred to Jesus as “the Son of God.”
- Jesus would be handed over to die by religious leaders who condemned Him for BLASPHEMY as claiming to be the Messiah and the Son of God (Mt 26:63-68).
They men make fun of Jesus while on the cross because He said He was the Son of God (Mt 27:43).
What does the phrase “Son of God” mean?
John’s gospel says that Jesus “was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal to God.” (Jn 5:18) Jesus was with God in the beginning and created all things (Jn 1:1-3, 17:5) and is even called “God”. Jesus is God, the Son.
Contrary to what Catholics are taught, it was not PETER who is the rock upon which the church is built. It is Peter’s CONFESSION of JESUS’ IDENTITY that WAS and IS the foundation of the church. The Church is BUILT on Jesus, the Messiah and Son of God. Paul (Corinthians) and Peter later wrote these words,
According to Jesus, nothing will stop His people - His church - from accomplishing His mission in building His kingdom - not even the gates of Hades (the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Sheol - referring to death - cf. Is 38:9).
Scholars like Craig Keener and John MacArthur agree that Jesus is saying that even when the community of Jesus stands at the threshold of death - HADES, the church of Jesus will triumph.
- After the death & resurrection of Jesus, it becomes clear that DEATH - hades - holds no eternal power on followers of Jesus as Jesus will too raise them from the dead (1 Cor 15:51-56).
Even when the Church of Jesus stands at the threshold of death (hades),the Church who trusts in Jesus as the foundation for their faith - will triumph!
Who do YOU say Jesus is?
- Is Jesus the FOUNDATION of YOUR faith & life?
- Are you part of Jesus’ CHURCH to further the Good News?
Jesus has given His disciples the keys - symbolic for authority to lock or unlock a door that separates.
Of the 2 times that Jesus gives apostles authority to bind & loose (Matt. 16:19; 18:18), neither is referring to the binding of Satan nor other demons. We would certainly never “loose” Satan, would we? NOPE.
- “Binding and loosing” has nothing whatsoever to do with demons.
- Binding & loosing is referring to the authority, responsibility, & privilege to warn of God’s wrath & offer God’s peace.
- The apostles have authority & responsibility to bind: to tell those who refuse to repent that forgiveness is withheld and they are still under judgement.
- The apostles have authority & responsibility to loose: to tell those who turn from sin & eternal judgement that they are forgiven!
- What is bound and loosed is recognized in heaven - eternal judgment (bind) and eternal life (loose).
WHY not tell anyone? The people wanted and expected a military Messiah - a conquering king, not a Suffering Servant.
Now we see that the disciples weren’t expecting this either! This was such a shock and so outside of what they believed about the Messiah, that Peter feels the need to rebuke Jesus, to let Him know He was wrong.
This is similar to Satan’s tempting Jesus to wear the crown without going to the cross (cf. Mt 4:8-9). Of course, this would have dismissed the concerns of God - the plan for the Messiah to take on the sin of mankind. Jesus would have none of it, not even from His best friends.
In the Scriptures, their is NO DIFFERENCE between Christians & disciples.
- Disciples deny themselves, sacrificing their own desires for the desires of others; denying their own desires when they are different than what Jesus wants.
- Disciples take up their cross. Taking up the cross is NOT a phrase referring to piddly problems. Most Jews had likely seen other Jews hung on crosses near Jerusalem as a vivid visual warning not to disobey the Roman occupying force
Galatians 5:24 (NIV) Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
This is an ongoing process of taking up the cross and dying to selfish desires. Disciples must also be willing to follow Jesus to death, if necessary. All of the apostles of Jesus faced persecution and many of them were killed for their faith in Jesus.
- Disciples follow Me, dying to their selfish desires and yielding to Jesus to find real life.
- You CANNOT be a Christian and NOT be a Disciple - a FOLLOWER of Jesus; as we’ve many times before…followers of Jesus FOLLOW JESUS.
What can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
Take the “Million Dollar Eye Test” where he asks this question: Would you trade your right eye for a million dollars?
Your eyes rot away with your buried body, your soul will live forever, with Jesus or away from Him. According to Jesus, It’s more profitable for a man to pluck out his right eye (if it caused him to sin) than for his whole body to be cast into hell (Matt 5:29).
- You should consider the value of your eyes as insignificant in comparison to the value of your soul.
Do you recognize Jesus as the Messiah, God the Son? Is Jesus your Lord or is He just someone you look up to? There is A DAY COMING when nothing will matter more than YOUR ANSWER to THAT QUESTION.
“some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” What’s THAT all about. Be here NEXT WEEK & find out!
- Until then, wonder over WHO JESUS IS and WHAT JESUS HAS DONE. Jesus, the Messiah and God the Son, came to do more than heal and teach - He came to PAY for our sin!
Have questions and need some help? …real soon…how about now? Please call or text us soon!
Take some time to discuss these questions with your family, friends, or group.
- Who IS Jesus and why does that really matter?
- Read Matthew 16:13-14. What do the different responses of the people say about how significant Jesus is?
- Read Matthew 16:15-16 & 26:63. What do these passages say about how unique Jesus is? Take time to discuss how Peter’s identification of Jesus helps us answer the question “Who IS Jesus?”.
- Read Matthew 16:17-18. What would you say to a Catholic person who says that the Church is built on Simon Peter? Is this what Jesus meant? How does 1 Cor 3:11 & 1 Peter 2:4-6 help give clarity to this confusion?
- Many people immediately think of “hell” when they read “the gates of Hades will not overcome it”. Does Satan and demons rule hell? Is this their kingdom? How does understanding that Hades likely is referring to DEATH make sense in light of the context of this passage?
- Read Matthew 16:21-23. Why did the disciples of Jesus struggle with the mention of His death? If the disciples of Jesus had some wrong interpretations of Scripture based on the teachings of others, why should WE be open to reconsider some of what we have been taught in light of the context of the Scriptures? Why was Jesus so quick to compare Peter’s response to Satan?
- Read Matthew 16:24-26. Although no Christian is perfect and we all have moments of weakness and struggle, how does this passage challenge you to reconsider whether those who claim to be Christians really ARE, based on their unwillingness to follow Jesus and sacrifice to obey Him?
- How might using the “Million Dollar Eye Test” (from Ray Comfort) when you share with others help you to explain the importance of protecting and pursing what impacts your eternal soul?
- Read Matthew 16:27-28. Does the return of Jesus concern you, excite you, or both? Share why.
- How did Mosab Yousef’s testimony of trusting Jesus encourage you to continue to take the good news of Jesus to ALL people? What stood out to you from his story?
- What challenged or encouraged you most from today’s teaching? What does God want YOU to do with what we studied today?
- Share prayer needs and pray for one another.
