Matthew 67
(Chapter 16)
We are all just rocks!
Matthew 16:13–20 (NLT)
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.
18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”
20 Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Who am I?
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
· After a tussle with the Pharisees
· Jesus asked “who do people”
o The regular people
o The ones He has come to save
· And the answers were pretty typical for that time and the belief of the day for the Messiah
o King Herod thought Him John resurrected
o Some thought John to be Elijah
o So this was what was expected to be the answer
But the real question was this:
15 Then He asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
· This was the real question
· These were the ones that soon would have to carry on His mission
· that needed to know the real truth
· and this is the question that would set up the rest of the conversation and start the discussion of what would happen in the coming months ahead
The right answer!
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
· So why is this so important for us
· Why is it so important that we know who and convey who Jesus really is?
· There are a lot of misconceptions
5 misconceptions about Jesus' identity
· Jesus was an alien
o This view has grown increasingly popular among non-Christians and the theme of a number of documentary-type television shows on networks such as the History Channel. [1]
· Jesus was an angel
o The group known since 1931 as the Jehovah’s Witnesses began with C. T. Russell as the Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society. They teach that Jesus Christ and the archangel Michael are in fact the same being, created billions of years ago by Jehovah God before other beings and then aiding in the rest of creation. Importantly they do not see Jesus as God Almighty.[2]
· Jesus was a good guy, but not a God guy!
o This is perhaps the most popular false concept of Christ—not as the God-man but rather just a good man. This view emphasizes the compelling works of Jesus much more than His controversial words about being God. This view recasts Jesus as merely a great humanitarian who loved people, fed the poor, fought for justice, cared for children, empowered women, and exemplified tolerance, inclusiveness, and kindness.[3]
· Jesus was a man who became God
o Mormon believe that God and the plurality of gods were men before they were gods. One of the often-quoted statements to this effect . . . was made by Joseph Smith: “God Himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! . . . He was once a man like us . . . God Himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth.”[4]
· Jesus continually lived out of His deity (He was Just God, not both God and Man)
o Maybe Jesus lived the sinless and perfect life because He was God, and God does things that we cannot? Many people think Jesus avoided sin, defeated the demonic, and walked in spiritual authority this way. But since we are not God, we cannot do those kinds of things. In this line of thinking Jesus is God but not really human.
o People holding this view commonly struggle with Jesus’ humanity and such things as using the bathroom. For some people, this kind of earthiness seems to border on irreverence[5]
So it is VITAL that we know and convey to the world who Jesus really is!
the greatest blessings are not taught
17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.
· The best blessings we get are not taught
· They are given
· This blessing was given to Peter, by God
· And when God reveals things to us, they are the greatest blessings!
· That when you know you are SPIRIT-FILLED!
AMEN! We are all ROCKS!
Matthew 16:18 (ESV)
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
· Jesus will build HIS church on a solid foundation, PERIOD!
· Paul says this:
Ephesians 2:19–21 (ESV)
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
· The foundation was set
1 Corinthians 3:11 (ESV)
11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
· And the base rock was laid by the apostles and the prophets
· And we continue to build the church brick by brick, person by person
· And we do that by understanding WHO JESUS IS And what He came to do!
And please don’t worry about Heaven, keep your eyes focused on the mission
18b the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
· Paul says
2 Corinthians 4:8–10 (ESV)
8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
· This assures us that the enemies of the church shall not gain their point. While the world stands, Christ will have a church in it, in which His truths and ordinances shall be owned and kept up, in spite of all the opposition of the powers of darkness; They shall not prevail against it
· Does this mean every church will make it? no.
· Does this mean every Christian will make it? no.
· Will the people fail, and churches fall? yes.
· But the church will always prevail!
We all get a key
19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”
· The key is given to us all
· To carry on the work of Christ
· And that work is overseen by Jesus Himself
· When faithful followers image Jesus to a lost world and follow Jesus' Commands
· Jesus will honor that work that we do here on earth
· Jesus puts it this way
Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
· Jesus allows us to make disciples
· Gives us the authority to baptize them
· And teach them
· And if we do that, He will be with us every step of the way!
We have been sent!
John 20:21 (ESV)
21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
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