Who is Jesus… vs. 13-19

• 1^st – Lot of opinions… vs. 13-15
  • The Location [Video]
    • When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi!
    • Jesus took the disciples SIXTY kilometers NORTH – near Mount Hermon [2814 meters]
    • To the city of Paneas – renamed by Philip the Tetrarch [son of Herod the Great]
    • Who called it Caesarea [from Caesar] – Philippi [after himself]
    • It was a PAGAN city famous for the TEMPLE to the god PAN!
    • PAN was the god of the underworld [hell] – his name is where we get the word PANIC…
    • The picture of goat man with horns and a pitchfork [satan] – comes from PAN…
    • Likely satan spread this description of himself – so people would NOT recognize him…
    • Satan is not ugly – God created him as the perfection of beauty – Ezekiel 28:12
  • Son of Man…
    • He asked His disciples saying: Who do men say that I am – the Son of Man?
    • Jesus kept asking [imperfect] His DISCIPLES – who did MEN [ἄνθρωπος] say He was…
    • With the temple of PAN in front of them – full of famous GREEK gods…
    • Men could name them ALL – describe each of them – but how about the SON of man…
    • SON of man – 78x in the gospels – emphasizing the humanity of Jesus – Isaiah 7:14
  • John the Baptist…
    • Some [μέν] – for SURE thought Jesus was JOHN resurrected…
    • Herod the Tetrarch [brother of Philip] – believed this – Matthew 14:2
  • Elijah…
    • Others [ἄλλος] – held the common view – Jesus was ELIJAH the prophet…
    • The very last verse of the Old Testament promised the return of ELIJAH – Malachi 4:5
    • But Jesus confirmed John the Baptist was ELIJAH for believers – Matthew 11:14
    • Though for unbeliever – ELIJAH will return as one of the TWO witnesses – Revelation 11:3
  • Prophet…
    • Jeremiah or one of the prophets!
    • Still others [ἕτερος] – had another opinion – assumed Jesus was a PROPHET [like Jeremiah]
    • Interesting to see how many OPINIONS there were about Jesus…
    • Things have NOT changed – there are still a lot of OPINIONS today!
      
    • Secular HISTORY: believes Jesus was a real historical figure – but there is NO God…
    • ISLAM: believes Jesus was just a prophet – though less than Muhammad…
    • HINDUS: believe Jesus was a reincarnated perfect man [avatar]
    • JEHOVAH Witnesses: believe Jesus is Michael the Arch angel…
    • MORMONS: believe Jesus is the brother of Lucifer [satan]
    • It seems people CANNOT ignore Jesus – but they also CANNOT agree on who He is!
  • The choice… vs. 15
    • [Jesus] said to them: But who do you say that I am?
    • Jesus SAYS [present] – who do you SAY [present] I AM!
    • It is NOT important what others say [opinions] – what do WE say…
    • God does not care what RELIGION we are – or who LABEL we carry…
    • When we stand before God one day – the Great White Throne – Revelation 20:12
    • Our SALVATION is based on being able to answer TWO very important truths…
    • WHO Jesus is [God] – and WHY did God become a MAN [to die]!
• 2^nd – Right Answer… vs. 16-17
  • Simon Peter… vs. 16
    • Simon Peter answered and said!
    • SIMON [שִׁמְעוֹן] – to HEAR or LISTEN…
    • PETER [Πέτρος] – a ROCK – to be hard headed [not listen]
    • As we will see – it is NOT accidental that BOTH names are used here!
  • The Christ… vs. 16
    • You are the Christ. The Son of the living God!
    • PETER tried to answer BOTH questions – and got ONE right…
    • FIRST – SIMON did know WHO Jesus was…
    • He was NOT just the SON of man – God with us [Immanuel]
    • He was also the SON of the living God – the SECOND person of the TRINITY!
    • SECOND – PETER did NOT know WHY Jesus came…
    • He called Jesus the Christ [Χριστός] or [מָשִׁיחַ] – meaning the anointed one!
    • The problem was the Jews did NOT understand WHY the Messiah [Christ] came…
    • They were looking for a KING who would conquer the world – Revelation 20:4
    • But they missed that the MESSIAH had to first CONQUER our SIN!
  • From Heaven… vs. 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!
    • SIMON [heard] was BLESSED – because of WHO he was listening to…
    • Knowing WHO Jesus was did not come from his UNDERSTANDING [flesh and blood]
    • It was REVEALED [ἀποκαλύπτω] to him by the FATHER in heaven!
    • The reason why the world has so many OPINIONS about Jesus…
    • Is because they are looking to MEN to give them the answers…
    • They trust in HISTORY – or listen to RELIGION – or SCHOLARS…
    • But the only one who can tell us WHO Jesus is – is the Holy Spirit – I Corinthians 2:14
    • Jesus [יְהוֹשֻׁעַ] – Yahweh Shua – is the God who SAVES us!
• 3^rd – The Rock… vs. 18
  • The Church…
    • I also say to you that you are Peter – and on this rock I will build My church!
    • CHURCH [ἐκκλησία] – 118x in NT – first used here in the Bible…
    • Those who are CALLED [καλέω] out [ἐκ] of the world…
    • Contrary to what some denominations teach [first Pope]
    • Jesus did NOT build His CHURCH [οἰκοδομέω] on PETER [Πέτρος] – little pebble…
    • He built it on the ROCK [πέτρα] – that is the statement of WHO He is – the SON of God!
    • I Corinthians 3:11 – “No one can lay any foundation other than… Jesus Christ.” [NLT]
    • The doctrine of the DEITY of Jesus – is the RED line that cannot be crossed…
    • It is what makes a RELIGION that claims to believe in Christ – a CULT…
    • There is great diversity within the Body of Christ – I Corinthians 12:27
    • And we can agree to disagree and a VAST collection of non-essentials…
    • But we CANNOT disagree on Deity of Jesus [trinity] – its the FOUNDATION of the CHURCH!
  • Gates of Hell…
    • The gates of Hades shall not prevail against it!
    • When the CHURCH is built on the RIGHT foundation [Jesus is God]
    • Then there is NO way for the HELL [ᾅδης] to defeat it – Romans 8:31
    • It is worth noting that GATES do NOT attack – they are used to defend…
    • Meaning the CHURCH is called to be on the OFFENSIVE – we storm the GATES of HELL…
    • We are called to go OUT – and save those who are headed for DESTRUCTION!
    • Jude 1:23 – “Rescue [them] by snatching them from the flames of judgment.” [NLT]
    • The ruins of the temple at PAN at Caesarea Philippi are worth noting…
    • The temple is full of MANY places where IDOLS would have stood [who do men say I am]
    • And NEXT to the temple is a large CAVE – called the GATES of hell [dwelling place of Pan]
    • But above it all is a large ROCK – that dominates over all!
    • We might NOT think it is our responsibility to share Jesus with others…
    • And while it is true – God does NOT need us – Revelation 14:6
    • He does COMMAND us to go out and share the GOOD news with EVERYONE – Matthew 28:19
    • And adds the PROMISE – that if we do – we will see people get SAVED!
• 4^th – The Keys… vs. 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!
  • What are the KEYS – the answer to the TWO questions…
  • WHO is Jesus and WHY did He become a man – or what we refer to the as the GOSPEL…
  • We choose [subjunctive] what to do with those KEYS – open or close HEAVEN…
  • Anyone who we do NOT give the GOSPEL to – is bound on EARTH [aorist] and in HEAVEN [future]
  • Anyone who we give the GOSPEL [keys] to – is set free on EARTH [aorist] and in HEAVEN [future]
  • If someone we LOVED was in PRISON – and we had the KEYS to set them FREE…
  • Would we HOLD onto the KEYS or would we OPEN the door!
  • We have been given the power of the GOSPEL – the KEYS to heaven…
  • Whomever we give the Gospel to – we give FREEDOM from SIN – and access to HEAVEN
  • Whomever we keep the Gospel from – is left BOUND in SIN – and kept from HEAVEN…
  • We have the KEYS to heaven – do NOT hold them – give them to EVERYONE!

• 2^nd – Why Jesus came… vs. 20-23
  • 1^st – The Mystery … vs. 20
    • Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ!
    • Having addressed the FIRST question [who] – Jesus moves onto the SECOND [why]
    • And the FIRST thing He does is tell the disciples NOT to let ANYONE else know…
    • If was OK for people to know WHO He was [Jesus] – but not WHY He came [the Christ]!
      
    • The reason WHY God became a man had been kept a MYSTERY…
    • Because if the ENEMY had known – he NEVER would have crucified the Lord…
    • When Jesus was put on the cross – satan rejoiced – he thought he had WON…
    • What he did NOT understand – but learned THREE days later – it was his defeat!
    • I Corinthians 2:8 – “Had they known – they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
  • 2^nd – The Gospel… vs. 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!
    • What satan could NOT know – and the world did NOT want to know…
    • Jesus gave to the DISCIPLES – the answer to the question WHY!
    • God became a MAN – cause the ONLY way to get to heaven is to be PERFECT – Matthew 5:48
    • Therefore Jesus came and lived a PERFECT life [never sinned]
    • Then He offered His life – because the wages of sin is DEATH – Romans 6:23
    • But He would NOT stay dead – on the THIRD day [specific] He would rise [indicative] again!
  • 3^rd – The Enemy… vs. 22-23
    • Rebuked… vs. 22
      • Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him saying:
      • Far be it from You Lord. This shall not happen to You!
      • PETER [hard head] – took Jesus aside and ENCOURAGED [rebuke] Him…
      • ENCOURAGE [ἐπιτιμάω] – to give HONOR [τιμάω] to someone…
      • Peter assumed Jesus was SCARED of the RELIGIOUS leaders [elders – priests – scribes]
      • And he assured the Jesus [κύριος] they would NEVER [οὐ μὴ] kill Him!
    • From satan… vs. 23
      • [Jesus] 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!
      • Jesus rebuked PETER – get [imperative] behind me satan [Σατανᾶς]
      • This does NOT mean PETER was possessed by satan [unlike Judas] – Luke 22:3
      • But because his MIND [φρονέω] was focused on THIS life [men] – not ETERNAL life [God]
      • Peter liked the idea of the CHRIST coming to set up a JEWISH kingdom – Psalm 2:6
      • But he did NOT like the idea of the CHRIST – whose example he followed – coming to DIE…
      • It allowed the enemy to INFLUENCE his words – making him OFFENSIVE to God!
      • I Corinthians 1:23 – “We preach Christ crucified – to the Jews a stumbling block and to the [everyone else] foolishness.”
      • We live in a FAST world – people do NOT have patience…
      • We love FAST internet – FAST food – FAST cars – FAST credit…
      • The idea of having to WAIT to get what we WANT is offensive!
      • The PROBLEM is the GOSPEL is not about what we can get TODAY [fast]
      • It is a MESSAGE about the FUTURE – it is about ETERNAL life…
      • That is why a LOT of people give up on church – walk away from Jesus…
      • They ONLY think about THIS life – and never stop to consider what happens NEXT!

• 3^rd – Following Jesus… vs. 24-28
  • 1^st – The commands… vs. 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!
    • In response to Peter telling Jesus he did NOT need to go to the CROSS…
    • Jesus tell Peter – he needs to pick up his own CROSS…

• Because if the DISCIPLES wanted to FOLLOW Jesus – it meant THREE things:
• DENY [imperative] – because they could NOT live for THEMSELVES and for GOD…
• TAKE up [imperative] their cross – SECOND mention of the CROSS [σταυρὸν] – Matthew 10:38
• FOLLOW [imperative] – to walk down the same road Jesus was walked on…
• And since Jesus denied Himself – and ended up on the cross – so would they – Luke 22:42
• Although Jesus is speaking figuratively – about submitting to the will of God…
• It was also quite literal in the case of Peter – who was CRUCIFIED for his faith! 
• Many people look at CHURCH – as something they do on Sundays….
• But FOLLOWING Jesus is NOT something we do ONE day a week – it is a CONTINUAL choice…
• It means DAILY denying [die to] what we want – and choosing to LIVE for God…
• It means we get out of the drivers seat of our life – and let Jesus take the wheel!

• 2^nd – The Reason… vs. 25-26
  • Lost… vs. 25
    • Whoever desires to save his life will lose it – but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it!
    • Those who seek to SAVE [σῴζω] life their life – will end up DESTROYING [ἀπόλλυμι] it…
    • Those who do NOT want to deny themselves – do NOT take up their cross…
    • Those who THINK they can find something better in THIS life – LOSE!
    • Ecclesiastes 2:11 – “I looked on all the works that my hands had done… and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind.”
    • Looking for HAPPINESS – answers to life in this world is chasing the WIND…
    • It is NOT about chasing something that is HARD to catch – there is NOTHING there…
    • No one comes to the END of their life wishing they had more MONEY or THINGS…
    • But many will come to the end and realize it was all vanity – WORTHLESS….
    • They wasted our life – LOST their life – chasing after the WIND!
  • Found… vs. 25
    • He who loses his life for My sake will find it!
    • He who GIVES up [ἀπόλλυμι] his life for the sake of Jesus – will find TRUE life [ψυχή]!
    • The Apostle Paul was a very GOOD man – born a JEW – he became a Pharisees…
    • He worked hard to live as GOOD a life as he could – until he met Jesus!
    • Philippians 3:8 – “I also count ALL things lost for… Christ Jesus my Lord – for whom I have suffered the loss of ALL things – and count them as [manure] – that I may gain Christ.”
    • If we take a SEED and HOLD it in our hand – it will NEVER grow…
    • But if we let the SEED go – and BURY it – it becomes what God intended it to be…
    • We tend to CLING onto our life – we want to be in CONTROL…
    • But choosing to put our FAITH in Jesus – means LETTING go…
    • All of our HOPES – all of our AMBITION – all of our DREAMS…
    • The truth is in order to FIND life – we must first GIVE it away!
    • John 12:24-25 – “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies it remains alone – but if it dies it produces much grain.  He who loves his life will lose it – and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
  • The Example… vs. 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?
    • To emphasize the point – Jesus gives a comparison…
    • If someone could give up HEAVEN to RULE the whole world – would they…
    • SADLY there are some people who might say YES [I can think of a few politicians and actors]
    • But is it WORTH it to get EIGHTY years of bliss on earth – for an ETERNITY in hell…
    • And how much of that wealth – [all of it] – would that same person be willing to PAY…
    • On the day when they stand before the JUDGEMENT seat of Christ…
    • But it is TOO late – because they rejected the ONLY payment accepted [blood of Christ]!
    • Around 440 people in the Philippines are considered ULTRA wealthy [P1.5 billion in worth]
    • That is only about FOUR out of every MILLION people that are really RICH…
    • Meaning a person is about as likely to get hit by lightning – as to become ULTRA wealthy…
    • Meanwhile the median income [half the Philippines] is just P18k a month or less…
    • Yet less than 38% of the people attend church on a regular basis!
    • Meaning most people do NOT reject the Gospel so they can get ULTRA wealthy…
    • They reject it for around P100 an hour – or around P3000 a week…
    • For that they walk away from HEAVEN – and accept an ETERNITY in hell!
• 3^rd – The Reward… vs. 27-28
  • Jesus is coming… vs. 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!
    • The REWARD [or penalty] from Jesus does NOT happen right away…
    • There will come [μέλλω] a day when Jesus will return in GLORY – Revelation 19:16
    • All of the ANGELS of heaven will come with Him…
    • And THEN He will give [future] the EACH person according to his WORKS [πρᾶξις]!
    • If people saw Jesus riding out of heaven – they might REPENT…
    • But the problem is they do NOT see the coming JUDGMENT…
    • Instead they see the ADVERTISEMENTS telling them this world can make them HAPPY…
    • Therefore they FOOLISHLY chose to live for this life – and gamble with their ETERNITY!
  • The proof… vs. 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!
    • AMEN [ἀμήν] – there were SOME [only three] of the DISCIPLES…
    • Who would NOT [οὐ μὴ] taste DEATH – until they had seen Jesus come in His KINGDOM…
    • Not because they would NOT die – but because of what Jesus would show them NEXT…
    • Jesus would take Peter – James – and John up to the top of Mount Hermon…
    • And there He would be TRANSFORMED – seen in all of His GLORY!
    • We may NEVER get to see Jesus in His GLORY this side of heaven…
    • But that does not mean He does NOT give us proof…
    • If we are willing to stop and look – we see God moving all around us!