YOU ARE THE CHRIST

Matthew 16:13-28 #397,398

Key Verse 16:16

“Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’"

- It is very important for us to know who Jesus is. How do you think about Jesus? who is Jesus for your personal option? It is deferent their option according to their knowledge toward Jesus. its matter is the matter of salvation and eternal life.

- Also, Confession is very important part in our Christian faith. We receive salvation. How should we do if we are Jesus’ disciple?

Before he went there, he prayed a lot to know Jesus to his disciples (Luke9:18)

1. Where was Caesarea Philippi located? (13) What question did Jesus raise to his disciples? How did people think of Jesus? (14)

a) Mat 16:13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"

Jesus wanted to know people’s objective opinion from his disciples. When they knew about this, they could teach correctly and they didn’t shake their faith.

b) Mat 16:14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

-John the Baptist; he received great respect because of his clear spirit.

-Elijah; he was a passionate prophet.

-Jeremiah; a prophet of tears.

· they saw him as a great man from God.

2. What was Jesus' second question? (15) Why did Jesus ask this question? What was Simon Peter's confession? (16) Who is the Christ? What was Peter's faith in God? (Eph 2,Jn 6:44)

a) Mat 16:15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"

-Our relationship with Jesus should be personal and individual. Our faith should be personal in Jesus.

-Knowing who Jesus is directly connected to our salvation. John 17:3 says that knowing the Son is eternal life.

b) Mat 16:16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Peter had followed for about three years. He saw many miracle sign that when Jesus commanded a violent gale, the gale calmed. He experienced Jesus’ character. Also, it is very important for us to experience about Jesus personally through prayer or practical life. It is very important for us to put the personal basis of faith. it depend on salvation.

People think that people’s matters are financial, environmental or political problem. Real matter is that they don’t know Jesus exactly. So they can’t solve their life problems that are sin problem. When they know Jesus, their life change toward light and powerful and meaningful life. Many people waste their strength by fear, inferior, trouble and their agony. It come from sin. Only Jesus can solve our sin problem.

-What is the meaning of Christ?

Its real meaning is the one who is poured by oil on his head., when King, Prophet and Priest were risen up, only they were poured oil on his head Before Jesus came. So Christ means King, Prophet and Priest.

-What is Priest?

He brought his people’s sins to God to be forgiven through young sheep’s blood. Now Jesus itself became a young sheep for our sins. He died for our sins and rose up from the cross. Jesus shed his blood for our all kinds of sins. He is real Priest.

-What is the meaning of Prophet?

He prophesy the event of future. Bible is the story written from the beginning of the world to the end.

-What is the meaning of King?

King govern his nation. He is creator and king and almighty God also, we have to receive that Jesus is king in our heart in order to rule our heart. Jesus is peace and humble and gentle king. Those who do not receive Jesus are ruled by sinful nature. We are weak, unstable and unbelievable. But when we receive Jesus as our King in our heart, he rules our heart by peace and gentle. Also we can enjoy the kingdom of heaven in our heart.

Also, when we pray before burden and hardship, he answer.

-Christ; the promised Messiah and Savior.

-Jesus is the Son of the living God; his deity(character of God) that he is the eternal Lord God.

why is confession important?

Jesus blessed Peter on basis of his confession.( See verse 17,18) (1John1:9)

*Also, It is the foundation of salvation and the beginning of life of faith. We give our throne to Jesus Christ. We are no longer belong to this world but to Jesus.

3. In what sense was Simon blessed? (17) How can we come to know Christ? (Eph 1:17)

a) Mat 16:17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.

-he received the gift of God from above. He received the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to know God.

Eph 1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

1 Cor 12:3 and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

4. What would Jesus build on Peter’s confession of faith? (18a) What is the church and its true foundation? What is the authority of the church? (18b) What authority does Jesus give to those who make the confession of faith? (19)

a) Mat 16:18 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.

-Jesus’ church. is -the congregation of those who confessed their faith. Jesus Christ, the rock of salvation.

b) the gates of Hades is the power of Satan. It is the power of death. Jesus defeated the power of death through his resurrection. We have victory in Christ.

c) Mat 16:19 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."

-the keys of the kingdom of heaven refer to the apostleship; we open the gate of the kingdom of heaven through preaching the gospel. Our preaching is so precious.

5. What did Jesus tell his disciples from that time on? (21) Why did he have to suffer this way? (Isa 53:4-6)

a) Mat 16:21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. -Jesus used the word, “must” 2 times. Kings used power to conquer and rule. However, Jesus became King through his sufferings. His sufferings and death were the fulfillment of the prophecies and obedience to God’s will. Jesus is the King of love and peace. He is also the Lord of life who gives eternal life.

6. Why did Peter rebuke Jesus? (22,23) How did Jesus rebuke Peter? (23) What do "the things of God" and "the things of man" refer to?

a) Mat 16:22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"

-He loved Jesus extremely. His loyalty was great, but he didn’t know the will of God.

b) Mat 16:23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

-His human thinking became a stumbling block to Jesus.

c) -the things of God; God’s redemptive work through Jesus’ sufferings and death.

-the things of men; Peter’s human love and dream in Jesus.

7. What must the followers of Jesus do? (24) Why should we deny ourselves? What is our cross?

Mat 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

-deny oneself; our human thinking, desires, ideas and especially sinful nature. The kingdom of Jesus can’t be established.

-take up his cross; the crosses we take up in order to follow Jesus. The opportunity to learn Jesus and his grace of the cross.

* when we deny ourselves can Jesus rule our lives.

when we take up the cross of Jesus we have life and spirit. It is our spiritual exercise.

8. What is the most precious thing for us? (26) How can we obtain life? (25) What is our glorious hope in Jesus? (27,28)

a) Mat 16:26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

-our lives. We have only one time opportunity.

b) Mat 16:25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

-lose our lives for Jesus. This is the way of happiness and life.

c) Mat 16:27,28 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

-our end is not death. Jesus comes again as the Lord of glory and judgment. We who followed Jesus will participate in his glory. We will live forever in the new heaven and new earth.

-those who live according to their sinful nature will be judged.