Raleigh
Bible Study Materials
WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?
Matthew 16: 13 - 28
04 Jun 2023
Message
WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?
(Matthew 16:13-28)
“‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’” (vs. 15,16)
Jesus completed his Galilean ministry and is now doing his ministry around Galilee. In the previous passages, Jesus healed a daughter of a Canaanite woman in the region of Tyre and Sidon. He healed the sick and fed 4,000 people in the Decapolis. He warned his disciples about the bad influence of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Now Jesus was moving toward the region of northern Galilee. During this time, Jesus asked his disciples an important question. It was like a midterm exam for the disciples. They had followed Jesus for quite a long time, living together, mostly observing his life and ministry. Though Jesus taught them many things, there is one essential truth they needed to know and confess. Jesus asked them, “Who do you say I am?” Peter confessed, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus blessed Peter’s confession and began to teach the way of the Messiah. Let’s think about what Peter’s confession meant. Through today’s passage, may the Holy Spirit help us to answer Jesus’ question personally from our hearts and follow in the footsteps of the Messiah!
I. Peter confesses, “You are the Messiah.” (vs. 13-20)
Look at verse 13. “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Caesarea Philippi was located about 30 miles north of the Sea of Galilee. The city was in the beautiful hill country on the southern slopes of Mount Hermon and built in 2 B.C. by Herod Philip II, Herod Antipas’ brother. It was a pagan city. Jesus went away from the Jewish religious leaders and demanding crowd. There Jesus wanted to have an intimate conversation with his disciples. According to Luke’s Gospel, Jesus was praying and asked his disciples some questions.
To open their hearts, Jesus began with a general question, “who do people say the Son of Man is?” Jesus’ ministry had made a great impact on society. Almost everyone in Israel had an opinion about Jesus. The disciples could answer easily: “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” (14) People were impressed by Jesus’ spiritual power. They were sure that Jesus was sent by God, like one of the prophets. People rendered highest respect and credit to Jesus. However, we learn that it is possible for human beings to have good thoughts of Jesus, and yet not right ones.
Look at verse 15. “‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’” Jesus began with the word “But.” It means that the crowd’s answer fell short of the truth; it did not satisfy Jesus. Jesus expected something more from his disciples. Jesus also emphasized the word “you.” Jesus wanted his disciples to make a personal confession of faith that came from their hearts. At that moment, Simon Peter stepped forward and answered. Look at verse 16. “Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’”
Messiah means, “Anointed One.” It is a Hebrew form of Christ in Greek. In the Old Testament, the “anointed ones” were the king and the high priest, occasionally a prophet. All three offices are associated with Jesus. This anointing set them apart as sacred and special purposes to provide spiritual leadership according to God’s will. Anyone who feared God had great respect for those anointed by God. Yet “the Messiah” was not just one of the anointed ones. The Messiah was the Anointed One. Psalm 2 describes him as the Anointed One, who would reign as God’s king and subdue the nations with his power. 2 Samuel 7:16 says that he would reign on David’s throne forever, restoring God’s righteous rule and turn the world into a paradise. Isaiah 9:6 describes him poetically and intimately as “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” He would solve everyone’s fundamental problems of life.
The promise of the Messiah’s coming had sustained the people of Israel through the dark night of captivity in Babylon. Even the lowly Samaritan woman in John 4 had waited for the Messiah. The righteous and devout man and woman like Simeon and Anna had waited for the Messiah prayerfully and expectantly. The Magi from the east had looked for the Messiah. Young and old, rich and poor, Jews and Gentile all alike waited for the Messiah. Peter was convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, God’s promised Savior and King.
Peter’s confession was short, but it embraces all that is contained in our salvation, for the Messiah reconciles us to God by atoning our sins through his sacrifice and obtaining for us a perfect righteousness. He rules, protects and provides us with every description of blessings as our eternal King and Lord. So Romans 10:9-10 say, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Peter’s answer went still further. Peter called Jesus “the Son of the living God.” Peter saw God in Jesus. Jesus was not just anointed by God, but Jesus was God. All of the Apostles came to this same conclusion. John testified, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) Jesus is very nature God. Usually the better we know a person, the more clearly, we see their faults. However, the more Peter came to know Jesus, the more he was awed by the presence of God in Jesus. Finally, Peter confessed, “You are the Son of the living God.” This is precisely the confession that Jesus wanted from Peter.
How did Jesus respond to Peter? Look at verse 17. “Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.” Jesus was pleased with Peter’s confession. Jesus blessed Peter with an A+ on his exam. How did Peter do so well on the test? It was not the result of his fisherman’s instinct or his intellect. Peter’s good confession was the revelation of the Father God to Peter. It was the work of the Holy Spirit in Peter. Without the work of the Holy Spirit, men are mere flesh, like Simon son of Jonah. But the Holy Spirit enlightens us to see God in Jesus. When the Holy Spirit works, any mundane man can confess that Jesus is the Messiah.
Look at verse 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.” When Jesus blessed Peter’s confession, it was not just for Peter’s personal happiness. Jesus said that he would build his church on Peter’s confession of faith. The church is the gathering of those who confess Jesus as their Savior, and worship him as God. Peter entered Jesus’ church through his confession. Peter showed us the way to enter. It is through a personal confession of faith in Jesus. Since Peter, innumerable people, whether Jews or Gentiles, have entered into the church of Jesus. Jesus promises that the gates of Hades will not overcome his church. The power of Jesus’ church is invincible, and unshakable against all the power of Satan because the foundation of the church is Jesus Christ himself. Jesus overcame the world and he has all authority in heaven and on earth. The church rests on the faith in Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God.
Jesus continued. Look at verse 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 loosened in heaven.” Here, the keys refer to the Gospel truth and in a broader sense, the word of God. We know that there is no other way in which the gate of life is opened to us than by the Gospel; and the keys are placed in the hands of the ministers of the word. When we preach the Gospel and people accept it on earth, God loosens the cords of the curse of sin in heaven. On the contrary, when people reject our Gospel message, their sins are still bound and they are under God’s severe judgment. It is a great honor and at the same time great responsibility for any of God’s servants to assure the world of its salvation and judgment through our Gospel message. Next, Jesus ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. (20) Many expected the Messiah to restore David’s throne literally. But it was not God’s plan. So Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Just as Jesus asked Peter, he asks each of us, “Who do you say I am?” I confess that Jesus is the Promised Messiah, my Savior and the Son of God. Apart from God, I had been wandering in darkness of sins without a clear life’s purpose and direction. But God had mercy and compassion on me. He guided me to 1:1 Bible studies during my college years and opened my spiritual eyes through the word of God. In 1991, at the Summer Bible Conference, God enabled me to confess in my deep heart that Jesus is my Savior through the message of the Luke’s Gospel. On the Cross, Jesus prayed for me, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” My heavy burden of sins was loosened through Jesus’ forgiveness, and I was deeply moved by God’s love. Since then I decided to follow Jesus, my Savior and live for him. Praise the Lord for his love and sacrifice for a sinner like me!
While preparing this message, I learned more about the meaning of Peter’s confession personally, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus is not only my Savior but also my King and Lord. He is the absolute object of my worship and love. While following Jesus Christ, my heart has been often divided by worldly pleasure, worries, or selfish ambition. But God has continually convicted me to trust in him and love him wholeheartedly. Jesus is my King forever. Based on his love and grace given to me, I want to give my heart fully to my King Jesus and love him with all my heart, soul and strength. I also pray that God may strengthen me to preach this Gospel truth clearly to lead people to the kingdom of heaven. May God bless our church to fight the spiritual battle against the power of Satan to lead many souls to the kingdom of heaven!
II. The way of the Messiah (vs. 21-28)
After Peter's confession, Jesus began to teach his disciples of the way of the Messiah. Look at verse 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, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” The way of the Messiah was to suffer, die and rise again. This was precisely the will of God for the Messiah. Isaiah 53:10 says, “Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.” God sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. It was the only way for God to solve our sin problem.
When Jesus’ teaching about the way of the Messiah did not match his expectation, Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!” Peter could not endure the thought of Jesus’ suffering and death. What was Jesus’ response? Look at verse 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 concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” A few minutes earlier, Peter was inspired by the Holy Spirit. But now, the same mouth that confessed Jesus as the Messiah suddenly rebuked Jesus. Jesus said that he was inspired by Satan. God was concerned about people’s suffering under the power of sin, death and Satan, and he was to give all mankind eternal salvation through Jesus’ death and resurrection. However, through Peter, Satan tempted Jesus to view the cross from a human point of view and avoid it. Jesus helped Peter to repent for human thinking and to think from God’s point of view.
Now Jesus teaches his disciples God’s truth about the way to follow the Messiah. Look at verse 24. “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” There is only one way to follow Jesus. It is to deny oneself and take up one’s cross and to follow Jesus.
First, denying oneself. It means completely disown, completely separate oneself from someone, that is old self. For Peter, he had to deny his earthly Messianic hope and human love for Jesus. It is to renounce one’s way of thinking, habits, pride, dream, human desire, easy-going and self-centered life to live a Christ-centered life. It is to renounce one’s own idea and accept God’s word, so that Christ may live and reign in us. It is to renounce one’s ownership and accept stewardship over one’s life and family. This doesn’t disregard individuality, but transforms one’s person from the old sinful self into a new self in Christ Jesus.
Second, taking up one’s cross. In Jesus’ time, a convicted criminal was forced to carry his own cross. So taking up one’s cross means to identify with Christ in his rejection, shame, suffering, and death to carry out Christ’s mission. Jesus wants his disciples to voluntarily bear the cross. God very personally and individually lays the burden of cross for each of Jesus’ disciples while we follow Jesus and carry out his mission. God lays his cross on our shoulders based on his infinite wisdom and perfect sovereignty as fittest for each of us.
Third, following Jesus. By denying oneself and taking up one’s cross, Jesus asks his disciples to follow in his footsteps. While denying ourselves and taking our cross, we need to fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who endured the cross for the joy set before him, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)
To help his disciples to follow him, Jesus taught them an eternal value system and perspective. Read verses 25,26. “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” Jesus reminds that the soul of man was not created merely to enjoy the world for a few days, but to obtain at length its immortality in heaven. The soul is of higher value than all the riches and enjoyments of the world. Therefore, he asks his disciples to live for eternity. Jesus promises that those who willingly suffer death for the sake of Christ do actually obtain life.
Jesus further helped his disciples have hope in his coming again. Look at verse 27. “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 they have done.” When Jesus came the first time, he was a humble shepherd and Savior. His glory was veiled with human flesh. But when he comes again, he will come as the King of kings and Lord of lords. Every knee will bow before him. He will decide the eternal destiny of each person. Those who lived for Jesus and the Gospel will be rewarded with eternal life in the kingdom of heaven and a crown of righteousness. With this glorious hope, Jesus encourages us to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Jesus every day.
Lastly Jesus says in verse 28, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” Christ began to manifest his heavenly glory at his resurrection, and which he afterwards made more fully by sending the Holy Spirit, and by the performance of miracles. He has given his people a taste of the newness of heavenly life even on earth.
I and Grace visited Korea for the last 2 weeks. It was the first visit since we had left Korea 17 years ago. 17 years ago, I resigned from my previous job in Korea and decided to live as a missionary for eternity. However, it has not been easy. We have to deny our comfortable life and the concerns of family members. Especially, to me, I have to deny my human love for my widowed mother. We have to take our cross of learning language, getting a job, serving ministry, raising disciples, and raising children in an unstable social status. Meanwhile, we suffer from financial difficulties, and my children suffer from their mental illnesses. We have been misunderstood by family members because we have not visited Korea for such a long time. Finally, however, God granted us time to visit Korea in May. Before our brothers and sisters at my sending church, I shared how we have lived in America and how God has guided our family. With many tears, I shared my sufferings and pains. God greatly comforted me and Grace through much love, prayers, and support from spiritual and physical family members. It was a short practice and experience of the kingdom of heaven that I would taste when I go to heaven. Jesus will comfort me with many surrounding brothers and sisters in heaven.
Furthermore, I was greatly encouraged that God has protected my aged mother in spite of her three strokes and blessed us to re-union together. God has sent his angels to serve my mother and help our unbelieving family members for their salvation. In addition, as we shared our sufferings for our children, many co-workers opened their hearts and willingly shared their own pain and sufferings, so we were mutually encouraged. Through the short trip, I learned that following Jesus is a great privilege and blessing not only for eternity but also in our current life on earth. After coming back to America, I still have many crosses, even more to take daily. But by faith in my Savior, King, Lord, Jesus greatly encourages me to deny myself, take up my cross and follow him with our great hope for eternal life and Jesus’ rewards in heaven.
Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. May God bless us to confess our faith daily and follow in his footsteps daily.
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