I.2 fold Purpose:

1)To understand that Jesus “is the Christ, the Son of the Living God” and 2)how that confession shatters our paradigms.

II.Christ = Messiah = anointed

The title “Christ” is a english translation of the Greek word “Christos”, which is also a Hebrew word that is anglicized into “Messiah,” meaning “annointed.” The title refers to the Hebrew practice of pouring oil on the head of the person being designated king, high priest, or prophet. “Christ” is the most common title used for Jesus in the NT. Many people expected that God would send a special agent to restore a kingdom based on God’s rule – warrior King who would destroy the Romans and restore the throne of David.

III.Tri-perspective view of Jesus as Messiah (Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll):

Prophet – As prophet, Jesus confronts us and calls us to repentance of sin.

King – Jesus commands us to relinquish authority of our life so that every facet of our life is under constant sanctifying transformation.

High priest – Jesus comforts us and comes to us to save us from sin and enable new life.

Jesus “…is the prophet who speaks to us, priest who walks with us, and king who rules over us.”

IV.Tri-perspective Equation(Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll):

King + Prophet – High priest = Jesus of Fundamentalism

They are prone to legalism, moralism, lack of love, grace, mercy or patience. Jesus is a truth teller and bold commander of repentance, reigning in all areas of authority. He is looked as a harsh taskmaster who is distant and cold.

King + High Priest – Prophet = Jesus of Liberalism

They don’t see Jesus as a offensive, raise his voice, hurt our feelings, speek harshly, or command individuals to repent with a sense of urgency because he is only infinitely patient, tolerant, and understanding.

High Priest + Prophet – King = Jesus of Evangelicalism (Majority of Western Christianity)

Moral life is virtually indistinguishable from average non-Christian in areas such as sexual sin. Jesus speaks the truth and loves them like priest; thus, when they sin, they know that Jeuss will forgive them and still love them. But they still run their own life, resulting in double life hypocrisy, where they call Jesus Lord, call His Word true, and then do whatever we want in some areas of our life (e.g. money, sex, life, time).

Matthew 16:13-26 – Revelation of Christ as Messiah and our response

Jesus conducts a staggering QA session that will rock their views of Himself, demanding a response.

How will you respond to his questions? What is your confession?

Outline of Matthew 16:13-26

1. Jesus’ QA Session (13-19)

2. Jesus’ Leadership (20-26)

3. Jesus’ End Time Reality (27-28)

Jesus’ QA session

V.world’s Confession

13Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14And they said,”Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”

External Confession: There is so many views on who Jesus is. What have you heard? What does your friend, parents, school teacher, and culture say about Him? Who do people say that the Jesus is?

VI.Peter’s Confession

15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Internal Confession: This passage makes it personal. Jesus turns the question to them: Who do you say that I am? What will be your confession? You will be asked this question, and all will have to answer this. This is a question that will impact your identity, purpose, and eternal destiny.

VII.response of blessing to Peter’s confession

17And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Jesus Blesses Peter: He is truly blessed because the Father in heaven revealed this.

Divine origin: It takes God to reveal God. True, wholehearted confession will only come from the Father in heaven revealing this to us.

VIII.You rock! ( Authority, power, and access)

18“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”

Peter’s Identity as the Rock: Jesus (Rock) will be the foundation in which His Church will be built upon. Peter (rock) will be one of the apostolic leaders in the building of Jesus’ church. Jesus reveals the authority and power that is given to the Church - rooted in their foundation in their confession in Christ - which is revealed by the Father. The access (keys) to the “kingdom of heaven” gives His Church power to release Heaven on Earth. Binding and loosing on earth occurs because the kingdom of heaven reality.

Jesus’ Leadership

Jesus’ leadership over His followers prepared them for the longhaul because He had the end in mind. Those who could not follow him will not perservere. Jesus out of his compassionate love and brilliant leadership spoke the cost of discipleship on the front end. We must come to agreement with His leadership.

IX.“Messiah” as suffering servant

20Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was Christ. 21From that time Jesus began to show 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 up on the third day.

How did Jesus speak of His role as Messiah? Jesus rejected the nationalistic interpretation of the role of the Messiah. He would come as a suffering servant (Is 53).

Prophetic proclamation: Christ will suffer, be killed, and be raised up

X.Peter and Jesus exchange a few words

22Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” 23But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”

Peter’s failed to comprehend Jesus’ question or his teaching. His objection expressed 1) a concern for Jesus’ personal safety as well as 2)his negative reaction to Jesus’ teaching that Messiah would suffer and die.

Rocky became a rock of offense to Jesus. He got in the way of Jesus’ mission.

XI.Deny, die and follow Me

24Then Jesus said to His disciples, “ If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” 25 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

The confession of Jesus as Christ is not mere verbal activity but is a very real physical expression.

Paradox of following Jesus: to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Life: Temporal vs. Eternal perspective. Will you let the temporary pleasures disqualify your eternal rewards? What is a worthy profit?

Jesus’ Declaration of End Time Reality

XII.Stand before the Son of man

27For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS. 28 Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.

All will stand before Jesus as Judge. He will Judge according to all our deeds: 1)thoughts (Heb. 4:12) 2)words (James 2) 3)money (

Ps. 61:13; Rom 2:6, 2 Cor 11:15; 2 Tim. 4:14; 1 Pet. 1:17; Rev. 2:23, 18:6, 20:13, 22:12

XIII.In Conclusion

Who do you say that I am?

Our confession of Jesus as Messiah must be congruent to our lifestyle.

Following the right response to Jesus, there is a blessings over our lives: authority, power, and access.

Messiah defined: Christ suffered, Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again

In Jesus’ 1^st coming, Jesus comes a suffering servant but in his 2^nd coming He will come as Warrior, King, and Judge.

1^st coming: Jesus Lamb Slain; 2^nd coming: Roaring Lion

Jesus was on a mission to create a new community, establishing brotherhood, sons of God, and disciples. He came to establish the kingdom of heaven, which is the end time rule of God. Jesus did the following:

1. Confronts people

2. Called them to decsion

3. 2 sides

4. Wholehearted obedience

5. Guard from false sense of security

Rock = is the truth about the messiahship of Jesus that was revealed to Peter

Church is the great multitudes who confess the messiahship of Jesus

“Deny” and “take up” aorist imp. = finality “follow” is present reality

Definitive action in the decision to enter into a life of discipleship and the necessity of continuity faithfulness in following through on daily basis

In the Gospels Peter was developed as a spokesperson for the disciples – a protypical church leader

Others who share in his proclamation shares his authority in building the church

Death assaults Christ’s church, but Death cannot crush God’s people.

Keys = authority, power – opening of the door

Promises w/o the cross comes from the devil

Human and demonic wisdom, correcting teachers are rare – he overstepped the boundaries as disciples

Jesus “turned” to confornt and told Peter to “get behind” Him returning to position of discipleship – surrender

Matthew 4 Satan’s agent, Satan offered the kingdom w/o the cross