Sermon Notes

The “On the Street” video gives a good picture of how Jesus is perceived in our culture and from a visual perspective we also see how Jesus has been depicted over the centuries.

It is important to remember that the Bible does not give a physical description of Jesus. The Bible does not say anything about Jesus’ height, weight, skin color, hair color, or eye color. Such things are not important to understanding who Jesus is. The closest the Bible comes to describing what Jesus looked like is a non-detailed sketch of what Jesus was not like in Isaiah 53:2 “He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him” (ESV). Essentially, Isaiah 53:2 is saying that Jesus was ordinary-looking.

1. We have seen how Jesus is perceived culturally.
2. We have viewed how Jesus is portrayed physically.
3. We can also make a determination of how Jesus is seen historically and religiously

Jews believe Jesus was Mary’s son, was a teacher (Rabbi), had many disciples, was respected, performed miracles, and claimed to be the Messiah.

Muslims believe Jesus was born of a virgin, is to be revered and respected, was a prophet, a wise teacher who worked miracles, ascended to heaven, and will come again.

Hindus believe Jesus was a holy man, a wise teacher, and is a ‘god’.

Buddhists believe Jesus was an enlightened man and a wise teacher.

New Age believers maintain Jesus was a wise moral teacher.

Now let’s see what the Bible says

Matthew 16

Jesus asked the disciples who the people say He is (Matthew 16:13). They understood the crowds of followers to believe Jesus was a powerful prophet or maybe even one returned from the dead, or even John the Baptist. To contrast that view, Jesus asked the disciples who they say He is (Matthew 16:15). Then He asked the big question!

“But who do you say that I am.”  What if this question were presented to you?

Peter's answer is simple, straightforward, and emphasizes the center of Jesus' identity: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Based on this proclamation I want us to think about verses 21-28

²¹ From 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 on the third day be raised. ²² And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” ²³ But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” ²⁴ Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever would 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 shall a man give in return for his soul? ²⁷ For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. ²⁸ Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” (Amplified Bible)

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests] and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].

The fact that Jesus must suffer was apparently a shock to his disciples. They were not expecting the Messiah to “suffer many things and be killed.” But the death of Jesus was a must because of two very important reasons. [Man’s Sin and God’s Love]

1. We pick up on the idea that Jesus “must go to Jerusalem.” He was not at all deterred by the thought of suffering and death. Are We? Certainly - there are many believers in the world that wake up with the prospect of death every single day. We find in scripture that Jesus was continually teaching the disciples His ultimate mission. I can’t help but think what kind of example that I set. (I must be willing every single day to “deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Jesus.”)

D.A. Carson states, “The ‘must’ of Jesus’ suffering lies, not in unqualified determinism, nor in heroic determination (though some of both is present), but in willing submission to his Father’s will.”

You will notice from this passage that the phrase, “and on the third day be raised” did not sink in. It seemed to be completely ignored. They were reminded of these words by an angel over in Luke 24:6-8. ^“He is not here but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise. And they remembered his words,”

2. They were so caught up in their emotions (fear, anger, sorrow) that they missed this most important detail. It’s the Gospel message … the Good News! He is the message of hope, the message of the promise, the message of ultimate victory, the message of deliverance, and the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy. HE WILL RISE AGAIN!!!

Have you ever thought about the idea that you could take Jesus aside and give Him a “talk” or perhaps seek to straighten Him out? That is exactly the direction that Peter is headed. The Bible uses the word “rebuke.” The definition of rebuke is “express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behavior or actions.” So, if you rebuke someone you speak severely to them because they have said or done something that you do not approve of.

Let’s hang out here for a few minutes.

Peter said earlier “you are the Christ the Son of the living God” but now he is rebuking “the Christ the Son of the living God.”

1. He is the very one that said, “you know I love you Lord.”

2. Peter’s actions represent those of many believers today.

a. We don’t stick with the plan when it gets hard or when we face significant opposition.

b. Do you think Peter might have been thinking of himself rather than Jesus? If Jesus is going to suffer and die what might happen to me? Peter would have already witnessed so many things. He was called in Matthew 4 and then Jesus began His public ministry.

c. Yet he’s trying to do a course correction for the mission of Jesus.

d. I believe at this point his eyes were blinded because they were fixed on himself rather than on Jesus.

e. Jesus said to Peter “you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of Man.”

Remember Hebrews 12:1-2

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

When Jesus said deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me … He is speaking as “the author and finisher of our faith.”

Those things go together

Deny self … keep your eyes fixed on Jesus!

Take up your cross … keep your eyes fixed on Jesus!

Follow after Him … keep your eyes fixed on Jesus!

• Jesus is not a created being.
• Jesus is not a small “g” god.
• Jesus is not a prosperity gift giver.
• Jesus is not a guru.
• Jesus is not mystical enlightenment.
• Jesus is not merely a good prophet.
• And Jesus is certainly not the prophet right under Abraham.

“Jesus is the Christ the son of the living God” and He requires our obedience. It is very important to understand that you will not be able to do any of these things if your eyes are not fixed on Jesus.

I want to lay it out very clearly:

God doesn’t need any of our stuff!

• He does not need our buildings
• He does not need our programs
• He does not need our ministries
• What God requires is that we deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow after Jesus!!!

Deny Self (I have spoken about this recently)

• Denying self is an essential part of the Christian life.
• These are strong words from Jesus – Similar strong words are found from Paul in Philippians 3. “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ.”
• The purpose of self-denial or counting as “loss” is to become more like Jesus in holiness and obedience to God.
• It involves bringing everything into submission to God’s Word.
• Through self-denial and crucifying the flesh, our life in Christ grows.
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer helps us to understand the meaning of self-denial. He famously said “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”
• Galatians 2:20 ^“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
• When you are willing to sacrifice your time, energy, rights, position, reputation, privileges, comforts, and even your very life for the sake of Christ, you exemplify what it means to deny yourself.
• Do you remember verse 25 “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Take up your Cross

• Following Jesus’ pronouncement that He would suffer and then die, He makes a statement to the disciples that they must “Take up their cross.”
• Again, the disciples would have been shocked. They were aware of what carrying a cross meant.
• Crucifixion was for criminals. The nails, the torment, and the agony were well known. When Jesus made this statement to His followers, it did not sound like a positive development.
• To be a follower of Jesus, He asks for 100% complete dedication and no turning back.
• It’s made clear in Galatians 5:24 “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
• If we are followers of Jesus, this little phrase “take up your cross” should be foundational.
• Taking up our crosses isn’t a passive act but an active one. It’s something we should choose every day.

1. Do you struggle with anger? Take up the cross of humbly walking into a counseling office to heal the wounds from which your anger swells.
2. Are you controlled by an addiction? Take up the cross of asking for accountability and being willing to receive it when you need it most.
3. Is your heart hardened with bitterness because of past wrongs against you? Take up the cross of untangling those wrongs and applying to them the same forgiveness Christ has given to you.
4. Has God called you to share the gospel with your lost friends and family? Take up the cross of a bold proclamation of the gospel even if it causes those you’re sharing with to label you as foolish.
5. Have you walked away from a relationship with God? Take up the cross of repentance. Let your pride come crashing down and willingly admit that your way has led you to death and you desire to once again live the life that Christ has called you to.
6. I pray that even now, God is revealing where you’ve chosen comfort over Christ. I pray that you choose to take up your cross and as you do, remember the promise that what you’re losing is of little value compared to what you are gaining!

 To Follow Him

• Is a call to live a life of radical faith and love.
• Jesus gave His disciples a new standard for loving one another. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:24-35
• Our first reaction here might be one of dismay.
• We become aware of the depth of our sin, and it seems impossible to fulfill such a call, yet this is a positive reaction because it is based on reality.
• One author has written “Jesus knows we cannot follow Him without a power beyond ourselves.” That is why He sent the Holy Spirit to empower us.
• Then we are confronted with Mathew 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
• We see ourselves as loving people because we love our family, friends, and fellow church members, but Jesus says that is not enough.

I would like to conclude with this. Peter knew what it was like to face adversity, to lash out in anger or draw back in fear, to be restored in love, then to step out boldly with gospel courage. It took him years to learn but he finally did.

Where are you today? Are you willing to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow hard after Jesus?