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all right we’re going to begin welcome greetings from California let’s begin Sunday school we are nearing the end of our second quarter and the third year with the answers viable curriculum and our theme for this quarter has been the authority of Jesus we’ve seen Jesus Authority displayed in his miracles and his actions and his teaching and today is kind of like a conclusion to that a summary I sum up in some ways it’s kind of like the review date before we hit the review day we’re gonna see a lot of the things we’ve been talking about repeated in some ways in this class but also with a concluding sort of emphasis so that means next week when we know when we have our review day scheduled less than 13 I want to do something a little different this time I’d like you to send me questions do like a more question and answer type day questions that can be related to sunday school things we’ve talked about things we’ve learned but also things maybe that we haven’t talked about things other other aspects the Gospels or even things that are not in the New Testament but in the Old Testament we have an application biblical application how to live the Christian life I’d like you to send those questions any and all those questions to my email address you should be getting my emails if you’re part of the Calvary email list should have my email address there you send me those questions before Sunday school next week so I can prepare an answer and that we can talk about it and be edified during Sunday school next week so again that could be on anything I think that’ll be a useful time not only talking about what we’ve learned but also on you messing the things that are that you’ve been wondering about or that are going on in your lives we’re doing that because this week is kind of like a review week next week I would like to do a question and answer type day but today we’re talking about responding to Jesus and live everything we’ve seen how much one respond to Jesus let’s pray before we continue my god our god I paid it you it make your word clear to us and it would have its perfect effect that your people would be built up in Jesus name Amen one of the most crucial questions in the gospel is probably the most crucial question in the gospel the four gospel is given in the New Testament really the most crucial question in all of life is who is Jesus who is Jesus it’s interesting that the structure of the three synoptic Gospels literally hinges on that question if you go to Matthew Mark or Luke you can see that there’s a build-up to a moment where Jesus asks the disciples that question and then there’s exactly a bill down but that that’s like the first mini culmination and then the next one comes at his crucifixion their Gospels lead up to that question and then lead from it so that’s the question I want to talk about together with you today who is Jesus we’re gonna look at mark’s version of that question that jesus asks to his disciples who do people say that I am who do you say that I am so open your Bibles to mark chapter eight this question is the most crucial question we want to see how Jesus framed it for his disciples what their response was and then what Jesus said in addition to that so mark chapter eight is where we’re going to be mark eight verses 27 to 38 we’ll get the context for where we are mark 8 at this point Jesus has thoroughly demonstrated his authority in this public ministry the people have seen his miracles the disciples have seen his miracles they’ve the crowds have heard his teaching Jesus has spoken both plainly and in parables he’s confronted the scribes and Pharisees and dealt with their questions many times and then we arrived at this moment now each synoptic gospel follows a similar sequence in reporting this this time where Jesus asks his disciples of who he really is and just to show you how similar they are in Luke 9 the sequence of events plays out like this there’s the feeding of five thousand-plus people miraculously then Jesus poses the question to his disciples who do they say who do people say that I am and who do you say I am he then teaches them the cost of following him and that’s followed by an account of Jesus’s Transfiguration that’s Luke’s account Matthew’s account and Matthew 16 is extremely similar we have an account of the four thousand plus people fed miraculously there’s a warning about the teaching of the Pharisees then Jesus asked the question his disciples about his identity he teaches on the cost of discipleship and then there’s an account of Jesus Transfiguration now consider mark sequence which begins at the beginning of chapter 8 we again have this report of Jesus miraculously feeding four thousand plus people there’s a warning about the Pharisees then there’s a healing healing of a blind man Jesus asked the question about its identity is it teaching on the cost of discipleship and then there’s a count of the Transfiguration so you can see that each gospel writer has included a sequence of events that’s extremely similar because they’re and they’re all important it’s all important to those things be reported around this question that Jesus asked his disciples but you may have noticed just from my quick a little rundown that Mark includes something that neither the other two synoptic Gospels do which is this healing of a blind man and this is one of the strangest healings in the entire tyre Bible really but in the Gospels for sure look at Luke mark 8 verse 22 let’s just read this short account it’s a couple verses and see why this healing is so strange mark 8 verses 22 to 26 and they came to Bethsaida and they brought a blind man to Jesus and implored him to touch him taking the blind man by the hand he brought him out to the village and after spitting on his eyes and laying his hands on him he asked him do you see anything he looked up and said I see men for I see them like trees walking around then again he laid his hands on his eyes and he looked intently and was restored and began to see everything clearly he’s and he sent him home and he sent him to his home saying do not even enter the village now thinking about Jesus other miracles what’s so strange about this one what happens here that doesn’t happen with any mother Jesus Jesus’s miracles well it is private though he does do that at other times – not all the time but this is a private miracle that’s not the most unique aspect that takes two steps now it is true not Jesus does heal people in different ways sometimes he speaks the word sometimes he touches a person sometimes he says oh you may remember the one time he makes spittle puts it on the man’s eyes and then says go and anoint yourself so Jesus can’t do it different ways but and no other instance is there a partial healing and then a full healing here we have the first stage this man he can see but he can’t see clearly or correctly he says men look like trees and then the second stage he sees everything clearly this is the only miracle like this and mark is the only one who records it and he records it here why the two stages was there some sort of divine glitch in the miracle like Jesus meant to heal the man all the way didn’t work and he had to redo it and then why did mark conclude this miracle why this partial and then full healing of the man’s sight now this is not random this is quite purposeful from mark and from our Lord and the context is key for understanding why this miracle is reported here and the most important aspect of that context is our main passage today so now let’s actually look at that mark eight verses 27 to 38 follow along with me as I read verse 27 Jesus went out along with his disciples to the village of Caesarea Philippi on the way he questioned his disciples saying to them who do people say that I am they told him saying John the Baptist another say Elijah but others one of the prophets and he continued by questioning them but who do you say that I am Peter answered and said to him you are the Christ and he warned them no one about him and he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed and after three days rise again and he was stating the matter plainly and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him but turning around and seeing his disciples he rebuked Peter and said get behind me Satan for you were not setting your mind on God’s interests but man’s and he’s some of the crowd with his disciples and said to them if anyone wishes to come after me he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me for whoever wishes to save his life will lose it but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it but what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul for what will a man give in exchange for his soul for whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation the son of man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his father with the Holy Angels that’s where Jesus teaching ends so now we’ve read this passage we want to make basic observations on it consider interpretation questions and then conclude with application what we want to do with each section of Scripture we start with observations we see that the disciples are on the way to Caesarea Philippi where’s that well think of the sea a galley and then go northeast and that’s where you’re gonna run into this Caesarea Philippi we’re talking about the towns around it this would be in the Golan Heights today which it i think is not in Israel’s borders it would be in syria today for this city is what we’re looking at the towns around it on the way Jesus asks his disciples a question who do the people say that I am and we’re given three answers first John the Baptist and how is it possible that Jesus could be John the Baptist I hope those two different people what were people thinking why didn’t anyone think that Jesus was John the Baptist because at this point oh go ahead Steve exactly at this point John the Baptist is dead and for some reason some people are not thinking about that Jesus was with John the Baptist earlier some people didn’t know that and John the Baptist was considered by many to be a prophet and he was killed by Herod in a in a tyrannical way and Herod thought for sure that Jesus was John the Baptist risen from the dead and that’s why Herod concluded miraculous powers were at work in Jesus he’s come back supernaturally and he’s got these miraculous powers apparently other people thought the same thing who didn’t know any better other people say that Jesus is Elijah now that’s not the first time we’ve encountered this concept of Elijah what Old Testament scripture prophesied the coming of Elijah one that we looked at together last book of the Old Testament Malachi concludes with a promise from God I am going to send Elijah before the great day of the Lord that’s Malachi 4:5 this Elijah is the same as described in Isaiah the forerunner to Messiah and we see if the New Testament that they actual fulfillment of Elijah was John the Baptist but some people thought that Jesus was the Elijah he would be the forerunner of Messiah that’s another opinion but people also say that Jesus is one of the prophets notice not the profit not the Deuteronomy prophet the one that Moses prophesied about but one of the prophets and indeed Jesus does seem to fit the description of one of the Old Testament prophets does miracles proclaims God’s message urges the people to repentance people say he’s just another one of those prophets now with these the only opinions about Jesus identity in the New Testament or even to the Gospels they’re not the only ones you can probably think have yourselves what are some other things that people said about Jesus regarding who he was what’s something someone else said about who Jesus was yeah Roy that’s right Jesus actually says you may remember in our lesson last week they’ve called the head of the household Beals evil they basically say I’m Satan I’m the lord of the demons yeah that was the opinion of the scribes and Pharisees what else the people say you can think back to Jesus conversation with Nicodemus Nicodemus said you are a teacher from God it’s obvious because no one could do the miraculous things that you do unless God was with him that was from John 3 in John chapter 7 we hear a lot of the the crowds discussing Jesus they mentioned different opinions some say he’s a good man some say he’s a deceiver of the people some say he is the Prophet that Moses spoke about others even say he is the Christ and they weren’t alone many individuals and the Gospels also do also declared Jesus to be Messiah in Christ John the Baptist testified of that Nathanael testified of that when he first saw Jesus the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 she recognized Jesus as Messiah her whole town did this town of Samaritans often healed people recognized Jesus to be Messiah especially the blind ones the blind people who are healed in the scripture and the Gospels who often have the most clear insight into who Jesus is but the crowd also said that Jesus was demon-possessed the Pharisees and scribes agreed they thought he was empowered by saying the Sanhedrin considered Jesus to be a revolutionary leader the scribes and Pharisees even some of the common people consider Jesus a blasphemer one who even considered himself equal with God and the scribes and Pharisees further said that Jesus was a lawbreaker he did not keep the Sabbath so there’s a diversity opinions about Jesus and it’s the same as today’s and not as people who Jesus was or who Jesus is and look at the diversity of opinions along these same lines there some would also claim that Jesus never existed but really the same thing he’s a deceiver he’s a good man he’s a he’s a good teacher he was someone from God he was one of the prophets he was Messiah but we don’t get all those opinions and the disciples answers they just mentioned three which means these probably the most popular opinions we have this backdrop established with his first question from Jesus then then he proceeds to another question he says but who do you say that I am and here it’s Peter who specifically answers he asked the disciples before now it’s Peter stepping forward probably answering on behalf of disciples which he often would do and Peter says you are the Christ remember Christ us equals Messiah messiahs Hebrew crisis Greek they mean the same thing now that’s the correct answer we’ve seen by now that Jesus is the Messiah he has demonstrated his messianic Authority he is from God He is God good job Peter you got the right answer in fact in Matthews account to this event Jesus even says to me to Peter blessed are you simon barjona but he also mentions jesus also mentions this truth was not something you came up with it was revealed to you from heaven that’s why you’re blessed God revealed this truth to you we don’t have that mention here by Mark in fact what mark then mentions next is quite surprising in verse 30 right after Peter gives the right answer Jesus instructs his disciples to tell no one about him what that doesn’t make any sense if you’re the Messiah don’t you want people to know that you’re the Messiah this is fair enough there’s then a shift in the next verse mark 831 and each gospel features this each synoptic gospel this is the first time fine after the disciples confess him to be who he truly is this is the first time in each where Jesus foretells plainly his own suffering death and resurrection action and we see that exactly here right I’m gonna go I’m gonna be rejected by the scribes the Pharisees the chief priests I’m going to be killed I’m gonna be raised in the third day he says the Son of Man but we know by now that’s a that’s a title that Jesus uses for himself it’s a messianic title it’s also as an allusion to Jesus divinity now this is not the first time Jesus has mentioned his coming death but it wasn’t so straightforward before he has alluded to it saying things like the Son of Man must be lifted up destroy this temple in three days I will I will raise it up so the first time Jesus mentioned what was coming it’s the first time he stated it plainly and as soon as he does well Peter acts Peter takes his rabbi takes the Lord aside and rebukes it that’s some gumption you’re gonna rebuke the one that you just confessed to be the Messiah there’s a reason he does though and we’ll see that later on it’s funny how the text though our translation says he began to rebuke him so he started it but then this action is cut short somewhat quickly so Jesus turns around he sees the other disciples and then he counter rebukes Peter and it’s a very strong rebuke from Jesus Jesus says first get behind me that is stop opposing me get out of the way you stumbling block and then he says Satan get behind me Satan now Satan’s a word from the Old Testament that’s a Hebrew word meaning adversary or opponent whenever it’s used in the New Testament it’s always used as a title or a name that is for the evil one the one that we refer to as Satan but here Jesus calls Peter Satan get behind me Satan and then there’s a reason given for that you see it in the word for you say this often in Sunday school but whenever you see the word for it’s an important transition word it means it Jesus is about to give a reason for what he just said what’s the reason Jesus says get behind me Satan for you are not setting your mind on God’s interest but man you’re thinking what man wants not what God wants how so well we’ll come back to that in our interpretation step just observing right now follow up to this rebuke it’s very purposeful Jesus then begins to teach and he draws the crowds back to himself he was just talking to his disciples traveling with his disciples but now he draws the crowds to him again and he starts with a conditional statement and much of the teaching of this passage will sound familiar to us because similar word to what Jesus said earlier in his ministry we saw this last week in Matthew 10 but Jesus first says if you want to come after me if you want to be my true disciple you must be willing to do certain things what are those things you got first deny yourself this word this greek verb you translated deny and it’s used elsewhere in the New Testament to with the idea of refusing to recognize or acknowledge you refuse to it to recognize something or to acknowledge it either because it’s not true or because you just don’t recognize it same verb used from when Peter denies Jesus I refuse to recognize my association with them Jesus says you got to deny you got to refuse to recognize you got to totally give up yourself if you want to be my disciple he also says you must take up your cross we saw that phrase last time this is not about bearing burdens in your life this is about taking up a method the method of your own execution be willing to follow Jesus unto shameful prolonged painful death Luke adds and his version of this account you must take up your cross daily it is a continual act you are constantly giving yourself up for execution every day and then lastly you must follow me let’s go where your Lord goes must be like him you must learn from him obey Him follow his example Jesus gives for for doing so and what comes next and some of them come in the form of questions so let’s look at each one of those reasons he first says he seeks to save his life will lose it but he loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it that’s interesting my sake and the gospel mark is unique in that expression but you see there’s a connection between Jesus and what he said Jesus and the message of salvation he brings and you can see the way that this sentence is inverted that helps to draw out the contrast also present a certain sort of irony if you try to save your life cling to it hold to it you’re gonna lose it but if you lose it you actually gain it and then you ask the question this is the second reason what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul this is a rhetorical question because the answer should be obvious there’s no profit even if you gain the whole world if you have to forfeit your soul actually it’s a tragic waste that’s a very misguided exchange because the world however great however much you have in it it’s all temporary but the soul is forever where your soul be where your soul will be is forever what a terrible exchange to only have the world which passes away and lose your soul and Jesus says further and this is a third reason what can a man give in exchange for his soul that’s also a rhetorical question what’s the answer I think I can’t give anything to exchange for his soul there’s nothing he can obtain in this world that he could exchange with God there’s no way he can make that exchange later no amount of money and no goods no fame no influence no whatever it is worth Wow none of it is useful even if you gave the whole world to God it wouldn’t be enough to redeem your soul after all the word the world belongs to God and everything in it does so all that you might gain in this life he’ll be worthless for you when you need to have your soul redeemed then Jesus brings up one more reason he says he was ashamed of me now I’m gonna be ashamed of him later notice that he the way he phrases this this further sort of inversion he was ashamed of me and my words just like before there’s an intimate connection between who Jesus is and what he says he is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation Jesus talking about the current state of Israel they weren’t unbelieving people they were a sinful people but is this still true today do we live in a adulterous and sinful generation of course we did that is there’s been the predominant state of our world it’s certainly true in America just like the people of Israel our generation does not like or take to heart Jesus or his words you might say well I thought a lot of people respect you this they talk about him positively well maybe so but is it really Jesus who they’re talking about the real Jesus are they not contemptuous or ignorant or ashamed of Jesus’s words if so how could they be respecting Jesus when Jesus refers to his coming he says at the future when Jesus will be ashamed of those who have shamed at him he says when he comes in the glory of his father that’s an interesting phrase Jesus sing I’ll have the glory of the Father with me we know from other scriptures Jesus indeed has that glory now he’s about to be transfigured actually and you’ll see his glory unveiled the disciples see his glory unveil Jesus says I’m gonna come with that glory the same glory as the father because he’s one with the father he’s God it’s not displayed now in his first coming but it will be displayed when he comes again and he’s gonna come with his holy angels no what’s the function of angels in scriptures what do they do they are messengers what we could say more generally their servants and one of the ways that they often serve God especially the Old Testament is that they are warriors we see angels destroying striking down God’s enemies but they do whatever God needs them to do sometimes they’re also worshiping the Lord but they are servants their messengers their soldiers Jesus says I’m coming with angels I’m coming again in glory I’m coming victoriously and I’m coming in judgment with my angels so do does anyone want to be ashamed of Jesus then when he comes with such power and glory of course again this is all about to be manifest in a very visual way that Jesus Transfiguration so there’s a reason that that comes next in the near so we’ve made our observations in the text just looking at the different details now let’s look at the interpretation step well we asked some questions that are not explicitly answered in the passage but ones that we want to answer based on the details that do exist in the passage first this is probably one of the most important questions here do Peter and the disciples really understand who Jesus is where do you think that’s a perfect answer yes and no why would we say the answer is yes yeah okay that’s a good explanation Rob yes most obviously because to get the correct answer about its identity you are the Christ and in other parts of his ministry they see his power they see him as a redeemer they see him as a as the king that’s all correct and Jesus has been leading them up to this moment they would understand that and they do but you’re also right to point out Rahab that they don’t fully understand because soon as Jesus mentions the suffering aspect of his ministry they don’t know they don’t get it and Peter feels like he has to rebuke Jesus a suffering and dying Messiah one who’s rejected by his people that doesn’t compute so Peter feels like he has to go rebuke Jesus Peter we don’t get the content of his rebuke but surely it was along the lines of that’s not what Messiah is supposed to be Messiah is going to be one accepted by his people and bring about this new kingdom of prosperity and deliver Israel from its enemies remember some of those things and really those things that Peter says they are true but they neglect other aspects of who Messiah really is Jesus will destroy as the Messiah he will destroy the enemies of God Israel’s enemies one day but that’s only after Israel is repentant and saved and something has to happen for Israel to be changed like that Jesus has to correct and refine the disciples thinking about who Messiah is and not just who Messiah is and what his work consists of but also what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and you can see that the misunderstanding of Messiah directly translates to a misunderstanding of what it means to follow Messiah consider the disciples throughout Jesus they often get in arguments with each other and what are they arguing about who is the greatest who’s the greatest disciple of Jesus it all sounds comical whenever we hear that we’re like what’s wrong with these people but think about their understanding of Messiah Messiah is going to bring about this glorious Kingdom he’s gonna reign in power we’re all thinking about greatness here so what about us which one of us is the greatest which one of us will be the greatest when it comes into Jesus Kingdom they’re only thinking about the exaltation part of Messiah and therefore they only think about the exaltation part of themselves as followers of Messiah so Jesus must correct both of these things needs to correct there everyone is thinking complete they’re thinking about what it who Messiah is he’s the suffering servant he’s the king sacrificed himself for his people he is the God who humbled himself so that he could take on the sins of his people and those who follow this Messiah they become like him they suffer as he suffered but a sake of others for the sake of God they become suffering servants as well now why does Jesus wait till now to speak plainly about his this other aspect of his Messiahship his coming sacrificed at the resurrection yes dream right okay I’ve said a couple of things there so I’m just gonna expand on a little bit so Jesus is bringing the disciples along in stages for him for them to understand the work of Messiah they need to understand a little bit more the nature and character of Messiah and he’s been leading them to a fundamental understanding of that up to this point his ministry I am the Messiah and I have full power and authority he’s demonstrated that again and again they need to come to the conclusion that he is the Messiah and he has all authority from God that’s an important foundation for Jesus then Tunick explained the other aspect of being Messiah I am the one who willingly lays down my life for my people I am the suffering Messiah the suffering servant here’s the work I’m going to accomplish he wanted to make sure they had that first part understood before he began to more fully explain the second part and this is this is what teachers do right they don’t give you everything at once they they try and bring you along in stages now hopefully here you might now be seeing the connection between what we’re talking about then what precedes this passage why does that unique miracle appear right before this confession of the disciples and the correction of Jesus why this weird two-part healing and then this discussion from Jesus yeah okay I think here I think you’re onto something and there’s a connection between the man who’s being healed and the disciples don’t understand it or you could even say there’s a connection between the sight of the man who’s healed and the understanding of messiahs ministry because think about this man who was healed he saw but he didn’t see everything clearly you didn’t see everything fully accurately and then jesus heals him a second time and the man sees everything clearly so it is what the disciples do they see well they – but they don’t see everything clearly they don’t see everything correctly and Jesus is now beginning to work on that second aspect of their understanding very interesting in mark there are only two people who are healed of blindness this one who’s healed in two parts and Bartimaeus who’s healed right before Jesus enters Jerusalem by that time Jesus the second aspect of Jesus ministry was much more fully explained and it’s interesting that bartimaeus when he’s healed he’s healed instantly and once he’s healed he immediately follows Jesus so it’s like Jesus has in mind when he heals this first man he has in mind the disciples and he uses the man as an object lesson of the disciples own understanding certainly Peter and then later Mark who recorded Peters teaching he sees the connection between this man who was healed this blind man who was healed and the disciples own understanding because there’s he includes this miracle right before this confession from Jesus even though the other Gospel writers did not mark sees the connection a symbolic connection between this miracle and the disciples themselves this informs also why Jesus tells us disciples not to tell anyone about him why would that be because the disciples do not yet fully understand who Messiah is they got the basics they don’t have the full story they don’t have a full understanding if they went around telling people about Messiah now they would misinformed people they would say Messiah only comes to become Israel’s King make Israel prosperous Kingdom and exalt himself and his followers and they wouldn’t be collect the not the critical aspect of an Jesus ministry as a sin bearer and the one who secures forgiveness for sins for his people they couldn’t go out and spread the message about Messiah now because they don’t yet fully understand but when when do they allow to start telling people about who Jesus is after his resurrection when they see everything clearly then they can tell people about my side it’s interesting also and the next pass is the Transfiguration Jesus says similarly don’t tell anybody what you saw until the Son of Man rises from the dead you don’t understand fully yet you I can’t let you guys go tell people about me until you fully understand so you can see how all these things are connected the healing Jesus words to his disciples the reason for his rebuke of Peter and also his reason for his telling no one to tell about him but why does Jesus call Peter Satan that seems pretty harsh I don’t think any of us want to be called Satan why is he called Peter Satan Roy was your hand in a way I think that’s true the Satan in a way speaks through Peter I don’t think we should say that Satan and dwelt Peter but that Jesus was claiming that I’m not sure if that’s what you’re what you’re alluding to but certainly there’s an idea that Peter is acting in the stead of Satan or acting in the same way as Satan certainly we’re not saying that Jesus is not saying that Peter and Satan were the same person or I would say that neither that Satan in 12 Peter we’re familiar with it and we’ve considered the New Testament as a whole and even Jesus is our teaching in the Gospels he says all that the father gives to me will come to me and I won’t lose any of them I’m the Good Shepherd I protect the Sheep I lay my life down for the Sheep we understand that those who and God are protected even from Satan in the demons they cannot be controlled they cannot be taken over by them doesn’t mean we can’t be tempted but certainly not going to be possessed or indwelt by Satan or the demons but in a way Peter is not possessed but taking the place saying here in a metaphorical way you know we sometimes use other names in the Bible to bring forth a metaphor if we say dare to be a Daniel we’re not really saying that you should change your name to Daniel what did you should adopt everything that the biblical Daniel did but we’re referring to what was characteristic of Daniel ought to be characteristic of you you should be courageous for God where sometimes you might refer to oh he he was the Judas of the group I’m not saying that the man’s name was Judas but what he did what characterize Judas Judas was characterized by betrayal and so anyone who is called a Judas is being characterized as a betrayer same thing for the name Satan here what characterizes in a fundamental way Satan yeah Danny yeah I think you’re you’re already tying in what Jesus says to Peter and it’s part of his review Satan is fundamentally opposed to God he hates God he hates God’s people he totally opposes God’s purposes he hates God’s glory and he’s only concerned about his own glory his own purposes and Jesus by calling Peter Satan says that’s what you’re doing right now Peter you are showing fundamental opposition to God and a hatred of God’s purposes and even ancient of God’s glory that’s what Jesus said it says Danny was with Danny was explaining you don’t have in mind God’s interest but man’s that’s just like seeing now Peters somewhat unwitting and his acting like saying he doesn’t know that he’s opposing God’s plans so so vigorously but it is a terribly evil thing that Peters doing here there’s no greater opposition to God then to oppose the redemption of his people to oppose the gospel itself is the work of Satan and that’s what Peter’s doing here could you imagine if Peter succeeded and his rebuke that he stopped Jesus from doing the work called to him from the Father that would be the worst thing that could ever happen not only for mankind but for Jesus himself being disobedient to the Father Peter did not realize the extent of his evil says I have to point out to you just how much like Satan you were being right now you cannot oppose God’s perfect plan especially because you’re only thinking about what you want you’re only thinking according to man that’s what Jesus calls him see now and we concede why Jesus is teaching about self-denial follows right because it has everything to do with how Peter was going astray verse 34 and following Jesus explains what does a true disciple of Messiah do he denies himself Peter you’re thinking only of yourself right now if you want to be my true follower you’ve got to deny yourself take up their cross and follow me don’t be ashamed of me don’t be ashamed of my words even my word is about suffering the Messiah and suffering in his followers suffering but our people ashamed of Jesus words today assuredly are both those inside the church and outside the church there are people who reject and repudiate Jesus words they ignore Jesus words they twist Jesus words they add to Jesus word so they take away from Jesus words or they refuse to share Jesus words with others these are all ways of being ashamed of Jesus words we can see that this teaching that follows is intimately connected with the disciples own experience and Jesus rebuked of Peter 1 actually just a two other questions here when Jesus says if you’re ashamed of me of my words I’ll be ashamed of you when I come in the glory of my father as Jesus referring to someone who is saved there’s someone who was unsafe the person who was ashamed of Jesus in his words who’s he talking about from just verse 38 alone it might not be entirely clear but I think the context helps us understand that Jesus is referring to someone who is not a true disciple someone who’s ultimately hung saved because look back earlier in in that section verse 34 he says if you want to be my disciple you have to deny yourself follow me you can’t do that if you’re ashamed of Jesus and we can think back to Matthew 10 and also in 2nd Timothy where we get a slightly different version of the phrase but Jesus says whoever denies me before men I will deny him before my father or second Timothy words in this way if we deny him he will deny us to be denied by God means I don’t know you I don’t have fellowship with you you’re not one of my own so this phrase are being ashamed of Messiah in his words that describes an unbeliever and so it’s abuse for Jesus to be ashamed of you when he comes means he does not own you I’m sorry that one doesn’t belong to me now is it possible for believers to be ashamed of Jesus it is temporarily but that’s not ultimately characteristic of a believer and again we can we can point to Peter himself directly someone who who became ashamed of Jesus and even denied him outright but nonetheless repented persevered ultimately was not ashamed of Jesus so Jesus is referring to fundamental eternal destiny when it comes to are you ashamed of Jesus and are you seen his words so we could summarize the motivation that Jesus is giving in this last part of the passage why should you be motivated to give up everything for Jesus because he is the only way to gain eternal life and be spared God’s judgment there’s no other way gain the whole world profits you nothing nothing can give and shake exchange your soul the only one who can save you is Jesus Christ and the only way that you can truly be his disciple is if you give up yourself give up everything follow him even to the point of death and he won’t be ashamed of you when he comes but he’ll own you he’ll say aye I’m his Lord I give him life he will not come under judgment so let’s summarize what we’ve seen in the passage as we move towards application there is much confusion yet at the time of Jesus’s ministry as to who Jesus actually was crowds Pharisees all saying different things but the disciples correctly answer the most critical question about Jesus he is the Messiah of God but even their understanding was incomplete and erroneous and Jesus had to correct their preconceptions of who Messiah was that they actually believed in the real Messiah not just who they thought Jesus was but her Jesus actually was that was a very important thing they wouldn’t even be allowed to tell that’s about Messiah until they understood correctly this correction of all the true work of Messiah the aspect of her suffering and death for sin and the true cost of discipleship now what does this mean for us how does the Holy Spirit want to instruct us today personally from this passage I thought of some questions just to get us thinking in terms of application but we have to answer the same question that the disciples opposed here who do you say that Jesus is do each one of you say that Jesus is you may confess like the disciples he is Messiah he is Lord he is the son of God that’s good I hope you won’t confess that but do you acknowledge the full claims of Jesus do you understand into all the necessary aspects of his fundamental character in nature He is God one with the Father but distinct he is the only salvation that’s been our theme verse right I am the way the truth and life no one comes to the Father except through me he is the judge of all sin and unbelief he’s the only possible sacrifice for sin he’s the only one who can save you there’s no amount of good works that you can do do you acknowledge the full claims of Jesus inside and in light of that have you become his true follower one of the things the Gospels make so clear is that it’s very possible very easy to be a false follower of Jesus remember how Jesus described it there are two ways one is wide that leads to destruction the other is narrow why is it so wide because so many people travel it I remember reading one I think commentator preacher from the past who mentioned that it’s so wide that all kinds of people can be on it you can have the totally godless person alongside the very religious person nonetheless it’s not actually believed in Jesus does not fully acknowledge who Jesus is and they’re both on the road to destruction they’re not true followers are you a true follower have you denied yourself have you taken up your cross have you followed him do you follow him now do you seek your life here or have you given it up for the life to come for the sake of Jesus and the gospel are you waiting for the final unveil the final judgment of God which he owns his true people and rejects those who rejected him of course we’re not just thinking about ourselves now also thinking about other people what we’re talking about here is fundamental questions relating to evangelism in the gospel so how might we respond to somebody who says Jesus was just a good moral teacher what should we say in response Craig ooh is that your hand yes it is erroneous what else can we say yeah we take into the Scriptures do you actually know what Jesus said you say it’s a good moral teacher he claimed to be God you know CS Lewis is famous for his explanation of the trilemma if a good teacher claims to be God he’s either a liar he’s a lunatic he’s telling the truth he is the Lord so it’s logically inconsistent to say that Jesus was a good teacher but he wasn’t that and the Scriptures don’t declare Jesus to be merely a good teacher I want to show him what Jesus actually said and point out the logical inconsistency and also show them their need you must believe in this Jesus you must become his true follower if you want to be saved how might we respond to someone who says Jesus is one of many ways to get into heaven yes T very good again we want to point them to the actual words of Jesus have you heard what Jesus said he said he was the only way he demonstrated he was the only way by the way it’s logically inconsistent for every way to be valid into getting to heaven because the ways contradict each other is Lomb says it’s the only way Jesus according to the scripture says he’s the only way they can’t all be true for them to all be true you have to alter each one of them you have to say oh this part here that wasn’t true that’s logically inconsistent and again we won’t point out to people no Jesus is who you need there’s no other way how might we respond to somebody who says yes do you need to believe in Jesus to be saved but Jesus was a created being he’ll only be Canaan God how might we respond to that yeah ROI again yeah essentially ROI we pointed to the scriptures that’s not what the scriptures say and if you’re not going to fall into the deadly error of believing in a different Jesus you must acknowledge who Jesus actually claimed and demonstrated himself to be I and the father are one before Abraham was I am he was the word who was in the beginning with God and was God all things were created by him and without him nothing was created that has been created it is possible to believe in a Jesus that’s not the real Jesus and to believe in a God who’s not the real God it is true that the scriptures say there’s no other name by which for no other name under heaven by which we must be saved that doesn’t mean that if you just name any old Jesus that you believe in Jesus you have to believe in the Jesus who is because that that wasn’t that the danger that does the disciples were in that they might believe in a messiah of their own making of course that was the fundamental error of the crowds at Jesus’s time oh there are plenty of people who acknowledge Jesus to be the Messiah but it wasn’t the Messiah they were looking for and therefore they repudiated him have to believe in that Jesus who is and something like Jesus deity is fundamental to him do you have to believe everything correct about the Scriptures and you this in order to be saved well know plenty of people get saved in the scriptures who don’t know everything but you want to get the fundamentals about Jesus right lest you believe in a different Jesus and you’re not covered by the true Jesus how might we respond to someone who says he believes in Jesus but he lives just like anybody else in the world yeah boy and where do we get that idea from right exactly I can’t we go to Jesus’s teaching obedience is a true demonstration of belief and that’s what Jesus said even in this passage if you want to be my follower if you want to be a disciple you have to do these things if you don’t do these things you’re not my disciple don’t say you believe in Jesus and then deny the rest of what he called you to do which is deny yourself pick up your cross follow him again we take them to Jews we want to take people to Jesus words when I show them the true belief results in self-denial and change not that you do that before you become sane no you can’t work your way into heaven you’re not even able to do these things but as you believe in Jesus this is the food when you believe you say Jesus I’m gonna follow you by your power you have to make me able because I know what you’ve called your disciples to do we want to warn people about being false followers alright that’s it for it this week Randy quick questions before we end today you’re on somebody’s opposing opposing the Lord I feel like I want to echo Steve’s words that I wouldn’t be comfortable would you know that on the one hand even as we’ve said before in class those who oppose the work of the Lord especially false teachers they do get some pretty pretty harsh words so there may be some instances where somebody is so obviously opposing opposing the Lord where it would be appropriate to call that person Satan but it would need to be very very blatant and you would want to be very sober minded if you were to ever use that term we don’t see anybody else using that term nobody else in the Bible call somebody Satan it is true that the Apostles they had some pretty some pretty interesting things that characterize false teachers and religious hypocrites so again there there is a principle there but we wouldn’t be want to be pretty careful please sober-minded about that and in some ways though what’s useful about some of the things that are said about false teachers and even here where Jesus compared is Peter the same is to show the seriousness of what kind of wrong is happening that’s why that’s why that language comes up when we speak against false teachers you have to know and people have to know just how evil and opposed to God this is what you are doing so I’m not saying that we never say those things but we do want to be pretty sober about it so I could to answer your question again from I could conceive of a situation that I would want to be really careful about that now remember next week is question and answer day so please send me emails with questions you’ve had or questions that that you now have or just topics that you’d maybe like to hear more about or things going on in your life that you would want advice about you don’t have to be super personal but just answering things about the Christian life please send me those questions so that next week we have plenty to talk about if you give it to me beforehand I can come up with a better answer by preparing for it a little bit I might have time for some questions that only come up next Sunday but it’s better if I have it beforehand to make sure we have enough and to make sure I can give a good answer not guaranteeing I’ll have an answer I’m not guaranteeing that I might not call on somebody else to answer that question from the congregation but I think it’ll be a good time of exploring what the scripture says on different things so send me those questions let me close in prayer and and I’ll see you guys next week okay look God you demonstrated your authority in the scriptures you’ve shown that you are God Jesus that you are the Messiah that you were the only salvation and you showing with it you shown the need that that you had to die on behalf of your people to save them without you God without your work Lord Jesus there’s no way we could have been saved there’s no way we could have been righteous enough there’s no matter good works we could ever do but you provided it all by taking our sin on yourself paying for it totally and then giving your righteousness to all those who believed in you we thank you for that incredible kindness that wonderful mercy thank you for your salvation god I pray that we would tell others about it Lord that we would answer genuinely not just from the head but from the heart who you really are and that we would help others to do the same they would see that you are Lord and God that they would bow the knee be saved and be given eternal life I pray that you bless the people at Calvary today in Jesus name Amen all right see you next week