4, 3, 2, 1
4 vignettes
3 identities
2 ways not to know
1 Way
Read Together Matthew 16:1-27
16 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.
2 He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ 3 and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.
5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6 “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
7 They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”
8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11 How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
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. 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. 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.” 20 Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
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.
22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
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.”
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. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 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? 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 he has done.
Four Vignettes
1. The Pharisees & Sadducees join together to trap Jesus. (!)
2. Jesus warns concerning the teaching of the Pharisees & Sadducees
3. Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, to respond Jesus’ question
4. Jesus corrects Peter’s misconception (inspired by Satan) of the cross
Three Identities
1. The identity of the Pharisees and Sadducees
a. The hallmark of Pharisees was the oral tradition surrounding the Law. The hallmark of the Sadducees was their restriction to only the Pentateuch. Both should have recognized Jesus based on their Scriptures.
b. Their method is the same as Satan—who tested Jesus telling Him to turn stone to bread and to throw Himself down from the roof of the temple.
c. Their teaching is leaven-like 13:33, a corrupting influence within the Kingdom of God which causes growth, but not the kind of growth which we may want.
d. As in Mark 8, they are hypocrites, claiming to believe, yet not really believing—claiming faith as the central point of their lives, yet constantly seeking a sign from God, like some people today—seeking after a sign of God’s work or blessing, while claiming to believe in Him.
i. We are surrounded by miracles, yet we seek after some further indication of God’s presence, and His involvement in our lives. He should not be forced to prove Himself over and over.
2. The identity of Peter (the Rock & Satan)
a. Peter was like Satan, who asked Jesus to bow down to & worship in order to gain the world.
b. And Peter’s identity is our own—the potential to receive revelation from God Himself, and, in the next breath, to receive inspiration from the pit of hell. We are amphibious creatures—comfortable in two environments, the spiritual and the carnal, the heavenly and the hellish. We must curtail and contain those parts of our nature which call out to us from hell, and embrace those which draw us to heaven.
c. It is through such people, imperfect vessels like Peter, that God builds His kingdom. Our faith is not in any one human being. Our faith is in Christ, and Him alone.
3. The identity of Jesus -the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and the Suffering Servant, come to give His life as a ransom, calling us to give our lives as well.
Two ways not to know
How do you know?
Not by signs Gold dust, gems falling from the ceiling, stigmata, images of Jesus on napkins . . . etc. fleeces, etc.
Not by dialogue Διαλογίζεσθαι not this way. . . matthew 21:15; 15:19. The people held many opinions about Jesus—all of them wrong. Dicussion with them would only lead to confusion.
One Way
Jesus is the Way, and following Him, means having a cross as your destination.
And the cost of discipleship
When Jesus calls a man, He bids him ‘come and die’.
Dietrich Bonnhoffer
