Who Am I?

Matthew 16:13-20

Introduction: As we approach Easter I want to preach a series of messages that lead up to the resurrection. Starting this morning I will preach on selected passages that will lead us up to Easter Morning. As an introduction I want to set the scene of our passage. Jesus led His disciples to the town of Caesarea Philippi this took about two days travel from their starting point of Magdala. On their way they passed by lake Mermon, where Joshua had broken the northern coalition and fought the final battle that secured Canaan for Israel. At 1,147 feet above sea level they reached the Lords destination, Caesarea Philippi, here we find the head waters of the Jordan and the foothills of Mount Herman. It was here in this rather large but isolated town that the Lord ask two very significant questions, the response given echos across time leaving tremors in our generation. The question was “who am I”? The significance of the answer goes much farther than knowing Jesus as Lord and savior it reflects who we are and what we represent. Look with me this morning at the significance of “who am I.”

I. A charge to the people V.v. 13-14

Then as now people who don’t know the Lord have some very strange misconceptions of who he is. These misconceptions are formed by traditions and genealogies from…

A. The past

In Jesus day some saw Him as an old prophet that had risen again.

Today there are many false religions that can only refer to Jesus as a prophet based on the false teachings of past traditions and genealogies.

B. The present

In Jesus day some saw Him as a contemporary hero such as John the Baptist who had been raised from the dead.

Today there are many who falsely label Jesus as a good person and preacher of good tidings.

C. The future

In Jesus day some saw Him as Elijah who had fulfilled prophecy and returned, this misunderstanding led many to wrongly believe the end of time was coming.

Many preachers and teachers today wrongly teach and preach a health and wealth miracle gospel.

People who don’t know the Lord have never changed and they never will. If a man or woman don’t know Jesus as Lord and savior then they don’t really know Him.

II. A charge to the disciples V.v. 15-19

Just as Jesus had a charge (question) for the crowds He also had one for those He called disciples. This charge was comprised of …

A. A revelation V.v. 15-17

Jesus noted that Peter knew Him not by the knowledge of the world but from the revelation of God through the presence of Jesus Christ in Peter’s life.

Just as Peter was Bar-Jona or the son of Jona, Jesus was the son of God. This made fully understand the father son relationship Jesus had with God.

B. A rock v.18

Jesus used the illustration of rock or stones to help Peter understand His plan for the Church. Peter’s name in the Greek is petros which means loose stone, this is not the same phrase as our loose cannon, though at times Peter was. Peter was one member of the Church not the foundation of the Chruch as some believe today and have been taught for centuries.

The word rock in the Greek is the petra which means firm or solid. Jesus was the petra the firm solid foundation upon which the Church would be built. Peter and those like him would be the petros or stones that would comprise the Church.

Likewise the word Church as used by Jesus is ekklesia in the Greek which means a chosen or called out assembly. Ekklesia has roots from the Hebrew and the Greek, the Hebrew means a chosen people and the Greek means an assembly of like minded people.

Jesus gives an affirming statement for the Church that Hell will not prevail against it. Hell is the Greek word haides and it refers to death and Satan’s dominion. Satan and his domain, demons and destiny (death) may attack the Church (born again believers) but we are promised Hell will not prevail against it. What a blessing that is, it should make every Christian praise God who gave His only begotten son for the sins of mankind.

C. A responsibility v.19

Peter was given the keys to the kingdom of God, not the Church. These keys were for unlocking the truth of Gods word. The scribes were given this responsibility to guide the Pharisees in their work, but due to corruption and sin the scribes had failed God. Therefore our Lord gave to Peter the responsibility to provide for the Church an example and the direction for unlocking Gods word for anyone who so desired it.

The Lord also gave to Peter the illustration of being spirit led. It is not just important for the child of God to be spirit led it is necessary. Even for you and I today, the spirit of God reveals to us the mysteries of His word through the Holy Spirit, not through education.

III. A charge to silence v.20

A. Closing a door to the Jews

The Lord had been working exclusively with the Jews until their final rejection of Him. This did not close the door of salvation for them but it close the door for the opportunity to be His exclusive means of presenting the gospel.

B. Preparing to open a door to the Gentiles

The Church hasn’t been born yet, however this was the preparation for the day of Pentecost. Jesus was still forgiving sin to all who would come to Him. Now the son of God will deal directly with the Gentile opening His service to them and reaching the world through them.

Conclusion: As we have gone over Jesus question “who am I” and the answers in uncovers in our lives where do you fit in? Who is the Lord to you and have you grown any through this message? As I studied it I certainly did. As we look ahead in our walk with the Lord can you say for certain it will be a closer walk with the Lord? It was for Peter. I hope will be for you as well. Close as the Lord leads.