Citywide Baptist Church
The big question
Jesus asks his followers a question that he also asks each one of us...
Locations & Times
Citywide Baptist Church (Mornington)
400 Cambridge Rd, Mornington TAS 7018, Australia
Sunday 10:00 AM
Jesus walked with the Disciples up to Caesarea Philippi to ask a question.
Caesarea Philippi was named by Herod Philip (one of Herod the Great's sons) after himself and Caesar.
Before that, the town was called "Panias" after the god of fertility to whom there was a statue and temple.
Herod the Great (Herod Philip's father) had also built a temple to Caesar Augustus (called the Augusterium) at this site.
Before that, the town was called "Panias" after the god of fertility to whom there was a statue and temple.
Herod the Great (Herod Philip's father) had also built a temple to Caesar Augustus (called the Augusterium) at this site.
The backdrop for the big question
What are the gods of our day?
https://www.menti.com/alwcuthuqex2The most important question of your life is the one Jesus is asking you today "Who do you say I am."
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
This is one of the most debated passages in the bible because of the teaching of the Catholic church that Peter is the first Pope.
However:
- Jesus is emphasising that Peter in himself is not special... that he is blessed because of God's revealed understanding
and that
- Jesus himself will build the church, it is not Peter's to build.
Peter is a foundation of the church though, and it is Peter that unlocks the door for the Gentiles in the book of Acts.
Death will not defeat the church.
However:
- Jesus is emphasising that Peter in himself is not special... that he is blessed because of God's revealed understanding
and that
- Jesus himself will build the church, it is not Peter's to build.
Peter is a foundation of the church though, and it is Peter that unlocks the door for the Gentiles in the book of Acts.
Death will not defeat the church.
Peter is the leader of the disciples, but in Matt 18, Jesus makes it clear that the keys to the kingdom are given to all of them and not just Peter.
There is an authority that the church has, together, that none of us have on our own. We are called together.
There is an authority that the church has, together, that none of us have on our own. We are called together.
Now the disciples understand who he is, Jesus now begins the journey to the cross.
The only other time Matthew uses the language of "From that time on" was the beginning of his public ministry in 4:17 - this is clearly a new chapter in Jesus' life.
The only other time Matthew uses the language of "From that time on" was the beginning of his public ministry in 4:17 - this is clearly a new chapter in Jesus' life.
Jesus is living out what he taught the disciples in the sermon on the mount.
The fact that Jesus went from calling Peter the rock on which he would build his church, to the stumbling stone, shows how big a weight he was carrying (and also that Peter was not infallible).
The fact that Jesus went from calling Peter the rock on which he would build his church, to the stumbling stone, shows how big a weight he was carrying (and also that Peter was not infallible).
What does it mean to seek first the kingdom?
Followers of Jesus live cross-shaped lives.
Because Jesus bore the cross uniquely for us, we do not have to purchase forgiveness again; it’s been done. But because, as he himself said, following him involves taking up the cross, we should expect, as the New Testament tells us repeatedly, that to build on his foundation will be to find the cross etched into the pattern of our life and work over and over again.
We would rather this were not so, and we twist and turn to avoid it. We find ourselves in Gethsemane, saying, “Lord, can this really be the way? If I have been obedient so far, why is all this happening to me? Surely you don’t want me to be feeling like this?” Sometimes, indeed, the answer may be “No.” It is possible that we have indeed taken a wrong road and must now turn and go by a different way. But often the answer is simply that we must stay in Gethsemane.
Wright, N. T.. The Challenge of Jesus (p. 189)
Because Jesus bore the cross uniquely for us, we do not have to purchase forgiveness again; it’s been done. But because, as he himself said, following him involves taking up the cross, we should expect, as the New Testament tells us repeatedly, that to build on his foundation will be to find the cross etched into the pattern of our life and work over and over again.
We would rather this were not so, and we twist and turn to avoid it. We find ourselves in Gethsemane, saying, “Lord, can this really be the way? If I have been obedient so far, why is all this happening to me? Surely you don’t want me to be feeling like this?” Sometimes, indeed, the answer may be “No.” It is possible that we have indeed taken a wrong road and must now turn and go by a different way. But often the answer is simply that we must stay in Gethsemane.
Wright, N. T.. The Challenge of Jesus (p. 189)
Judgement is coming and it will be based on the shape of your life.
Jesus promised his disciples that they would see him coming in his kingdom.
They were about to see:
- The Transfiguration
- The Resurrection
- The Ascension
They were about to see:
- The Transfiguration
- The Resurrection
- The Ascension
Who is Jesus to you?
Small Group Questions:
1) Talk about the gods of our time. Which ones are most tempting for you to follow?
2) Talk about a moment in your life when you clearly saw who Jesus is, for you.
3)Talk about what "taking up your cross" means for you in practise. How have you seen Jesus promise that taking up your cross is the path to finding your life?
4)What does it mean for you to know that "he will reward each person according to what they have done." Does that knowledge impact your life at all? Should it?
1) Talk about the gods of our time. Which ones are most tempting for you to follow?
2) Talk about a moment in your life when you clearly saw who Jesus is, for you.
3)Talk about what "taking up your cross" means for you in practise. How have you seen Jesus promise that taking up your cross is the path to finding your life?
4)What does it mean for you to know that "he will reward each person according to what they have done." Does that knowledge impact your life at all? Should it?