FOLLOWING JESUS
Matthew 16:13–26
Know the Messiah (13–20)
By the time we get to Matthew 16, we are halfway through the three-year ministry of Jesus. He is facing increasing hostility from the Jewish religious leaders. Jesus takes His disciples to the cliff face at Caesarea Philippi, a center of pagan worship that held shrines to various Greek gods and a cave where sacrifices were made to Pan. Jesus brings them to this place to demonstrate His Kingdom’s power over paganism. This is also the first mention of the Church in the Gospels.
Jesus poses two questions. One is, “Who do people say that I am?” The disciples offer various responses, including John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah and other prophets. The second question is infinitely more important. Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?” At that moment, Peter, the firebrand and disciple leader responds, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”
Jesus affirmed Peter’s response and explained that the Father in heaven — not “flesh and blood” — was not the source of that revelation. There has been some misunderstanding of Jesus’ response to Peter’s confession. When Jesus said, “On this rock I will build My Church,” He wasn’t saying that He would build His Church on Peter but rather upon Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Messiah. One of my favorite memories from a Holy Land trip in 2019 was standing in front of that very cliff face and responding to our tour leader as he asked each person, “Who do you say that Jesus is?”
Embrace His Mission (21–23)
Soon after the excitement following Peter’s confession, Jesus reveals to the disciples what is coming in the future. Jesus has come on heaven’s search-and-rescue mission for mankind. He understands that His mission will culminate in Jerusalem on a cross outside of the city where He will pay the ultimate price to purchase our salvation.
I can only imagine the roller coaster of emotions that the disciples were experiencing. One moment, they understand that Jesus is the Messiah. The next, they are stunned to hear that Jesus has come as a suffering Servant. He would be the perfect sacrificial Lamb, the Good Shepherd who would give up His life for the sheep.
Bold and brash Peter rebukes Jesus. “This will never happen to You.” Shortly after Jesus was commending Peter for his discernment, Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan.” Peter was thinking on the things of man rather than the things of God.
Are there areas in your life where you want your agenda over God’s plans?
Become His Disciple (24–26)
Then Jesus delivers the hard words of what it means to be His disciple. In John 6, those hard teachings caused many of His followers to desert Him. Jesus said, “If anyone wants to follow after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me” (Matt. 16:24). Unfortunately, many people in Jesus’ day followed Him for the bread and the miracles.
Even in our day, many prefer comfort over Christ and happiness over holiness. We want the blessings without the sacrifice. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the imprisoned Lutheran pastor in Nazi Germany, said, “When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.”
What do you think Jesus meant by the call to take up your cross?
EDITOR’S NOTE — The Sunday School lesson outlines are provided by Lifeway.
By Don Fugate
Senior pastor of Foxworthy Baptist Church in San Jose, California
