The Journey with Christ to the Cross, Message 1
By Dr. Jon Fillipi
Matthew 16:13-20
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.
Who do the people say that the Son of Man is?
Who do you say that I am?
Luke 9:21-27
But He warned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day.” And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I say to you truthfully, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:51
When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem;
What do we see here?
What must we see and do as followers of Jesus and the way of the Cross?
Jesus portrays for us the image of death and resurrection.
Luke 9:21-22
But He warned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day.”
Jesus calls His disciples to deny themselves.
Luke 9:23
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
Everyone who enters the kingdom of God must come in through the door of humiliation.
Jesus calls his disciples to take up their cross.
Luke 9:23
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
There must be not only a crisis of complete consecration, but also a daily submission to God's will.
Jesus calls His disciples to give their lives away, not hoard the blessings in them.
Luke 9:24
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
The whole gamut of the world's standards must be changed. Christians must realize that life is given, not to keep for themselves but to spend ofr others. (Barclay)
Jesus calls His disciples to be faithful to Him -- a faithfulness exhibited in being loyal to Him and to His words.
Luke 9:26
For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Luke 9:21-26
But He warned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day.” And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Where are you on this journey with Christ to the Cross?
