About This Video
The Old Testament lays the groundwork for the coming of the Messiah, detailing God's interactions with His chosen people and introducing prophecies, laws, and the wrath against sin, while the New Testament emphasizes grace, the fulfillment of prophecies by Jesus Christ, and the transition of God's relationship to His church, showing how Christ's sacrifice restores humanity's connection to God. Together, these testaments reveal a consistent vision of a holy, merciful, and righteous God who wishes to save sinners through faith, with the New Testament enhancing understanding by providing clarity on Old Testament prophecies and focusing on spiritual blessings and salvation.
Jesus foretells his suffering, death, and resurrection, emphasizing that true discipleship requires self-denial and daily commitment by taking up one's cross, losing one's life for His sake to ultimately save it. Despite common misconceptions about His identity, Peter and other disciples affirm Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, essential for eternal life, as demonstrated in various gospel accounts.
Peter and the apostles recognized Jesus' identity as the Christ, the anointed one, and the only begotten Son of the Living God, fulfilling the role of Prophet, Priest, and King. Jesus, who was the Word made flesh, serves as the mediator between God and humanity, embodying God's love and serving as the cornerstone of salvation and creation.
The Jews were displeased with the term "Son of God" as it implied Jesus’ divine origin and essence; Jesus embodied God in the flesh, evident in His title as the "Son of the Living God," reinforcing His status as the source of life and affirming His role as the Messiah as foreseen in prophecy. Peter's recognition of Jesus’ true identity was a revelation from God rather than human influence, highlighted by Jesus’ declaration that Peter’s faith, not fleshly appearances, would be the foundation upon which His church would prevail, with differing interpretations among religious denominations as to the exact meaning of "upon this rock."
In this teaching, Shawn explains that Jesus referred to Peter as the "rock" upon which His church would be built, highlighting Peter's role in spreading the gospel and being a pivotal figure in the early church despite future challenges facing organized religion. Emphasizing spiritual revelation and apostolic leadership, Shawn notes that the phrase “gates of hell” represents the forces of evil that will not overcome the true spiritual church, a concept intertwined with Peter being entrusted with the "keys of the kingdom of heaven" to bind and loose both on earth and in heaven.
Shawn's teaching highlights Jesus preparing his apostles for his impending death and resurrection, emphasizing the necessity of his suffering as the Messiah despite human opposition and misunderstanding, like Peter's rebuke. It underscores a critical lesson on the contrast between human desires and divine plans, where Jesus corrects Peter’s well-meaning but misguided human perspective, illustrating that God's ways and purposes often transcend human understanding.
To truly embrace discipleship, one must deny themselves, carry their cross daily, and follow Jesus, acknowledging that those who prioritize earthly gains over their spiritual life risk losing their true essence. Moreover, a willingness to be identified with Jesus and His teachings leads to salvation, while fear or shame in acknowledging Him results in future disassociation when He returns in glory.
The Harmony of the Old and New Testaments
Welcome Prayer Song Silence
We’ve got a book compiled from writings nearly 2000 years old at their youngest and approximately 3200 to 3500 years old in written form.
The Old Testament is foundational; the New Testament builds on that foundation with further revelation from God to His apostles called, trained, and sent to reach the peoples of the former covenant. As a foundation, the Old Testament establishes principles that are seen to be illustrative of New Testament truths. The Old Testament contains many prophecies that are fulfilled in the New, and where the Old Testament provides the history of a people as a whole, the New Testament focuses on a Person who came to save those people from eminent destruction which had long been prophesied and known.
The Old Testament shows the wrath of God against sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace. (with glimpses of His grace); the New Testament shows the grace of God toward sinners (with glimpses of His wrath). The Old Testament predicts a Messiah (in passages like Isaiah 53), and the New Testament reveals who the Messiah is in passages like John 4:25–26. The Old Testament records the giving of God’s Law, and the establishment of High Priests to offer blood, while the New Testament shows how Jesus the Messiah fulfilled that Law (Matthew 5:17), becoming our only High Priest offering His blood. In the Old Testament, God’s dealings are mainly with His chosen people, the Jews; in the New Testament, God’s dealings are mainly with His church (Matthew 16:18). Physical blessings promised under the Old Covenant (Deuteronomy 29:9) give way to spiritual blessings under the New Covenant (Ephesians 1:3).
Prophecies and Fulfillment
The Old Testament prophecies related to the coming of Christ, although incredibly detailed, contain a certain amount of ambiguity that is cleared up in the New Testament. In Isaiah, we read of the Messiah’s deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. (Isaiah 53) and the establishing of the Messiah’s kingdom (Isaiah 26). The New Testament links them together and explains how they are ordered and related. From all of this, we see that through the Nation of Israel, God’s revelation in Scripture is progressively revealed and the New Testament brings all of it into focus.
The Passover lamb of the Old Testament becomes the Lamb of God in the New Testament, and the Old Testament gives the Law but the New Testament, according to Romans 3:19, clarifies that the Law was meant to show men their need for salvation and was never intended to be the means of salvation. Finally, the Old Testament saw paradise lost for Adam; the New Testament shows how paradise is regained through the second Adam (Christ).
Restoration of Man
The Old Testament declares that man was separated from God through sin (Genesis 3), and the New Testament declares that man can be restored in his relationship to God (Romans 3—6). In summary, the Old Testament lays the foundation for the coming of the Messiah who would sacrifice Himself for the sins of the world. The New Testament records the ministry of Jesus Christ and then looks back on what He did and how we are to respond in faith, hope, and love.
Both testaments reveal the same holy, merciful, and righteous God who condemns sin but desires to save sinners through an atoning sacrifice. In both testaments, God reveals Himself to us and shows us how we are to come to Him through faith. In both, God remains holy, good, loving, merciful, and just. In the old, He is mediating without Christ in the mix. In the New, Jesus Christ, who was the central figure behind all of creation, fulfilled His role among men, allowing for all people to choose this day whom they will serve.
This little speech will help set the stage for what Jesus is about to say here in Luke 9, beginning at verse 18.
So, having fed the 5000 last week, we now read, beginning at verse 18, how Jesus brings some things home to His disciples that tie Him and His identity to their work, and the coming of the Kingdom of GodGod’s spiritual reign—fulfilled and present, not political or future.. (verse 18)
October 6th 2019 Meat Luke 9.18-22
Luke 9:18 And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?
19 They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.
20 He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.
21 And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that
Understanding Christ's True Identity
Predictions and Teachings
22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. 23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? 26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
And back to verse 18.
Disciples' Confession
Matthews account of this same scene is more exhaustive and so I am going to fill in the gaps with information he provides:
18 And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?
Now Mark’s account says that this conversation took place when Jesus and the disciples “were in the way,” and it probably should have been included in Luke and Matthew. In the way means while they traveled.
Luke more narrowly defines the time and place as being when Jesus was praying and says that the disciples came to him and it was then that he asked them this question: “Whom do men say that I am?”
What are the people saying about me and my identity – “Who do they say that I am?”
We know that in that day many (Herod included) had the tendency to think of charismatic powerful people as visitors from the past. Even Malachi said that Elijah would return before the great and dreadful day of the Lord (which the Jews anticipated to come their way) and this caused many Jews to believe that John the Baptist was an incarnation of the same. So, Jesus asked his disciples who the people thought He was (verse 19)
19 They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.
Of the other prophets potentially named Matthew has the people suggest that Jesus was being called Jeremiah. The reason for all of this conjecture was due to strange superstitions.
Personal Declaration
Jesus then redirects the question and takes it off the masses and their misguided views and lays it at the feet of His own disciples (verse 20)
20 He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Now, we have Jesus' first-hand witnesses to His person, His teachings, His miracles, and His ways answering. It was an important admission to hear from them. Why? Because they were the ones who were going to continue forward sharing Him and His identity with the people of that age before the great and dreadful day that was prophesied to come. Verse 20 ends with Peter saying “The Christ of God,” here in Luke.
And Matthews account reads: “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Marks account has Peter say, “Thou art the Christ.”
Jumping out to John, in an altogether different setting, Jesus has just taught about eating his flesh and drinking his blood and John writes:
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Joh 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
So here we have four professions.
Understanding the Identity of Jesus
From His disciples—especially from Peter—attesting to how they would and could describe the identity of Jesus.
A number of weeks ago we ran into a demon who too had the opportunity to address Jesus in any way he saw fit and that demon (or demons) called Jesus Christ:
“Jesus, thou Son of God most high.”
Now, I don’t know about you but knowing the identity of the Most High God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent means the world to me personally.
If we were to ask believers today: Who do you say that Jesus is? Many would lead with: He is God. Looking back at all the information in scripture on Him I understand why believers today say this. But I find the response inappropriate and imbalanced, to tell you the truth.
Because I hit on this often cannot be construed as a personal campaign against the deity of Jesus. Its not. For I believe that Jesus was certainly God with us.
But to appeal to historic and creedal Trinitarianism and the way those men decided to answer: “Who do men say that I am,” goes AGAINST the very description of some humans who knew Him best and chose to describe Him otherwise.
The Identity of Jesus According to Peter and Paul
We cannot get around the fact that in openly describing Jesus in terms of identity that Peter calls him the Christ (the Messiah) and/or “the Son of the Living God,” and that neither he here, nor Paul afterward, choose to refer to Him as God the Son – ever.
It is important, my brothers and sisters in Christ, to keep the identities of all the characters God has used to redeem the world in order. Jesus, born of a woman, made under the Law, the Word of God made flesh, is of the utmost. Peter identifies Him properly—as does Paul after him and as does the demoniac in Gadarenes.
“He is the Messiah, the only begotten Son of the Living God.” He is purposely called and distinguished from His Father, called the Only True God, as our Lord, our Savior, our King.
All because He, the Logos of God, assumed carnal flesh, and willingly submitted to the will of His father he is the mediation, the arch, the keystone between the living God and Man.
We worship Him. We adore Him as all things in creation began with Him and centered around Him because without Him all of creation would be lost.
I submit that Jesus was God’s direct way of showing His love to the world and all that he did and said as a man was done by God in Him fully.
Two Part Answer to Jesus's Identity
Peter appears to be expressing the views of the apostles as a whole, with his characteristic forwardness, and his answer supplies us with two parts:
Thou art the Christ. With the Greek for Christos being translated the Messiah what Peter really says is: You are the anointed one. As Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word, "Messiah" which is the official title of our Lord and occurs some 514 times in the New Testament.
This straightly means that He, Jesus of Nazareth was “anointed or consecrated” by God Himself to do His redemptive work among Man as a Prophet, Priest, and King of his people.
He goes by many prophesied names in the Tanakh including Prince, Rock, Seed of the Woman, seed of Abraham, Prophet like unto Moses, priest after the order of Melchizedek, "the rod out of the stem of Jesse," "Immanuel," the branch of Jehovah" "the messenger of the covenant," but the name Christ best means anointed, divinely appointed, commissioned, and accredited as the Savior of Man.
To believe that "Jesus is the Christ" is to believe that he is the Anointed One, the Messiah of the prophets and Savior sent of God to save the world. That is why His identity is so important.
The second part of Peter’s answer was that he was/is “the Son of the living God.”
We tend to think of the son of someone as the begotten offspring of another—Shawn is the Son of William McCraney and so forth.
For Peter to call Jesus the Son of the Living God is akin to calling Jesus God—for if God was to have a son that son would be God too. And this was the meaning—that Jesus the anointed one “came from the Living God.” And if anything or being was to come FROM the living God he was not considered the one that he came from but with all the authority and power.
Understanding the Son of God
In the end, the term Son of God was not pleasing to the Jews because, in their minds, this was the same as calling Jesus origins as from God and therefore God himself. And this is who Jesus was – in flesh – God with us. Again, because of the flesh, called the Son of the Living God. Scripture delineates between the living God and idols carved out of wood and stone and that is typically the reason why God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob is described this way – He is living and not dead.
He is also called the living God because out of Him or from Him comes the source of life. Naturally, Jesus, as the Son of the Living God, would be the source of life too – which gives support to His claim that He was the way, the truth, and the life. In the Tanakh God is repeatedly called the living God (Josiah 3:10; 1st Samuel 17:26,36; and Jeremiah 10:9,10), and therefore Peter was tying his confession of his identity to the belief that Jesus was the Messiah promised to come to the people via prophecy. In the end, this confession was complete and fully expressive of who Jesus was to them.
Jesus and Peter's Confession
At this point, Matthew has Jesus say somethings to Peter that Luke does not report. I think that they are worth it and so let me read them here. So in Matthew's account, we also read:
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Peter's Blessed Revelation
Alright, jump back to verse 17 in Matthew's account where Jesus says: “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jona for MAN (flesh and blood) has not revealed this to you – in any way – you have not been convinced by others nor by my appearance alone in flesh and blood.” This statement was important because the Jews were looking for a Messiah who would fulfill their material expectations – you know, one who would look like a King and Prince – but Jesus tells Peter blessed is he for evidences in flesh and blood did NOT reveal Jesus identity to him, but (instead) it came from His Father which is in heaven.
In fact, despite his appearance–His lowly state and lacking any resemblance to what he may have expected, Peter was told by God himself what His identity was – and that is a blessed privilege. This certainly says something about the power of the Holy Spirit revealing truths to people, doesn’t it?
According to Jesus, Peter was blessed because he was not led by traditions and the teachings of men, nor was he beguiled by faulty external proofs – he was led by His father who was in heaven. And then Jesus adds, at verse 18, and says:
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
At this point, we have a difference of opinion as to what Jesus means when he said That thou art Peter and upon this Rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. The Catholics and Eastern Orthodox believe that there is no reason for Jesus to have said, “thou are Peter,” as a preface other than to reference Peter as the one Jesus was going to build His church (which the gates of hell would not prevail against). The LDS folks suggest that Jesus was referring to the Rock of Revelation that Jessu compliments Peter on having received his insights on Jesus identity and that upon THAT rock Jesus would build His church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it.”
I think it speaks to all of it. In other words, I cannot see a reason for Jesus saying: “Thou art Peter and
Peter's Role in Building the Church
Upon this rock,” unless what he was saying had something to do with Peter serving as part of the foundation upon which Jesus would build His Church. It was Jesus who gave Peter that name, Petros, meaning rock, and now Jesus was being given the names Messiah and Son of God by Peter!
Peter the Rock expressed what He had learned by the Spirit and not man and it was on all of this that Jesus would build His church. Peter was the one who would actually go out and unlock the doors to all things (at Pentecost and with Cornelius the Gentile) and upon the works of this specific apostle Jesus would build – so I have no issue with that interpretation. But I also think that Peter was determined as blessed as he did receive the witness of Jesus identity via the Spirit of His Father and that Jesus would build His church upon such spiritual witnessing – so much so that the gates of hell could not prevail against his church.
And it didn’t. Ever.
The Church and Its Challenges
His church was governed by His apostles, on a foundation of apostles and prophets, and Peter was certainly playing a key role in keeping that pure bride together until He came back for her, saving her from annihilation. To me the whole meaning of the line where Jesus says: Upon this rock” is he was saying to Peter:
"I will make you the honored instrument of making known my gospel first to Jews and Gentiles, and will make you a firm and distinguished preacher in building my church. And you will help others receive the same spiritual witness of me, and in so doing the very gates of hell will not prevail against my church."
Anciently cities were surrounded by walls which all had gates to enter and exit through. And it was at those gates where much of the business of the city in question was done – transactions, holding court, and deliberating on public matters. The term gates therefore became synonymous with the counsels, designs, machinations, and sometimes evil purposes of a city or location. To say “the gates of hell” apparently refers to the entrance and exit of the place where evil spirits moved. And the meaning of the passage is that all the plots, strategies, machinations and enemies of the church would not be able to overcome the church as it stood in faith on Christ.
The Real Spiritual Church
Though it would certainly try in those early years of apostolic leadership. The question I have is can we maintain that the gates of hell have not made a dent in organized religion since 70 AD? Has Jesus' bride been kept pure since then? How do we categorize molestations, politics, murders, rapes, pogroms, and the like which have all been done by churches that called themselves Christian? Many will say the gates of hell have not prevailed against the real spiritual church over the centuries and while I agree with that, most of the material brick and mortars do not. In my estimation it makes far more reasonable sense that the church Jesus was speaking of the gates of hell not prevailing against was the small, apostolically lead church that was being gathered pre-70 AD destruction.
At this point in Matthews narrative, we then read Jesus say to Peter:
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
We’ve talked about the role Peter played in opening vital doors to the Kingdom in preparation for it to be established and this is how I interpret this passage. Of course there are numerous attributes described here in light of this passage relative to authority and sealing powers and the like – which we are not going to cover today. Nevertheless, it is a huge discussion amidst orthodoxy and Protestantism, isn’t it?
And at verse 21 of Luke chapter 9 we are brought concurrent with Matthews account where both he and Luke add:
21 And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;
The Greek in this passage is very strong in terms of tone and scholars admit that he sternly charged them to tell no man specifically that he was the Christ. The obvious and really only reason for this appears to be that his time had not fully come at this point and He did not want to spend his precious
Jesus as the Messiah and Human Perspectives
Time fighting against the Jewish leaders over whether he was the Messiah or not. And then he adds some important insights that will give the apostles information pertinent to his demise – information which seems to be tied to the reason he instructed them to not tell anyone that He was the Messiah, as he said (in verse 22)
22 The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.
The Prediction of His Death
In the Gospel of Luke, this is the first intimation about the manner of death He would suffer. He had gone to great lengths to convince them that he was the Messiah; he saw by the confession of Peter that they were convinced; and he then began to prepare their minds for the results of this news getting out – His death.
This was a clear prophecy to them and where Luke does not record Peter’s response to it, Matthew does – which takes us off track from Luke's account and back to Matthew as we then read:
16:22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
This could mean that Peter actually took Jesus aside or that he interrupted him – we aren’t sure. What we are sure of is Peter did not like the direction the Lord was taking them relative to his well-being as the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.
Peter’s Reaction to the Prophecy
In addition to being attached to the Lord, he seems to reject the idea that Jesus would ever be subjected to death at the hands of mere mortal men – after all, he had just professed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God. So, in his confidence and zeal Peter did what Peter does – and he somehow seized Jesus and plainly rebuked what he had just described, saying:
"Be it far from thee," or, "God be merciful to thee; this shall not happen," which was really Peter’s way of expressing his wishes and desires for the wellbeing of the Lord. Even this appears to have been improper though – and we know this by Jesus’ response (verse 23).
23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
The word Satan means, literally, “an adversary,” meaning someone or something that makes opposition to the designs set forth. This was the meaning of the use of the term, it appears. You are opposing me Peter in what needs to be done. It is a term applied to the devil who is commonly called the opposer or adversary of man.
Well-meaning as Peter was there appears to have been a rebuke in the tone of Jesus' words. And he not only calls him an adversary but adds:
“Thou art an offence.” Which better means, you are a stumbling-block! Your advice and wishes for me are getting in my way to do the will of my Father. But there was more for Peter as Jesus adds:
God's Perspective vs. Human Perspective
“Thou savors not the things that be of God but the things that be of man.” And this opens us up to a sobering reality, if we are willing. What we honor and find noble as human beings may not always be what God deems righteous and good. This is a great case in point. I mean Peter was merely telling Jesus He did not want Him to be betrayed and put to death. What honorable man would? But Jesus points out that while men may think this way this was not the thinking of God – for God willed that Jesus would drink the cup in full.
It’s a sticky wicket when we try and assume that we know the mind of God, and that we have the capacity to think like Him. We really don’t. Our minds are carnal and skewed where His thoughts are higher and just and based on eternal principles that never change. Peter was being taught this lesson firsthand now – and it was rough because Jesus makes it plain that our friend Peter, “Judges as men do, and not as God.”
It's at this point that Jesus then teaches a principle which is almost like Him saying: Let me show you the difference in the way God thinks and the way man thinks – and he
Self-Denial and Following Jesus
So, after calling Peter out Jesus says:
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
The Paradox of Life Preservation
25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? 26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
The Kingdom of God Witnessed
27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
We will cover these verses next week together – God willing.
Questions/Comments Prayers
