WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:03.200 Well, it is an honor and a privilege to be here. 00:00:03.359 --> 00:00:06.400 I have a deep affection for your pastor. 00:00:06.559 --> 00:00:08.320 I've learned from him over the years. 00:00:08.480 --> 00:00:12.320 And we do pray for this church regularly at Baltimore Bible Church. 00:00:12.400 --> 00:00:15.359 So you are considered a sister church to us. 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:22.480 And it's wonderful to be in a place that uh upholds the glory of Christ and the glory of his cross. 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:23.039 Amen. 00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:32.159 And as we even uh sang this morning about uh the glory of the cross and uh lifting high the cross of Jesus Christ, so I feel right at home uh here. 00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:36.640 So why don't you grab your Bibles and uh open up to Matthew chapter 16? 00:00:36.880 --> 00:00:40.000 We'll be in Matthew chapter 16 uh this morning. 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:47.520 My focus will be in uh verses 20 to 28, uh but I'll read from verse 13 just to set the context before us. 00:00:47.679 --> 00:00:50.880 Matthew chapter 16, starting at verse 13. 00:00:51.039 --> 00:00:53.039 Why don't you follow with me as I read? 00:00:57.039 --> 00:00:58.560 This is the word of God. 00:00:59.039 --> 00:01:07.840 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? 00:01:08.159 --> 00:01:14.239 And they said, Some say John the Baptist and others Elijah, but still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. 00:01:14.560 --> 00:01:17.519 He said to them, But who do you say that I am? 00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:22.400 Simon Peter answered, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:30.560 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. 00:01:30.799 --> 00:01:39.200 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. 00:01:39.439 --> 00:01:47.680 I'll 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. 00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:54.879 Then when he warned the disciples that they should tell no one, then he warned the disciples they should tell no one that he was the Christ. 00:01:55.120 --> 00:02:06.319 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised up on the third day. 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:13.919 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, God forbid it, Lord, this shall never happen to you. 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:25.680 But he turned and said to Peter, Get behind me, Satan, for you are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on God's interests but man's. 00:02:26.639 --> 00:02:32.319 Then Jesus said to his disciples, If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:37.439 Forever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 00:02:37.680 --> 00:02:40.800 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:43.199 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 00:02:43.439 --> 00:02:49.919 For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his father with his angels, and then will repay every man according to his deeds. 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:57.520 Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom. 00:02:57.759 --> 00:03:00.159 Why don't you bow your heads with me for a word of prayer? 00:03:00.479 --> 00:03:05.439 Heavenly Father, as we come before you this morning, Father, we recognize that this is your word. 00:03:05.759 --> 00:03:10.960 And Father, we pray that you would open up your word to us, help us to understand the things that are contained here. 00:03:11.199 --> 00:03:15.840 And Father, I pray that you would help me as a weak instrument to be a blessing to your people, I pray. 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:16.879 In Jesus' name. 00:03:17.120 --> 00:03:17.759 Amen. 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:19.199 In R. 00:03:19.360 --> 00:03:19.439 C. 00:03:19.599 --> 00:03:55.439 Sproul's book, The Cross of Christ, he opens up with an illustration and he talks about the millions of dollars that companies spend on logos, you know, these little symbols that identify a company and say something about what that company is, what that company is selling, and how we can recognize many companies just by the logo itself, like the Nike swoosh or an apple with the a bite out of the side of it, or uh what is the uh the most recognized symbol in America, which is the McDonald's arches, the most recognized symbol in America, uh the McDonald's arches. 00:03:55.680 --> 00:04:02.719 But Christianity also has a symbol that we're recognized by, and that symbol is the cross of Jesus Christ. 00:04:02.800 --> 00:04:05.919 It is the universal symbol of Christianity. 00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:11.280 And that's for good reason, because there would be no Christianity without the cross. 00:04:11.520 --> 00:04:15.919 If Jesus never died on the cross, there would be no Christian church. 00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:20.959 The church was literally paid for by the blood of Christ on the cross. 00:04:21.199 --> 00:04:34.319 Acts chapter 20 and verse 28 says, Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God, which listen to this, he purchased with his own blood. 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:38.399 The church was purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ. 00:04:38.560 --> 00:04:47.040 In the book of Ephesians, it lets us know that we're reconciled in one body to God through the cross, Ephesians chapter 2, verse 16. 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:50.720 So we can't imagine a church without a cross. 00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:54.480 It's what we preach about, and it's the right thing to preach about. 00:04:54.879 --> 00:05:00.879 Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter 1 and verse 23 says, But we preach Christ crucified. 00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:09.040 And in 1 Corinthians 2 and verse 2, he says, For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:15.120 A preacher who does not preach the cross does not deserve to be called the preacher. 00:05:15.519 --> 00:05:21.279 He might be a motivational speaker, but he is not a preacher of Christ. 00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:24.160 He's not a Christian preacher. 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:29.920 It's also the cross of Christ, it's also what makes our music distinctly Christian. 00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:36.000 If we kept the cross out of it, you know, out of our lyrics, out of the things that we sing about, the things that we praise. 00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:43.759 If we just spoke about the love of God, if we just spoke about peace, about unity, we might have a much wider audience for what we have to sing. 00:05:44.079 --> 00:05:46.000 But it would be stripped of its power. 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:49.759 The cross is the power of the Christian music. 00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:51.680 Think about some of the songs that we sing. 00:05:51.920 --> 00:06:03.439 Beneath the cross, down at the cross, lift high the cross, the power of the cross, the wonderful cross, the old rugged cross, when I survey the wondrous cross. 00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:15.040 And that's just scratching the surface because even when the cross is not in the title, you don't have to go very far down into the lyrics before you're bumping up against something of the cross of Jesus Christ. 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:19.759 We're those who glory in the cross of Jesus Christ. 00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:28.879 And the symbol of the cross, often when we come to the buildings that we even worship in, uh the symbol of the cross is to be found somewhere, usually in a Christian building, right? 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:33.199 It's the cross that reminds us of the one who died there. 00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:40.319 I remember when uh we first started meeting as a church, uh our church just celebrated eight years of uh of ministry in Baltimore. 00:06:40.399 --> 00:06:43.120 And I remember uh we met for a year for a Bible study. 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:54.800 Even before that, uh we met in uh one of our members' basements and uh uh we did Bible studies there, but uh what he did was he he brought out a little cross and he kind of hung it you know behind me whenever I would uh you give a lesson. 00:06:54.879 --> 00:06:58.560 And he says, it just doesn't seem right that there's not a cross, you know, in the building. 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:00.079 We we need the cross. 00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:06.879 It's it's something it's just just not right if unless we're we're focusing on the cross of Jesus Christ. 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:19.040 I actually heard a number of years ago uh that there were some churches that were taking down the symbol of the cross from their buildings, you know, removing it from the steeples, removing it from uh any visibility within the churches. 00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:28.720 And uh I remember during that time that there was a pastor who was interviewed, and uh the question was, are you offended that these churches are taking their crosses down from the buildings? 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:31.920 Because they're hoping not to offend anybody, so they're removing these crosses. 00:07:32.079 --> 00:07:35.279 Are you are you offended that these churches are taking down the cross? 00:07:35.439 --> 00:07:38.079 And he says, No, I'm not offended that they're taking down the cross. 00:07:38.160 --> 00:07:40.639 I'm just offended that they would call themselves a church. 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:42.399 That's what I'm offended by. 00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:53.360 We can't imagine Christianity without the cross, but during the ministry of Christ, his disciples couldn't imagine Christianity with the cross. 00:07:53.519 --> 00:07:57.040 It was the furthest thing from the disciples' mind. 00:07:57.439 --> 00:08:00.079 They had no plan for the cross. 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:12.000 It was absurd, it was offensive, it was completely unacceptable, but the cross was always there, casting its shadow, even though the details were hidden to the disciples at first. 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:16.800 And there were plenty of hints that Jesus gave along the way, but the disciples missed it. 00:08:17.199 --> 00:08:23.600 Back in uh Matthew chapter 9, uh, Jesus referred to himself as the bridegroom. 00:08:23.680 --> 00:08:31.279 And in that chapter in verse 15, Jesus said to them, The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:36.720 But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:39.679 So he lets them know that I'm going to be taken away. 00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:42.639 What do the disciples understand by that? 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:46.799 Obviously, they didn't really think that he would be taken away. 00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:51.279 We don't know what they were thinking, but taken away didn't mean taken away for the disciples. 00:08:51.440 --> 00:09:09.360 In Matthew chapter 12, uh, Jesus confronted the scribes and the Pharisees, and after they asked him for a sign, Jesus answered them in verse 39, and he said to them, An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign, and yet no sign will be given to it, but the sign of Jonah, the prophet. 00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:18.399 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the fish or the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:21.679 And what were the disciples thinking when he said that? 00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:28.960 You know, three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, obviously for them didn't mean three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:37.039 Crucifixion on the Roman cross, three days in a tomb, was the furthest thing from these disciples' minds. 00:09:37.279 --> 00:09:41.360 They couldn't conceive of a Messiah who would be crucified. 00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:44.000 The cross had nothing to do with their plans. 00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:49.120 And in Matthew chapter 16, what we have in the Gospels is this turning point. 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:59.200 Because prior to the confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, Jesus spoke about his death in a way that was veiled to his disciples. 00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:01.919 They couldn't quite put it together. 00:10:02.240 --> 00:10:10.480 But after Peter makes this confession that you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God, now Jesus speaks plainly about what is to happen. 00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:13.840 And he plainly talks to them about the plan. 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:15.039 What is the plan? 00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:18.240 The plan is the cross. 00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:20.080 The cross. 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:21.360 Verse 21. 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:35.120 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised up on the third day. 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:43.840 After correctly identifying who Jesus was, now the disciples were prepared to hear what his plan was. 00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:46.960 They were prepared to hear what Jesus had come to do. 00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:56.639 And beginning in verse 20, we really have these series of unexpected turns that followed the revelation that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. 00:10:56.720 --> 00:10:59.679 And first of all, there was this unexpected restriction. 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:01.039 Unexpected restriction. 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:02.320 Look at verse 20. 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:08.159 It says, Then he warned the disciples that they should tell no one that he was the Christ. 00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:10.240 Tell no one. 00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:16.399 Jesus celebrated Peter's revelation that he was the Christ, the Son of the living God. 00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:17.759 Jesus celebrated that. 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:25.200 It pointed to his spiritual vision that God had revealed something to Peter that he could have spent his entire lifetime looking for and not get. 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:26.480 Jesus is the Christ. 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:30.960 It was the a pivotal, life-altering, earth-shattering moment for Peter. 00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:33.840 And it's like Jesus is saying, Peter, that's so great. 00:11:34.159 --> 00:11:35.679 I'm so glad to hear that. 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:38.879 It's been revealed to you by the Father who I am. 00:11:38.960 --> 00:11:41.279 I am so excited for this revelation. 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:42.720 And I just got to tell you one thing. 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:44.559 Don't tell anybody about it. 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:45.840 Don't share that. 00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:48.080 And it's like, are you kidding me? 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:49.840 Have you ever had news? 00:11:49.919 --> 00:11:54.960 No, somebody shares news with you and they say, you know, I want to share something with you, but don't but don't say anything about it. 00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:56.080 You know, we're expecting. 00:11:56.159 --> 00:11:57.519 And it's just like, are you kidding me? 00:11:57.600 --> 00:12:00.000 I can't, I can't say anything. 00:12:00.320 --> 00:12:01.759 Can't share that news. 00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:05.840 And sometimes people come to me as a as a pastor and they say that I'm expecting. 00:12:05.919 --> 00:12:09.440 It's like, okay, what what announcement am I supposed to make and not supposed to make? 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:13.120 So it's like you're trying to figure out in your mind, can I share this or not? 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:24.720 You know, one one family they were having twins and they wanted to keep that secret for a while, and it was kind of hard because she was already showing, but but there's news that people say, hey, don't, I don't want you to share anything. 00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:26.159 Don't say anything about this. 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:37.919 I remember back in college, there was uh this one time we were trying to surprise one of our friends, and we snuck into his apartment, you know, got his keys, snuck into his apartment, and we're gonna jump out and surprise him for his birthday. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:41.519 And there's this one guy next to me who just couldn't keep his mouth shut. 00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:52.799 It's like the the entire time, it's like he's snickering and laughing, and you know, the keys are jingling at the door, the guy's finally about to step in, and before he could even break through the door, it's like, surprise! I couldn't hold it back anymore. 00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:54.320 And it's like, what are you doing? 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:55.919 You ruined it for everybody. 00:12:56.080 --> 00:12:58.879 You know, it's like we broke into his apartment for nothing. 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:03.840 But here's this news that Jesus is the Christ. 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:06.480 This is the one that we've been waiting for. 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:09.200 This is the Messiah, this is the promised king. 00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:12.559 This is this is what all of history has been heading towards. 00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:17.360 And now Jesus says that's so great that you understand that, Peter, but but don't share anything about it. 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:20.240 Why did Jesus want to keep this a secret? 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:22.799 Shouldn't everybody know who Jesus is? 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:27.279 There was a song I used to sing, you know, way back that says, you know, everybody ought to know. 00:13:27.519 --> 00:13:29.360 Everybody ought to know who Jesus is. 00:13:29.519 --> 00:13:31.200 I mean, doesn't everybody need to know? 00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:34.240 Shouldn't everybody know who Jesus is? 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:42.320 But Jesus says, I don't want you to share this news because you're not yet prepared for what I'm going to do. 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:44.320 You only have part of the message. 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:48.720 You know who I am, but you're not yet prepared for what I've come to do. 00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:59.039 And the reason that Jesus withheld his identity from the multitudes at this point is because they weren't prepared for the plan that he had. 00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:12.960 The Jewish depiction of the Messiah was of this conquering king, you know, like the one that we read about in Psalm chapter 2, you know, who breaks the nations with the rod of iron, shatters them like earthen pottery. 00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:18.639 They didn't create room in their theology for the same Messiah to suffer and die. 00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:21.279 They thought that, you know, maybe that's somebody else. 00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:24.720 Some uh Jewish scholars talk about a second Messiah. 00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:29.519 You know, there's one who comes to rule, and there's another one that came to die, but it's not the same person. 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:40.799 In Isaiah 53, when it speaks about one who is despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, they say that must be somebody else, or you know, maybe it's referring to Israel. 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:44.720 But it can't be talking about the conquering king that we're expecting. 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:48.399 In their minds, the Messiah comes to crush. 00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:50.879 The Messiah does not come to be crushed. 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:53.120 And that was the disciples' understanding. 00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:54.399 That's how they understood it. 00:14:54.639 --> 00:14:58.559 And it was important that they didn't give in to the understanding of the crowd. 00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:02.480 So he gives them this strict warning: don't tell anybody. 00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:06.320 He uses a severe order, an authoritative command. 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:07.600 Tell no one. 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:10.240 It's this unexpected restriction. 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:15.279 And then it's followed by this unexpected revelation in verse 21. 00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:25.279 From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things, from the elders and chief priests, and scribes and be killed and be raised up on the third day. 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:28.080 Jesus says, Do you want to know what I've come for? 00:15:28.559 --> 00:15:29.519 I've come to die. 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:30.720 That's what I've come for. 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:32.000 I've come to die. 00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:35.519 And that's what his disciples couldn't wrap their minds around. 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:42.000 In Mark chapter 9, it speaks of another occasion when Jesus spoke about his death and resurrection. 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:45.679 The disciples couldn't get it then either, and it says they were afraid to ask him. 00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:49.519 They didn't get the concept of the resurrection until much later. 00:15:49.679 --> 00:15:53.759 They couldn't wrap their minds around the resurrection because they couldn't wrap their minds around the death. 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:57.360 How does this conquering king suffer and die? 00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:58.879 That doesn't make sense. 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:02.799 That's beneath the dignity of the king to suffer and die. 00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:09.360 That's one of the things that makes Christianity so absurd to many in the Muslim population. 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:15.679 Because they say, how could the Almighty God subject himself to be killed at the hands of his own creation? 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:17.360 That doesn't make sense. 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:30.480 Actually, remember one time witnessing to a Muslim uh man in uh in Baltimore, and he says, you know, it makes no sense that Jesus would be God, the Son of God, and come and die at the hands of his own creation. 00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:31.919 That makes no sense. 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:34.720 I said, You're exactly right, it doesn't make sense. 00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:38.559 And that's what makes the gospel such amazing grace. 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:44.080 That God would come in the person of Jesus Christ and die for us. 00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:46.399 That's what makes it so amazing. 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:47.679 Amazing love. 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:52.080 How can it be that thou, my God, would die for me? 00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:53.440 Amazing love. 00:16:53.600 --> 00:17:03.360 And it shouldn't make sense to us that God would come and do this and pay such a price for so wicked a class of beings as us. 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:06.160 Why would God do this? 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:13.680 A Muslim can't even picture a prophet dying in that way, much less God in human flesh dying in that way. 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:15.359 Makes no sense. 00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:23.279 But what we learn from this brief verse when Jesus says that it must happen this way is that this was the predetermined plan of God. 00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:30.319 When Jesus says that He he must go, from that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem. 00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:33.359 He uses a word that means it is necessary. 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:35.279 This is necessary for me. 00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:36.720 It was a divine appointment. 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:39.119 Why don't you flip over to Acts chapter 2? 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:50.960 In Acts chapter 2, what we have is Peter's first sermon, and this is after he's fully convinced of the person of Christ as well as the plan of Christ. 00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:57.200 But in Acts chapter 2, starting at verse 22, he speaks to the men of Israel. 00:17:57.279 --> 00:17:57.759 Listen to this. 00:17:57.920 --> 00:18:00.079 Acts chapter 2, starting at verse 22. 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:03.519 He says, Men of Israel, listen to these words. 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:12.799 Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs, which God performed through him in your midst, just as you yourselves know. 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:15.359 This man delivered over by what? 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:23.839 The predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put him to death. 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:29.920 And what Peter lets us know here is that this was the plan of God for Jesus to go to the cross. 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:41.039 This is a wonderful verse that demonstrates both God's sovereignty as well as man's uh ability here and uh determination. 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:46.319 Was was were men responsible for putting Jesus to death? 00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:47.519 Absolutely. 00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:49.200 Man's responsibility, 100%. 00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:53.039 Men were responsible for putting Jesus Christ on the cross. 00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:55.839 Peter says, You nailed him to a cross. 00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:57.599 The responsibility falls on you. 00:18:57.759 --> 00:19:01.839 You put him to death by the hands of godless men, 100% responsible. 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:03.519 He lays it at their feet. 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:05.759 But was God also in control? 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:09.519 Did God orchestrate the events of the cross? 00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:11.039 Absolutely, 100%. 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:14.880 This happened at the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God. 00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:17.839 God was in complete control over all the details. 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:19.680 It was a divine appointment. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:22.400 So Jesus says, I must go to the cross. 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:25.440 This is the plan of God for me to go to the cross. 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:30.240 I mean, you know, God's not up in heaven hitting the panic button, you know, when he sees Jesus going to the cross. 00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:31.759 This is all part of the plan. 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:37.359 We also learn from this verse that Jesus himself was determined to go to the cross. 00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:42.160 It was the predetermined plan of God, but it was also the determination of Jesus. 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:43.839 Let me ask you a question. 00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:55.920 If you knew that all you had to do to avoid the cruelest torture and ridicule that you would ever experience in your life, that all you had to do to avoid that was just not go to Jerusalem. 00:19:56.160 --> 00:20:05.920 You know, if I was told this morning that the severest torture and cruelty is awaiting you at Emmanuel Bible church, I might be back in Baltimore this morning, right? 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:08.480 You know, might want to avoid that. 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:14.079 But here Jesus knows what's ahead of him, and he says, I must go to Jerusalem. 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:19.279 I'm determined to go exactly to where the Father has predetermined for me to go. 00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:21.519 I'm determined to do that. 00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:30.319 Jesus says in Matthew 20, Behold, we're going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes and will be condemned to death. 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:32.880 Jesus wasn't thrown into the lion's den. 00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:34.960 Jesus walked into the lion's den. 00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:36.400 He walked into it. 00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:42.799 He knows what they were coming to do on that night of his betrayal in John chapter 18. 00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:49.440 We have Judas with a Roman cohort coming with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:59.920 And instead of having to search out and find Jesus, I mean, the reason they brought the torch is because they thought they were going to be on this massive manhunt, you know, to try to find Jesus hiding somewhere underneath a bush somewhere. 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:03.279 But Jesus walks straight up to them and says, Hey, who are you looking for? 00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:04.880 Whom do you seek? 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:10.799 Just to let them know that uh uh just in case you think you're in charge, I'm the one who's in charge here. 00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:12.160 I'm the one who's in charge. 00:21:12.319 --> 00:21:15.200 He went right to those who were coming to take his life. 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:26.559 And just as a footnote, just to buy the way, if if you're coming to take down the Son of God, you might need more than just a couple of lanterns and torches, you know, and a couple clubs, you know, to take them down. 00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:32.240 You might need just a little bit more firepower if that's what you're intending to do, to take down Jesus Christ. 00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:39.759 And Jesus Christ flattens them with just a word from his mouth, just to let them know that you're not taking me by force. 00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:41.119 I'm coming voluntarily. 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:43.519 Jesus was in charge of every detail. 00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:44.799 He laid down his life. 00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:46.079 John chapter 10. 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:50.720 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it again. 00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:54.799 No one has taken it away from me, but I lay it down on my own initiative. 00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:57.599 Jesus was determined to go to the cross. 00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:59.759 Not only that, it was the prediction of the scriptures. 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:02.319 Predetermined plan of God. 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:08.160 It was Jesus' determination to go, and it was also the prediction of the scriptures. 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:17.359 On the night of his betrayal, Jesus said to the crowds, Have you come against me with swords and clubs to arrest me as you would a robber? 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:24.000 But then in verse 56, he says, All this has taken place to fulfill the scriptures of the prophets. 00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:29.039 This is all according to the prediction of the scriptures. 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:34.240 Zechariah 13 says, Strike the shepherd that the sheep may be scattered. 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:35.920 And that's exactly what happened. 00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:39.359 Hundreds of years before the crucifixion. 00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:43.680 In great detail, Psalm 22 spoke about exactly what was to happen. 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:50.000 All who sneer, who see me sneer at me, they separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying, Commit yourself to the Lord. 00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:51.279 Let him deliver him. 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:53.359 Let him rescue him because he delights in him. 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:59.039 I'm poured out like water, all my bones are out of joint, my heart is like wax, it's melted within me. 00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:01.359 Verse 17, I can count on my bones. 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:03.839 Verse 16, they pierce my hands and my feet. 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:05.839 Verse 18, they divide my garments. 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:12.000 I mean, pinpoint detail about the details of the cross, hundreds of years before it happened. 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:13.920 It was the prediction of the scriptures. 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:15.680 You can't make this stuff up. 00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:29.359 And it was absolutely necessary as well, not only because it was the predetermined plan of God and the determination of the Son, prediction of the scriptures, but it was also the only way that salvation could be possible for us, right? 00:23:29.599 --> 00:23:31.039 Why must he go to the cross? 00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:33.279 Because that's the only way that we could be saved. 00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:35.119 There's no other way. 00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:39.839 Just prior to the crucifixion, Jesus fell on his face before his father. 00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:49.680 Matthew 26, verse 39, it says he went a little beyond them, fell on his face and prayed, saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. 00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:52.400 And yet, not as I will, but as ye will. 00:23:53.039 --> 00:24:01.200 He just crumbles under the weight of the prospect of bearing the wrath of God for the sins of the world. 00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:04.160 And he says, Not as I will, but as ye will. 00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:07.119 I'm determined to do what you ask of me. 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:13.519 If there was any other way, Father, for these sins to be forgiven, but not as I will, as ye will. 00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:15.599 Was there any other way for our sins to be forgiven? 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:17.599 The answer is absolutely not. 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:18.880 Absolutely not. 00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:20.559 This was the only way. 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:25.759 The only way for our sins to be forgiven was by the cross of Jesus Christ. 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:33.519 Hebrews 9.22 says, one may almost say that all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. 00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:35.599 It had to happen this way. 00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:43.359 Predetermined plan of the Father, determined will of the Son, prediction of the Old Testament, scriptures, the only acceptable way of salvation. 00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:46.720 And nothing is going to stand in the way of this plan. 00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:52.079 Absolutely nothing is going to get in the way of the plan of God being fulfilled. 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:53.200 Nothing. 00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:58.480 Which makes the next verse so unexpected because somebody tried to get in the way. 00:24:59.200 --> 00:25:00.799 Look at verse 22. 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:02.799 This is the unexpected rebuke. 00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:04.160 Verse 22. 00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:10.799 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, God forbid it, Lord. 00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:13.680 This shall never happen to you. 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:17.519 Well, so much for papal infallibility, right? 00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:20.400 So much for the first pope. 00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:27.119 Peter goes from being the rock to being the stumbling block, all within the same conversation. 00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:32.640 And we might give Peter a hard time, but Peter's just saying what everybody else was already thinking. 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:39.839 And nobody had in their mind that the career path for the Messiah was going to end in crucifixion. 00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:54.960 But how Peter goes from this shocking, you know, revelation that you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God, to doing this about face and now rebuking the one that he just identified as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, you know, is shocking to us. 00:25:55.200 --> 00:26:00.960 But what Peter does is he uh pulls Jesus aside to say, Lord, let me let me tell you what's not gonna happen, okay? 00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:06.799 Uh like this plan that you're talking about, I mean, you know, maybe sounded like a good idea, but I'm telling you it is not. 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:08.559 He pulls them aside. 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:11.440 Uh the Greek word that's used here is proslumbano. 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:16.000 It literally means to pull one aside to yourself. 00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:22.400 Likely what Peter did was physically grab Jesus to take him away for a private audience. 00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:26.720 You know, Jesus, I really don't want to embarrass you in front of the rest of the guys. 00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:29.119 Can we talk over here for a minute? 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:30.240 Just come on over. 00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:34.480 Pulls Jesus aside so we can have this private conversation. 00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:39.279 And the language that's used is a strong language, this strong encounter. 00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:50.400 The word for rebuke, when it says he took him aside and began to rebuke him, it's the same word that's used earlier in Matthew for Jesus stilling the storms and casting out demons. 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:54.160 This is the same word that's used of Peter rebuking Jesus. 00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:58.880 Peter's telling the Lord, this has to stop. 00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:01.519 It's a word that's used for cease and desist. 00:27:01.599 --> 00:27:04.319 I am commanding you to cease and desist right now. 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:06.880 Like, like take that thought out of your mind. 00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:07.839 This has to stop. 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:10.559 Lord, you've gone too far this time. 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:15.440 And Peter also attempts to bring God's character into the picture. 00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:24.240 As if he had a better idea of God's plan than Jesus did, who, by the way, is God, just in case you forgot, right? 00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:28.799 He says, uh, God forbid it, Lord. 00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:30.400 God forbid this. 00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:33.759 I mean, far be it from you in some of your translations. 00:27:34.160 --> 00:27:40.640 What's attempting uh to be translated here is this idea that God is more gracious than that Jesus? 00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:44.559 Jesus, you're not thinking correctly about the character of God. 00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:48.400 God forbid that anything like that would ever happen to you. 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:49.680 Perish the thought. 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:55.599 And another way that Peter strengthens this is uh he just doesn't say, Lord, this shall never happen to you. 00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:57.680 It's the the double negative in the Greek. 00:27:57.839 --> 00:28:00.480 Lord, this shall never, never happen to you. 00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:02.000 Like, no, no, no. 00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:03.920 Never, never, never. 00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:07.599 I'm absolutely sure about this, absolutely certain. 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:10.400 This shall never happen to you, Lord. 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:17.200 And you'd have to believe that somewhere in the middle of all that, that there was a true affection for Christ. 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:21.759 You know, some attempt to protect Jesus from shame and disgrace. 00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:28.079 But all of that would have run contrary to what Jesus just said is what must happen. 00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:30.079 This must happen this way. 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:31.920 I'm determined for it to happen. 00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:34.640 It's the prediction of the scriptures, it's the only hope of salvation. 00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:37.519 But Peter says, no, no, no, no, that's that's not the plan. 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:39.039 That is not the plan. 00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:47.200 And Peter might have meant well, but what Peter was actually doing was picking up Satan's lies and using it against the Lord. 00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:50.480 He was actually at this time being Satan's mouthpiece. 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:56.559 And anytime we oppose the clear direction and will of God, we're doing the same thing. 00:28:56.880 --> 00:28:59.920 We're picking up Satan's lines and singing it for him. 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:08.880 There's this unexpected restriction, unexpected revelation, this unexpected rebuke. 00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:11.920 And then in verse 23, there's an unexpected response. 00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:13.440 Look at verse 23. 00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:20.240 But he turned and said to Peter, get behind me, Satan. 00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:27.119 You are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's. 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:32.640 And we we might have expected Jesus to kind of tone it down, maybe just a little bit. 00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:36.400 You know, to say, you know, hey, hey, Peter, you know, oh, you have little faith. 00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:40.559 Uh, you know, I I know you're mean well, you know, can I can I pull you aside? 00:29:40.640 --> 00:29:44.079 And, you know, since we're already here in private anyway, you pulled me away from everybody else. 00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:46.400 Well, let's let's just kind of talk about this. 00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:48.960 You know, you're you're really not understanding the full plan. 00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:51.519 How long am I gonna have to explain this? 00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:53.519 You know, that that's not what Jesus does. 00:29:53.759 --> 00:30:03.440 He he he strongly comes against Peter with this response and and directs this word at him that he doesn't direct to any other disciple. 00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:07.759 Get behind me, Satan! What did he mean by that? 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:14.000 I mean, did Satan enter into Peter's heart like he did to Judas at the Last Supper? 00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:19.039 You know, Luke 22, verse 3 lets us know that Satan actually entered into Judas Iscariot. 00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:20.400 I mean, is that what happened here? 00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:23.279 I don't think that that's what's going on here at all. 00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:31.440 Uh Jesus in John 17 and verse 15 specifically prays that his own would be kept from the evil one. 00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:41.359 In uh Colossians chapter 1 and verse 13, Jesus, uh the word of God says that uh we've been transferred from the domain of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of his son. 00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:43.440 We've been released from that captivity. 00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:50.480 In 1 John chapter 5 and verse 18, it lets us know that the evil one does not touch him, referring to the believer. 00:30:50.640 --> 00:30:55.039 So it's not here that Satan physically entered into Peter. 00:30:55.359 --> 00:30:56.319 That's not the idea. 00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:57.839 So what's what's going on here? 00:30:58.400 --> 00:31:06.799 It's not Satan entering into Peter's heart, but it was Satan filling Peter's heart with his own selfish desires. 00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:11.039