WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.820 Matthew 16, and I want to speak from verses 13 to 20, it's the turning point of Matthew's gospel. 00:00:07.240 --> 00:00:15.120 But it's also the single most important turning point we could ever come across in a discussion of religion. 00:00:16.460 --> 00:00:19.199 The first time the question is asked is in verse 13. 00:00:19.500 --> 00:00:22.379 You can see it's asked in really general terms. 00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:25.580 Jesus asks, who do people say that I am? 00:00:26.179 --> 00:00:27.920 Who do they say the Son of Man is? 00:00:28.100 --> 00:00:29.400 What's the word on the street? 00:00:30.620 --> 00:00:32.700 It's an out there kind of question. 00:00:33.799 --> 00:00:42.120 But the second time he asks a question in verse 15, the house lights drop, and the spotlight shines into their eyes, 00:00:42.120 --> 00:00:45.620 and Jesus makes everything far more personal. 00:00:46.420 --> 00:00:47.519 And he says, what about you? 00:00:49.079 --> 00:00:52.299 Who do you say that I am? 00:00:54.659 --> 00:00:57.659 And I don't know what your own answer is to that question. 00:00:57.659 --> 00:01:02.699 You don't need me to tell you that there's a wide variety of answers. 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:09.140 If you look at the kind of various popular and theological works of recent times, you can find Jesus the intellectual, 00:01:09.140 --> 00:01:21.620 Jesus the Mediterranean cynic, Jesus the proto-hippie, Jesus the androgynous feminist, Jesus the clever messianic pretender, 00:01:22.260 --> 00:01:25.659 Jesus the peasant very revolutionary, Jesus the gay magician. 00:01:25.659 --> 00:01:31.799 There's a range of options out there about who Jesus is, who he was. 00:01:32.500 --> 00:01:34.060 And that's the question for us this morning. 00:01:35.659 --> 00:01:41.780 And whether you realise it or not, it is the most significant question that any of you will ever face. 00:01:41.780 --> 00:01:49.780 I would go as far to say that your answer to this question will do more to shape your ambitions in life, 00:01:50.680 --> 00:01:55.099 and your career, and your marriage, and your family life. 00:01:55.159 --> 00:01:57.460 It will shape your leisure, it will shape your retirement. 00:01:57.980 --> 00:01:59.819 It will shape even the way that you face death. 00:01:59.819 --> 00:02:04.799 More than any other question in the world. 00:02:04.919 --> 00:02:08.819 And that's before, isn't it, any thought about our eternal destiny. 00:02:10.019 --> 00:02:16.159 And so the question itself, firstly, and then the answers that are given, and then the promises with which Jesus responds. 00:02:16.259 --> 00:02:17.000 Number one, the question. 00:02:18.759 --> 00:02:21.799 Up until this point in Matthew, we've had ringside seats. 00:02:21.800 --> 00:02:27.439 And we've watched the way that the crowds have responded to Jesus at different points. 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:30.780 And we've seen that the crowds have been filled with awe. 00:02:31.219 --> 00:02:33.420 They've been amazed at him. 00:02:33.500 --> 00:02:36.280 They praised the God of Israel because of him. 00:02:37.300 --> 00:02:40.640 And news about Jesus, well, it's spread like wildfire through the whole region. 00:02:40.720 --> 00:02:43.980 And some people have taken offence at him. 00:02:45.820 --> 00:02:50.100 But up until now, Jesus hasn't put anyone on the spot like this. 00:02:50.099 --> 00:02:54.639 He's not asked them to nail their colours to the mask. 00:02:54.759 --> 00:02:56.180 But now it's decision time. 00:02:58.039 --> 00:03:03.900 And from a purely historical point of view, the identity of Jesus is really fascinating. 00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:06.439 There's a poem that reads, 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:10.900 All the armies that have ever marched, all the navies that have ever sailed, 00:03:11.240 --> 00:03:14.699 all the parliaments that have ever sat, all the kings that have ever reigned, 00:03:14.699 --> 00:03:17.900 put together, have not affected the life of man on this earth, 00:03:17.900 --> 00:03:20.780 as much as that one solitary life. 00:03:22.280 --> 00:03:24.219 And if you want to know anything about the history of art, 00:03:24.360 --> 00:03:25.200 or the history of music, 00:03:25.740 --> 00:03:27.379 or the history of law, 00:03:28.300 --> 00:03:30.740 or the history of Western civilisation, 00:03:31.939 --> 00:03:37.240 sooner or later, you've got to engage with the question of who is Jesus of Nazareth. 00:03:37.240 --> 00:03:40.879 But the question isn't just interesting. 00:03:43.080 --> 00:03:46.140 But it's also the defining question for the world's religions. 00:03:48.200 --> 00:03:50.159 When you ask who is Jesus Christ, 00:03:51.020 --> 00:03:52.800 and you're not asking the question about opinion, 00:03:53.960 --> 00:03:57.800 you're asking the question about objective historical fact, 00:03:57.860 --> 00:03:58.900 about a man who really lived. 00:03:58.900 --> 00:04:03.520 And each of the world's major religions gave a different answer. 00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:05.360 So if you look at Judaism, 00:04:05.500 --> 00:04:07.180 it will say that Jesus is a heretic. 00:04:08.620 --> 00:04:12.680 In Islam, he is thought to be a sinless prophet. 00:04:13.920 --> 00:04:15.900 In classical Hinduism, 00:04:16.420 --> 00:04:19.759 he is one face of God amongst millions of others. 00:04:20.199 --> 00:04:23.660 In Buddhism, he is a truly enlightened man, 00:04:23.720 --> 00:04:24.560 but he's no different. 00:04:25.840 --> 00:04:27.379 In potential for the rest of us. 00:04:27.379 --> 00:04:30.240 In popular culture, you could say, 00:04:30.379 --> 00:04:30.899 I think today, 00:04:30.980 --> 00:04:32.459 Jesus is a good man, 00:04:33.040 --> 00:04:34.199 a great man, 00:04:34.540 --> 00:04:35.620 a profound teacher, 00:04:36.219 --> 00:04:38.060 he's a charismatic leader, 00:04:38.159 --> 00:04:39.139 that sort of thing. 00:04:39.319 --> 00:04:41.560 That's pretty much what our culture would say about it. 00:04:42.959 --> 00:04:44.519 But only in Christianity 00:04:44.519 --> 00:04:47.959 is Jesus accepted as God on earth. 00:04:50.259 --> 00:04:51.019 And that is important, 00:04:51.019 --> 00:04:55.019 because when I come to have a clear mind on Jesus' identity, 00:04:55.019 --> 00:04:58.620 I not only decide what I think of Christianity, 00:04:59.099 --> 00:05:00.399 but what I think of everything else. 00:05:02.899 --> 00:05:03.740 And so, let me ask you, 00:05:03.799 --> 00:05:07.199 does the evidence point to Jesus being a prophet, 00:05:07.439 --> 00:05:08.879 but no more than a prophet? 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:09.639 Well, if he does, 00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:10.680 well then Islam is right. 00:05:11.479 --> 00:05:13.879 And Christianity is definitely wrong. 00:05:15.959 --> 00:05:19.139 Does the evidence point to Jesus being a good man, 00:05:19.859 --> 00:05:21.219 but no more than that? 00:05:21.220 --> 00:05:23.580 Well, if that's the case, 00:05:23.820 --> 00:05:25.200 popular culture is right, 00:05:25.700 --> 00:05:27.800 and Christianity is definitely wrong. 00:05:29.540 --> 00:05:32.440 But if we just suggest that Jesus is in fact unique, 00:05:32.580 --> 00:05:33.780 and not just a man, 00:05:33.860 --> 00:05:34.920 but more than a man, 00:05:35.220 --> 00:05:36.360 and not just a prophet, 00:05:36.560 --> 00:05:38.260 but the son of the living God, 00:05:38.720 --> 00:05:41.600 then by answering this one simple question, 00:05:42.460 --> 00:05:43.480 you'll have demonstrated, 00:05:43.660 --> 00:05:44.820 in this respect at least, 00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:46.220 that Christianity is right, 00:05:46.220 --> 00:05:49.780 and every other view of the world is inadequate. 00:05:51.800 --> 00:05:53.180 So it's important historically. 00:05:54.900 --> 00:05:56.520 And it's really important when you're discussing 00:05:56.520 --> 00:05:59.160 the issue of world religions. 00:06:01.960 --> 00:06:03.320 And even when we come to Christianity, 00:06:04.180 --> 00:06:05.720 this is the key question. 00:06:07.300 --> 00:06:08.040 I don't know whether you've, 00:06:08.520 --> 00:06:09.280 we've got anyone here, 00:06:09.380 --> 00:06:10.840 and they're looking into the Christian face, 00:06:10.900 --> 00:06:11.840 maybe for the first time, 00:06:11.880 --> 00:06:12.940 or they've begun to look into it. 00:06:12.939 --> 00:06:16.519 And probably if you're looking into Christianity, 00:06:16.660 --> 00:06:18.000 you've got thousands of questions 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:19.139 about all sorts of things. 00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:21.740 And it can be kind of very hard 00:06:21.740 --> 00:06:22.639 to know where to begin. 00:06:24.759 --> 00:06:25.839 Try and get your whole, 00:06:26.399 --> 00:06:27.180 your head around, 00:06:27.300 --> 00:06:29.699 a whole different way of thinking, 00:06:29.939 --> 00:06:31.939 a whole different view of the world. 00:06:33.740 --> 00:06:34.420 But actually, 00:06:34.579 --> 00:06:35.579 this question this morning 00:06:35.579 --> 00:06:36.959 is the best place to start. 00:06:36.959 --> 00:06:41.539 This question is the domino 00:06:41.539 --> 00:06:45.039 that sets all the other dominoes 00:06:45.039 --> 00:06:46.359 into place. 00:06:48.379 --> 00:06:50.379 Work out what you think about Jesus, 00:06:50.759 --> 00:06:52.399 and who Jesus is, 00:06:53.620 --> 00:06:55.459 and it won't be easy, 00:06:55.639 --> 00:06:56.620 but sooner or later, 00:06:56.699 --> 00:06:59.240 you'll find that other things fall into place. 00:06:59.299 --> 00:07:00.579 That's why in our evangelism, 00:07:00.659 --> 00:07:04.599 we want to talk primarily about Jesus, 00:07:05.079 --> 00:07:05.859 and who he is, 00:07:05.860 --> 00:07:06.439 and what he's done, 00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:07.580 because that is the big issue. 00:07:07.800 --> 00:07:09.060 You get that issue right, 00:07:09.480 --> 00:07:11.360 and other things will fall into place. 00:07:14.580 --> 00:07:17.180 If Jesus is just a man this morning, 00:07:18.460 --> 00:07:20.639 then Jesus' opinion about your career, 00:07:20.840 --> 00:07:21.879 and about your sex life, 00:07:21.960 --> 00:07:22.879 and about your family life, 00:07:22.920 --> 00:07:24.300 it matters very little indeed. 00:07:24.300 --> 00:07:27.540 But if he is God, 00:07:28.180 --> 00:07:31.259 if he is the God man, 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:32.480 then when he speaks to us 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:33.840 about the suffering that we face, 00:07:35.319 --> 00:07:36.100 and when he speaks to us 00:07:36.100 --> 00:07:37.220 about the money that we have, 00:07:38.160 --> 00:07:39.300 and when he speaks about 00:07:39.300 --> 00:07:40.300 the meaning of life, 00:07:40.400 --> 00:07:41.699 well, we would do very well to listen. 00:07:42.759 --> 00:07:44.560 And so the question is absolutely fundamental. 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:48.800 And if you're looking in from the inside this morning, 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:50.120 make this your question 00:07:50.120 --> 00:07:51.680 before any others. 00:07:51.759 --> 00:07:52.319 What about me? 00:07:53.680 --> 00:07:55.100 Who do I say that Jesus is? 00:07:57.519 --> 00:07:59.120 Secondly, let's look at the answers. 00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:01.819 The question, and then the answers. 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:03.120 Let's do it. 00:08:03.160 --> 00:08:05.060 And the first answer is spectacular, 00:08:05.699 --> 00:08:07.100 but inadequate. 00:08:09.399 --> 00:08:11.060 Spectacular, but inadequate. 00:08:11.060 --> 00:08:11.819 Verse 13. 00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:17.360 Jesus came into the area of Caesarea Philippi, 00:08:17.420 --> 00:08:18.399 and he asked his disciples, 00:08:18.500 --> 00:08:19.879 who do people say the Son of Man is? 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:21.480 That's Jesus' way of referring to himself. 00:08:23.899 --> 00:08:25.579 They say, some say John the Baptist, 00:08:25.740 --> 00:08:26.459 others say Elijah, 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:27.759 others Jeremiah, 00:08:27.959 --> 00:08:28.600 or one of the prophets. 00:08:31.399 --> 00:08:32.379 And we need to realize 00:08:32.379 --> 00:08:33.879 that these different possibilities 00:08:33.879 --> 00:08:35.639 that people are putting on the table, 00:08:36.279 --> 00:08:39.279 they are not disrespectful to Jesus at all. 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:40.120 They're not meant to be. 00:08:41.059 --> 00:08:44.319 These are the crowds 00:08:44.319 --> 00:08:46.599 bringing Jesus down a peg or two. 00:08:48.019 --> 00:08:49.339 In fact, by saying 00:08:49.339 --> 00:08:51.379 about these people, 00:08:52.019 --> 00:08:52.979 they are holding Jesus 00:08:52.979 --> 00:08:53.939 in the highest of the seat. 00:08:54.039 --> 00:08:54.879 So John the Baptist 00:08:54.879 --> 00:08:56.179 is a national celebrity. 00:08:57.479 --> 00:08:58.619 He's the first prophet 00:08:58.619 --> 00:09:01.039 after 400 years of silence in Israel. 00:09:02.619 --> 00:09:03.579 He's the man 00:09:03.579 --> 00:09:04.919 that the whole of the area 00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:05.939 went out to meet. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:10.139 Elijah probably was the greatest 00:09:10.139 --> 00:09:11.759 of the Old Testament prophets. 00:09:12.259 --> 00:09:14.379 Jeremiah probably the most revered 00:09:14.379 --> 00:09:14.939 and respected. 00:09:16.500 --> 00:09:17.740 And so these three men, 00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:20.779 they are national heroes. 00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:24.439 They're every bit as much 00:09:24.439 --> 00:09:26.279 of heroes to the Israelites 00:09:26.279 --> 00:09:28.179 as English heroes are from the past. 00:09:29.879 --> 00:09:30.919 Winston Churchill. 00:09:32.199 --> 00:09:33.080 King Arthur. 00:09:34.539 --> 00:09:35.399 Lord Nelson. 00:09:35.399 --> 00:09:38.879 They are celebrated. 00:09:40.159 --> 00:09:41.059 They are revered. 00:09:41.159 --> 00:09:41.819 They are respected. 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:44.720 And if you were to open 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:46.039 a Sunday newspaper in Palestine 00:09:46.039 --> 00:09:47.679 and they'd written an article 00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:49.059 on the top ten heroes 00:09:49.059 --> 00:09:50.159 of the Jewish faith, 00:09:50.840 --> 00:09:51.720 you'd be pretty sure 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:52.620 that these three would be 00:09:52.620 --> 00:09:53.459 at the top of the list. 00:09:55.500 --> 00:09:56.480 And now the crowds 00:09:56.480 --> 00:09:57.340 have come to the conclusion 00:09:57.340 --> 00:09:58.000 that the ministry 00:09:58.000 --> 00:09:59.480 of the son of the carpenter 00:09:59.480 --> 00:10:01.860 is on a par with 00:10:01.860 --> 00:10:03.980 the greatest people 00:10:03.980 --> 00:10:04.480 in history. 00:10:06.019 --> 00:10:06.899 And they are saying, 00:10:06.980 --> 00:10:08.000 Jesus, we think that you 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:09.320 are the one of the most defout, 00:10:09.659 --> 00:10:10.720 one of the most spiritual, 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:13.080 and one of the most important men 00:10:13.080 --> 00:10:14.100 that God has ever sent 00:10:14.100 --> 00:10:14.820 into the world. 00:10:15.620 --> 00:10:15.960 Bravo. 00:10:17.779 --> 00:10:18.940 And it's high praise. 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:21.840 But even that level of praise 00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:23.159 does not do Jesus 00:10:23.159 --> 00:10:24.060 sufficient justice. 00:10:24.419 --> 00:10:25.700 So he turns to his disciples 00:10:25.700 --> 00:10:27.180 and he asks them, 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:28.139 well, do you share 00:10:28.139 --> 00:10:28.980 the popular opinion? 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:29.399 Do you? 00:10:31.019 --> 00:10:31.600 Or do you think 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:32.060 something different? 00:10:32.139 --> 00:10:32.639 What about you? 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:36.000 Who do you say that I am? 00:10:36.019 --> 00:10:37.779 And it's very, very personal. 00:10:38.279 --> 00:10:39.300 Jesus, Matthew, 00:10:39.480 --> 00:10:40.980 switches here to the present tense 00:10:40.980 --> 00:10:41.920 to make it more dramatic. 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:44.480 You is literally 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:46.960 the first word of the sentence. 00:10:48.279 --> 00:10:48.639 You. 00:10:48.940 --> 00:10:49.740 What do you think? 00:10:52.860 --> 00:10:54.259 And it's really ramping up 00:10:54.259 --> 00:10:55.500 the intensity of the moment. 00:10:55.860 --> 00:10:57.539 And the question is addressed 00:10:57.539 --> 00:10:58.840 to all of the disciples 00:10:58.840 --> 00:10:59.800 but it's Peter 00:10:59.800 --> 00:11:00.700 who's the first to speak. 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:03.160 And Peter says, 00:11:03.259 --> 00:11:03.740 doesn't he, 00:11:05.300 --> 00:11:06.080 verse 16, 00:11:06.240 --> 00:11:07.720 you are the Christ. 00:11:09.139 --> 00:11:10.519 The son of the living God. 00:11:16.800 --> 00:11:17.600 That's news. 00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:18.820 News for us as readers 00:11:18.820 --> 00:11:20.060 but not new news. 00:11:21.920 --> 00:11:22.800 Five times 00:11:22.800 --> 00:11:24.100 in Matthew's introduction, 00:11:25.240 --> 00:11:26.460 in chapter 1 and chapter 2, 00:11:26.460 --> 00:11:28.060 Jesus is introduced to us 00:11:28.060 --> 00:11:29.120 as the Christ. 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:33.900 Five times in chapter 1 and 2. 00:11:34.160 --> 00:11:35.040 But with one exception, 00:11:35.740 --> 00:11:36.460 the title, 00:11:36.800 --> 00:11:37.200 Christ, 00:11:37.340 --> 00:11:38.160 which means God's 00:11:38.160 --> 00:11:38.800 anointed king, 00:11:38.840 --> 00:11:39.379 has been absent 00:11:39.379 --> 00:11:40.500 since chapters 1 and 2. 00:11:42.420 --> 00:11:43.759 And so this is a key moment. 00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:45.220 For the very first time, 00:11:45.340 --> 00:11:46.800 somebody says out loud 00:11:46.800 --> 00:11:47.440 the truth, 00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:48.720 the voice, 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:50.860 which they dare to believe. 00:11:50.860 --> 00:11:53.460 the truth that has dominated 00:11:53.460 --> 00:11:54.320 Matthew's gospel 00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:55.220 up until this point. 00:11:55.220 --> 00:11:56.419 And there are two parts 00:11:56.419 --> 00:11:57.220 to Matthew's answer, 00:11:58.379 --> 00:11:59.039 Peter's answer. 00:11:59.960 --> 00:12:00.820 When Peter says, 00:12:00.899 --> 00:12:02.200 Jesus is the Christ, 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:03.440 every word 00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:04.600 in that little clause 00:12:04.600 --> 00:12:05.139 matters. 00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:06.320 And so he's saying, 00:12:06.539 --> 00:12:06.919 you, 00:12:07.320 --> 00:12:07.919 you, 00:12:08.139 --> 00:12:08.460 Jesus, 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:09.940 and nobody else 00:12:09.940 --> 00:12:10.779 are the Christ. 00:12:10.779 --> 00:12:10.919 Christ, 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:14.620 and you are 00:12:14.620 --> 00:12:16.159 the Christ. 00:12:16.980 --> 00:12:17.740 It's not, 00:12:18.279 --> 00:12:19.459 might be the Christ. 00:12:20.579 --> 00:12:21.259 You're not, 00:12:21.500 --> 00:12:22.759 could be the Christ. 00:12:23.199 --> 00:12:23.720 You're not, 00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:24.579 one day, 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:26.379 you may well be the Christ, 00:12:26.459 --> 00:12:28.139 but you are the Christ, 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:29.000 present tense. 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:32.079 And you are, 00:12:32.439 --> 00:12:33.480 the Christ. 00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:34.100 You're not, 00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:35.279 one among many, 00:12:35.620 --> 00:12:36.539 but you are the one 00:12:36.539 --> 00:12:37.220 and only. 00:12:37.860 --> 00:12:39.519 You are the only Christ. 00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:39.639 Christ. 00:12:40.379 --> 00:12:41.579 And Christ is not 00:12:41.579 --> 00:12:42.259 a surname, 00:12:42.779 --> 00:12:43.659 but a title. 00:12:45.159 --> 00:12:45.779 The Messiah, 00:12:46.220 --> 00:12:47.139 God's anointed king. 00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:48.939 The king of the universe. 00:12:50.199 --> 00:12:51.679 The one whom the prophets 00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:52.699 had spoken about. 00:12:54.220 --> 00:12:55.819 And whom God's faithful people 00:12:55.819 --> 00:12:56.279 have been waiting 00:12:56.279 --> 00:12:57.779 thousands of years. 00:12:58.399 --> 00:12:59.399 The one who will bring in 00:12:59.399 --> 00:13:00.399 God's new age. 00:13:00.539 --> 00:13:02.799 You are the Christ. 00:13:04.819 --> 00:13:06.500 The second part of Peter's answer 00:13:06.500 --> 00:13:07.399 is no less significant 00:13:07.399 --> 00:13:08.519 in acknowledging Jesus 00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:10.159 as the son of the living God. 00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:11.179 He's making a statement 00:13:11.179 --> 00:13:12.500 not just about 00:13:12.500 --> 00:13:13.919 Jesus' office, 00:13:14.039 --> 00:13:15.059 that he is the king, 00:13:15.179 --> 00:13:15.879 his role, 00:13:16.179 --> 00:13:17.299 but also about this person 00:13:17.299 --> 00:13:17.980 who he is. 00:13:18.199 --> 00:13:18.639 Are you right? 00:13:20.620 --> 00:13:21.279 That he's realised 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:22.299 Jesus is not just 00:13:22.299 --> 00:13:23.659 the anointed king, 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:24.759 but he is the divine 00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:26.759 and eternal son 00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:28.720 who alone knows the father 00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:30.519 and has come from the father. 00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:33.500 And if this all sounds like, 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:33.679 well, 00:13:33.740 --> 00:13:35.679 theology that uses fine words, 00:13:35.740 --> 00:13:36.480 but it's quite distant 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:37.439 from real life, 00:13:37.980 --> 00:13:40.360 I want you to see 00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:41.579 that Peter's confession 00:13:41.579 --> 00:13:44.240 comes laden with deep 00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:46.179 and practical circumstances. 00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:47.340 Consequences. 00:13:49.240 --> 00:13:49.960 And the key, 00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:51.039 which I've not really seen before, 00:13:51.159 --> 00:13:52.399 is where it happens. 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:54.299 Matthew's quite keen on geography. 00:13:54.299 --> 00:13:56.899 And where did it happen? 00:13:57.219 --> 00:13:58.599 Look at verse 13. 00:13:58.979 --> 00:14:00.639 It happened in Caesarea Philippi. 00:14:02.679 --> 00:14:03.879 And Caesarea Philippi 00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:06.719 was right in the north of Israel. 00:14:08.439 --> 00:14:10.679 Right on the boundary line 00:14:10.679 --> 00:14:11.879 between Israel 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:13.179 and the rest of the world. 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:13.740 Kind of overlook 00:14:13.740 --> 00:14:14.439 the rest of the world. 00:14:14.440 --> 00:14:17.240 And it's as if Matthew 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:18.120 is nudging us. 00:14:20.600 --> 00:14:21.680 It's as if Matthew 00:14:21.680 --> 00:14:23.200 quietly is pointing us, 00:14:23.240 --> 00:14:23.620 isn't it? 00:14:24.680 --> 00:14:25.640 To the end of the book, 00:14:25.700 --> 00:14:26.080 isn't it? 00:14:26.740 --> 00:14:27.820 Where all authority 00:14:27.820 --> 00:14:28.880 in every place 00:14:28.880 --> 00:14:30.260 is given to the Lord Jesus 00:14:30.260 --> 00:14:31.040 over everywhere. 00:14:34.300 --> 00:14:35.080 Do you realise 00:14:35.080 --> 00:14:35.660 he's saying 00:14:35.660 --> 00:14:36.500 what is about to happen? 00:14:37.580 --> 00:14:38.800 But what is about to happen 00:14:38.800 --> 00:14:39.520 to the Lord Jesus 00:14:39.520 --> 00:14:41.380 is not of significance 00:14:41.380 --> 00:14:42.880 just for the people of Israel 00:14:42.880 --> 00:14:44.160 to one little group 00:14:44.159 --> 00:14:45.519 in the Middle East 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:47.120 and one little place 00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:48.100 but it's for the whole world. 00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:51.039 And Matthew's readers 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:52.039 would have known 00:14:52.039 --> 00:14:54.059 what we're not so familiar with 00:14:54.059 --> 00:14:55.919 that Caesarea Philippi 00:14:55.919 --> 00:14:57.819 had been a centre of worship 00:14:57.819 --> 00:14:59.419 to the Syrian god Baal. 00:15:01.179 --> 00:15:03.199 There'd been a great temple there, 00:15:03.240 --> 00:15:03.899 a big temple 00:15:03.899 --> 00:15:05.600 and the Greek god Pan 00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:07.759 was worshipped there. 00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:11.480 And the city was called Panea. 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:13.860 Not long before this time. 00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:16.159 But the city had been 00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:17.500 recently renamed 00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:19.419 to honour Augustus Caesar, 00:15:19.579 --> 00:15:20.500 the Roman emperor. 00:15:21.799 --> 00:15:22.600 And to honour 00:15:22.600 --> 00:15:23.819 Herod's son Philip. 00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:28.000 And so in a place 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:29.899 which used to worship Baal 00:15:29.899 --> 00:15:31.620 and was called Panea 00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:32.740 after the great Greek god 00:15:32.740 --> 00:15:34.319 and now would be renamed 00:15:34.319 --> 00:15:36.639 in honour and adoration 00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:37.899 of Caesar 00:15:37.899 --> 00:15:40.539 and Herod's son Philip. 00:15:40.539 --> 00:15:42.699 Peter says it's in that region. 00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:45.279 In that particular place, 00:15:45.399 --> 00:15:45.740 Jesus, 00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:47.339 you are the Christ, 00:15:47.459 --> 00:15:48.379 the son of the living God. 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:51.839 And his words come with 00:15:51.839 --> 00:15:52.939 inevitable religious 00:15:52.939 --> 00:15:54.079 and political traits 00:15:54.079 --> 00:15:55.919 because Peter is saying there, 00:15:56.459 --> 00:15:58.259 Baal is not God. 00:15:58.259 --> 00:16:02.659 and Pan is not God. 00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:06.600 And Caesar is not God. 00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:08.519 And Philip is not God 00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:10.700 because Jesus of Nazareth, 00:16:11.259 --> 00:16:13.279 you are God. 00:16:15.539 --> 00:16:16.799 And you are alive. 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:20.519 And I hope that that begins 00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:21.679 to explain some of the relevance 00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:22.539 of Peter's confession. 00:16:24.939 --> 00:16:25.879 Because it's not just 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:27.120 a little personal truth 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:27.939 for me and you, 00:16:28.199 --> 00:16:30.139 but it is truly cosmic 00:16:30.139 --> 00:16:31.699 and global in its scope. 00:16:31.700 --> 00:16:34.340 because it announces 00:16:34.340 --> 00:16:35.320 that Jesus Christ 00:16:35.320 --> 00:16:37.120 is Lord of all. 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:41.160 Perhaps it would help us 00:16:41.160 --> 00:16:42.800 to think of different places. 00:16:46.280 --> 00:16:47.300 Where you're from. 00:16:49.860 --> 00:16:51.060 The Dutch theologian 00:16:51.060 --> 00:16:52.540 Abraham Kleiker famously said 00:16:52.540 --> 00:16:54.120 there is not a square inch 00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:55.140 in the whole domain 00:16:55.140 --> 00:16:56.140 of our existence 00:16:56.140 --> 00:16:57.680 over which Christ 00:16:57.680 --> 00:16:59.900 who is sovereign over all 00:16:59.900 --> 00:17:01.400 does not cry. 00:17:01.700 --> 00:17:02.320 mine. 00:17:04.539 --> 00:17:06.240 Think of different people. 00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:09.019 Think that by the end 00:17:09.019 --> 00:17:09.740 of this century 00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:10.799 we're told that the global 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:11.980 population will have reached 00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:12.640 11 billion. 00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:14.840 And whether or not 00:17:14.840 --> 00:17:15.380 that is right, 00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:17.100 every single one of us 00:17:17.100 --> 00:17:19.519 will belong by right 00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:20.059 to Jesus. 00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:22.160 The earth is the Lord's 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:24.200 and the fullness thereof 00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:24.980 and all who dwell in it. 00:17:26.920 --> 00:17:27.940 And on a much more personal level 00:17:27.940 --> 00:17:28.740 you can think of the different 00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:29.420 parts of your life, 00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:29.720 couldn't you? 00:17:29.779 --> 00:17:30.420 Your ambitions. 00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:32.920 And your hobbies. 00:17:34.660 --> 00:17:35.740 And your me time. 00:17:37.259 --> 00:17:38.440 And your family. 00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:39.440 And your friendships. 00:17:41.580 --> 00:17:42.880 Here's Kuyper again. 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:46.160 wherever man may stand, 00:17:47.320 --> 00:17:49.100 whatever he may do, 00:17:50.460 --> 00:17:51.700 to whatever he may apply 00:17:51.700 --> 00:17:54.100 his hand in agriculture, 00:17:54.300 --> 00:17:54.820 in commerce, 00:17:54.940 --> 00:17:55.580 and in industry, 00:17:55.820 --> 00:17:57.260 or his mind in the world 00:17:57.260 --> 00:17:58.580 of art and science, 00:17:58.580 --> 00:17:59.540 he is, 00:18:00.040 --> 00:18:01.560 in whatsoever it may be, 00:18:01.700 --> 00:18:02.820 constantly standing 00:18:02.820 --> 00:18:04.040 before the face of God. 00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:08.180 is employed in the service 00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:09.139 of his God. 00:18:09.779 --> 00:18:10.960 And he has strictly 00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:12.379 to obey his God. 00:18:12.779 --> 00:18:13.619 And above all, 00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:14.599 he has to aim 00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:15.399 at the glory 00:18:15.399 --> 00:18:16.220 of his God. 00:18:18.379 --> 00:18:19.539 And that's the inevitable 00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:21.159 implication of what Peter is. 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:23.159 Of what Peter is saying. 00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:25.920 that if Jesus 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:28.180 is the Lord 00:18:28.180 --> 00:18:29.660 of all, 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:32.060 then he has to be 00:18:32.060 --> 00:18:32.540 the Lord 00:18:32.540 --> 00:18:33.560 of my all. 00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:37.120 I'm thinking in those terms, 00:18:37.180 --> 00:18:38.240 it's added some real bites 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:39.420 to Jesus' question 00:18:39.420 --> 00:18:40.180 for me this week. 00:18:42.120 --> 00:18:43.120 I've known for a while, 00:18:43.560 --> 00:18:44.560 42 years actually, 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:45.820 that Jesus is the Christ, 00:18:45.900 --> 00:18:46.920 the Son of the Living God. 00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:51.039 But do the details 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:52.600 of my life reflect that? 00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:56.759 Does my diary reflect 00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:58.700 the Lordship of Christ, 00:18:58.759 --> 00:18:59.640 which means that Jesus 00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:00.620 is in charge, 00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:01.640 and Jesus is Lord, 00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:02.640 and Jesus is Father? 00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:05.779 The things that I choose 00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:06.900 to do with the time 00:19:06.900 --> 00:19:07.880 that is my own. 00:19:10.100 --> 00:19:11.320 Does my parenting, 00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:13.539 my bank account, 00:19:14.680 --> 00:19:16.100 my plans 00:19:16.099 --> 00:19:17.179 for the future, 00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:19.259 are they marked 00:19:19.259 --> 00:19:20.379 by the Lordship of Christ? 00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.219 It's a little bit 00:19:21.219 --> 00:19:22.159 like a watermark, 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:22.459 isn't it, 00:19:22.459 --> 00:19:23.559 on a banknote. 00:19:23.899 --> 00:19:24.639 You know a banknote, 00:19:24.699 --> 00:19:24.919 isn't it? 00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:27.339 And you hold up a banknote 00:19:27.339 --> 00:19:28.500 and there's a watermark 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:28.819 in it. 00:19:30.740 --> 00:19:31.099 There's 00:19:31.099 --> 00:19:36.299 a picture of 00:19:36.299 --> 00:19:37.559 Jane Austen, 00:19:37.639 --> 00:19:38.000 isn't it, 00:19:38.299 --> 00:19:39.099 on the £10 note. 00:19:39.199 --> 00:19:39.419 And so, 00:19:39.619 --> 00:19:40.219 how do you know 00:19:40.219 --> 00:19:40.879 whether it's a proper 00:19:40.879 --> 00:19:41.319 banknote? 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:42.159 It's not so good, 00:19:42.219 --> 00:19:43.179 but you hold it up 00:19:43.179 --> 00:19:43.659 to the light, 00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:44.539 and you see there's 00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:45.799 a watermark of Jane Austen 00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:47.319 on one side, 00:19:47.919 --> 00:19:48.440 and the Queen 00:19:48.440 --> 00:19:48.839 on the other. 00:19:50.379 --> 00:19:51.500 Because the watermark 00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:52.940 shows that it's genuine. 00:19:54.099 --> 00:19:54.899 It's authenticity. 00:19:57.599 --> 00:19:58.159 And so, 00:19:58.240 --> 00:19:59.240 the Lordship of Christ 00:19:59.240 --> 00:20:00.799 should be the watermark 00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:01.839 that runs through our life. 00:20:02.099 --> 00:20:02.740 It might not be 00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:03.960 immediately obvious 00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:04.259 to people, 00:20:04.339 --> 00:20:04.839 but actually, 00:20:05.139 --> 00:20:06.180 as they dig a bit of detail, 00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:07.680 and they see our lives 00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:08.039 in the light, 00:20:08.119 --> 00:20:09.659 they see Jesus Christ 00:20:09.659 --> 00:20:10.159 as Lord 00:20:10.159 --> 00:20:10.639 in everything. 00:20:12.139 --> 00:20:13.099 It should be obvious 00:20:13.099 --> 00:20:14.079 in everything I am 00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:15.000 and everything I do, 00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:16.059 but what about you, 00:20:16.119 --> 00:20:16.559 Jesus says? 00:20:16.639 --> 00:20:17.659 What about you? 00:20:22.159 --> 00:20:23.079 Who do you say 00:20:23.079 --> 00:20:23.679 that I am? 00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:27.319 Have you got a 00:20:27.319 --> 00:20:28.039 compartmentalized 00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:28.500 little Jesus, 00:20:28.639 --> 00:20:28.919 isn't it? 00:20:29.299 --> 00:20:29.799 Jesus is certainly 00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:30.019 in the morning 00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:30.579 Sunday mornings, 00:20:30.639 --> 00:20:30.919 you're here. 00:20:31.899 --> 00:20:32.439 What about school? 00:20:34.119 --> 00:20:34.759 What about school 00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:35.559 those children 00:20:35.559 --> 00:20:36.119 and young people 00:20:36.119 --> 00:20:36.699 that are in school? 00:20:38.859 --> 00:20:40.099 Does the Lordship 00:20:40.099 --> 00:20:40.919 of Christ, 00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:41.899 do people see it? 00:20:44.959 --> 00:20:46.000 Or is Christ, 00:20:46.159 --> 00:20:46.359 no, 00:20:46.699 --> 00:20:47.459 God of school? 00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:50.019 What about our work? 00:20:52.219 --> 00:20:53.219 What about our homes? 00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:56.039 And if Jesus Christ 00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:57.159 is not Lord 00:20:57.159 --> 00:20:58.339 of all, 00:20:58.419 --> 00:20:59.399 he's not Lord 00:20:59.399 --> 00:20:59.899 at all. 00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:03.199 What the question 00:21:03.199 --> 00:21:03.740 for the answer? 00:21:04.119 --> 00:21:04.399 Thirdly, 00:21:04.439 --> 00:21:05.099 let's see the promises. 00:21:05.099 --> 00:21:09.259 It's only found 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:09.819 in Matthew 00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:10.679 and he includes it 00:21:10.679 --> 00:21:12.299 to show us 00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:13.099 that Peter's confession 00:21:13.099 --> 00:21:14.159 is not only right, 00:21:14.299 --> 00:21:14.919 but it also is 00:21:14.919 --> 00:21:15.939 the foundation stone 00:21:15.939 --> 00:21:16.740 on which the whole 00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:17.939 church of Jesus Christ 00:21:17.939 --> 00:21:18.459 and his mission 00:21:18.459 --> 00:21:18.959 is to stand. 00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:20.019 I'm going to come back 00:21:20.019 --> 00:21:20.500 to this again 00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:21.119 at another time. 00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:22.240 But there are 00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:23.299 three promises here. 00:21:23.559 --> 00:21:24.659 There's one promise 00:21:24.659 --> 00:21:25.119 about Peter, 00:21:25.919 --> 00:21:26.619 there's one promise 00:21:26.619 --> 00:21:27.159 about the church, 00:21:27.219 --> 00:21:27.879 and there's one promise 00:21:27.879 --> 00:21:28.740 about the church 00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:29.179 and the gospel. 00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:32.179 So first up, 00:21:32.259 --> 00:21:33.199 verses 17 and 18, 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:33.920 Peter is given 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:35.220 a unique role 00:21:35.220 --> 00:21:35.620 in the church. 00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:36.319 Verse 17. 00:21:40.420 --> 00:21:41.240 You are the Christ 00:21:41.240 --> 00:21:41.539 and Son, 00:21:41.580 --> 00:21:42.059 the living God, 00:21:42.080 --> 00:21:43.240 and Jesus answered him, 00:21:43.600 --> 00:21:44.340 Blessed are you, 00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:46.420 Simon Barjona, 00:21:46.860 --> 00:21:48.039 for flesh and blood 00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:49.360 has not revealed this to you, 00:21:49.380 --> 00:21:49.960 but my Father 00:21:49.960 --> 00:21:50.840 who is in heaven. 00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:53.100 And I tell you, 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.360 you are Peter, 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:55.440 you are the rock, 00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:56.559 and on this rock 00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:57.640 I will build my church 00:21:57.640 --> 00:21:58.360 and the gates of hell 00:21:58.360 --> 00:21:59.480 shall not prevail against it. 00:22:01.380 --> 00:22:02.000 Peter is given 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:02.920 a unique role 00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:03.380 in the church. 00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:04.440 The point of Peter's 00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:05.960 confession in verse 17, 00:22:06.100 --> 00:22:07.680 his answer in verse 16, 00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:09.240 it's not only telling us 00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:10.160 something about Jesus, 00:22:10.360 --> 00:22:11.120 which it has, 00:22:11.300 --> 00:22:12.320 but it's also telling us 00:22:12.320 --> 00:22:13.039 something about Peter. 00:22:15.840 --> 00:22:16.640 It's also saying, 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:17.820 it's that only God, 00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:18.640 the Father, 00:22:18.880 --> 00:22:20.300 can give the secrets 00:22:20.300 --> 00:22:21.200 to the kingdom of heaven. 00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:23.660 We know that, 00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:23.920 don't we, 00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:24.460 because we've read 00:22:24.460 --> 00:22:25.039 Matthew's Gospel, 00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:25.820 chapter 13, 00:22:25.900 --> 00:22:26.539 has said that. 00:22:28.380 --> 00:22:30.400 Only God, 00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:30.840 the Father, 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:31.080 Son, 00:22:31.120 --> 00:22:31.500 and the Holy Spirit, 00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:33.180 can open someone's eyes 00:22:33.180 --> 00:22:34.660 and help them 00:22:34.660 --> 00:22:35.279 to see who Jesus 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:35.940 really is. 00:22:36.180 --> 00:22:37.019 So when Peter gets it 00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:38.099 right in verse 16, 00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:39.099 it is proof that God 00:22:39.099 --> 00:22:39.920 is at work in him. 00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:43.160 And it authenticates him 00:22:43.160 --> 00:22:44.900 as someone who is fit 00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:46.079 to play a key role 00:22:46.079 --> 00:22:47.480 in the early days 00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:48.640 of the New Testament church. 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:50.880 Now, 00:22:51.420 --> 00:22:52.339 you will know 00:22:52.339 --> 00:22:53.680 that 16 and 17, 00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:54.980 if you know the Bible 00:22:54.980 --> 00:22:55.740 and you know church history, 00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:57.480 it's probably the most 00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:58.420 disputed verse 00:22:58.420 --> 00:22:59.480 in all of the New Testament. 00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:03.059 And there's an argument 00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:04.920 about which rock 00:23:04.920 --> 00:23:06.079 Matthew is talking about. 00:23:07.579 --> 00:23:08.420 And Roman Catholic 00:23:08.420 --> 00:23:09.420 commentators want to say, 00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:09.579 well, 00:23:09.620 --> 00:23:10.980 Peter is the rock himself. 00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:13.380 And that Jesus 00:23:13.380 --> 00:23:14.240 is here 00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:16.180 appointing Peter 00:23:16.180 --> 00:23:16.980 as the first 00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:17.819 in a long line 00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:18.519 of popes. 00:23:21.140 --> 00:23:22.120 Protestant commentators 00:23:22.120 --> 00:23:22.539 have said, 00:23:22.660 --> 00:23:22.759 no, 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:24.339 the rock is not Peter, 00:23:24.339 --> 00:23:25.619 but his confession 00:23:25.619 --> 00:23:27.000 of Jesus the Messiah 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:29.019 in the words 00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:29.740 that he said. 00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:34.679 I think 00:23:34.679 --> 00:23:36.259 we need to look 00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:36.819 very closely 00:23:36.819 --> 00:23:37.679 at the text. 00:23:40.099 --> 00:23:41.099 The verse 00:23:41.099 --> 00:23:42.839 is not legitimising 00:23:42.839 --> 00:23:44.159 the ongoing 00:23:44.159 --> 00:23:44.980 office of 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.659 the papacy, 00:23:45.779 --> 00:23:46.559 the Pope. 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:47.879 I can't see 00:23:47.879 --> 00:23:48.679 how you can get that. 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:50.879 I can't find that 00:23:50.879 --> 00:23:51.699 in there at all. 00:23:51.700 --> 00:23:54.680 But I do want to say, 00:23:54.840 --> 00:23:55.500 and I think Protestants 00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:56.279 will underplay this, 00:23:56.360 --> 00:23:57.779 I think it is clear 00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:58.740 that Peter is being 00:23:58.740 --> 00:24:00.059 given a unique role 00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:01.160 in salvation history. 00:24:02.940 --> 00:24:03.680 And that is what 00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:04.039 happened. 00:24:05.840 --> 00:24:06.400 It was Peter 00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:06.779 who preached 00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:07.279 the sermon 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:08.360 that led to the 00:24:08.360 --> 00:24:08.880 conversion of 00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:09.759 3,000 people 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:10.819 in the establishment 00:24:10.819 --> 00:24:11.380 of the church 00:24:11.380 --> 00:24:11.880 in Jerusalem 00:24:11.880 --> 00:24:12.559 at Pentecost. 00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:13.620 It was Peter 00:24:13.620 --> 00:24:14.539 who in Acts 10 00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:15.080 when God 00:24:15.080 --> 00:24:15.819 poured out the 00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:16.460 Spirit on the 00:24:16.460 --> 00:24:17.019 Gentiles. 00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:18.039 It was Peter 00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:18.680 who was preaching 00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:19.259 along with the 00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:20.059 other apostles 00:24:20.059 --> 00:24:21.639 that Paul describes 00:24:21.639 --> 00:24:22.460 as the foundation 00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.019 of the church 00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:23.919 in Ephesians 2 00:24:23.919 --> 00:24:25.359 with Jesus himself 00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:25.839 as the chief 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:26.359 cornerstone. 00:24:29.339 --> 00:24:30.099 So that doesn't 00:24:30.099 --> 00:24:30.919 mean that Peter 00:24:30.919 --> 00:24:31.599 never made another 00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:31.919 mistake. 00:24:32.059 --> 00:24:32.319 It can't. 00:24:32.379 --> 00:24:33.279 We know Peter 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:33.859 made lots of 00:24:33.859 --> 00:24:34.220 mistakes, 00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:34.679 don't we? 00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:36.859 He made plenty. 00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:39.159 It doesn't mean 00:24:39.159 --> 00:24:39.700 that Peter 00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:40.679 had an authority 00:24:40.679 --> 00:24:41.240 that could never 00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:41.839 be corrected 00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:42.460 or challenged 00:24:42.460 --> 00:24:43.139 because we know 00:24:43.139 --> 00:24:44.000 that happened too. 00:24:45.419 --> 00:24:46.279 But it does mean 00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:47.079 that just as God 00:24:47.079 --> 00:24:47.720 the Father 00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:48.960 revealed him 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:50.220 the true identity 00:24:50.220 --> 00:24:50.980 of his son 00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:51.380 Jesus 00:24:51.380 --> 00:24:53.019 so he entrusted 00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:53.519 to Peter 00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:55.019 a key role 00:24:55.019 --> 00:24:56.539 in his church. 00:24:56.680 --> 00:24:57.059 That's promise 00:24:57.059 --> 00:24:57.539 number one. 00:24:59.059 --> 00:24:59.779 Promise number two 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:00.660 is about the church. 00:25:01.660 --> 00:25:02.420 Verse 18 00:25:02.420 --> 00:25:05.539 I tell you 00:25:05.539 --> 00:25:06.039 you are Peter 00:25:06.039 --> 00:25:06.680 and on this rock 00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:07.460 I will build 00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:08.220 my church 00:25:08.220 --> 00:25:09.519 and the gates 00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:09.779 of hell 00:25:09.779 --> 00:25:10.380 shall not prevail 00:25:10.380 --> 00:25:10.940 against it. 00:25:13.100 --> 00:25:13.680 The gates 00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:14.319 of Hades 00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:15.600 the gates 00:25:15.600 --> 00:25:16.019 of hell 00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:17.380 it's better 00:25:17.380 --> 00:25:18.059 in the gates 00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:18.680 of death 00:25:18.680 --> 00:25:19.560 the powers 00:25:19.560 --> 00:25:20.140 of death. 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:23.400 So this 00:25:23.400 --> 00:25:24.220 remarkable promise 00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:24.620 is that 00:25:24.620 --> 00:25:24.960 Jesus 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:25.700 here 00:25:25.700 --> 00:25:26.880 is promising 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:27.720 that he 00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:28.720 personally 00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:30.320 will establish 00:25:30.320 --> 00:25:31.180 and build 00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:31.779 the community 00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:32.420 of his followers. 00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:35.299 And he will do 00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:36.140 that in such a way 00:25:36.140 --> 00:25:36.720 that not even 00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:37.440 death will be 00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:37.700 able to 00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:38.200 afford it. 00:25:41.460 --> 00:25:42.259 It may well 00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:42.660 be that 00:25:42.660 --> 00:25:43.160 two thousand 00:25:43.160 --> 00:25:43.799 years of 00:25:43.799 --> 00:25:44.720 church history 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.340 and gospel 00:25:45.340 --> 00:25:45.740 advance 00:25:45.740 --> 00:25:46.940 slightly obscures 00:25:46.940 --> 00:25:47.340 to us 00:25:47.340 --> 00:25:48.080 the magnitude 00:25:48.080 --> 00:25:48.500 of what 00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:48.759 Jesus 00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:49.220 is saying 00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:49.580 here. 00:25:50.900 --> 00:25:51.720 The statement 00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:52.000 as he 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:52.440 said it. 00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:54.480 Remember that 00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:55.500 when Jesus 00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:56.759 was speaking 00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:57.180 he had a 00:25:57.180 --> 00:25:57.660 band of 00:25:57.660 --> 00:25:58.019 followers 00:25:58.019 --> 00:26:00.519 who were 00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:00.920 not only 00:26:00.920 --> 00:26:01.360 limited 00:26:01.360 --> 00:26:03.320 in number 00:26:03.320 --> 00:26:03.880 but certainly 00:26:03.880 --> 00:26:04.480 in ability. 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:07.720 and in fact 00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:08.140 Peter's 00:26:08.140 --> 00:26:08.519 confession 00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:09.079 is quite 00:26:09.079 --> 00:26:09.460 shocking 00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:09.900 in Matthew's 00:26:09.900 --> 00:26:10.039 gospel 00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:10.440 because it's 00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:10.799 the first 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:10.960 thing 00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:11.500 that the 00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:12.019 disciples 00:26:12.019 --> 00:26:12.400 have got 00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:12.759 right. 00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:16.019 they've 00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:16.319 been great 00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:16.460 to kill 00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:16.660 things 00:26:16.660 --> 00:26:17.019 wrong. 00:26:18.579 --> 00:26:18.940 And you 00:26:18.940 --> 00:26:19.200 can add 00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:19.579 into that 00:26:19.579 --> 00:26:20.059 that Jesus 00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:20.660 knew that 00:26:20.660 --> 00:26:21.400 soon he 00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:21.980 himself would 00:26:21.980 --> 00:26:22.339 be killed 00:26:22.339 --> 00:26:22.619 as we'll 00:26:22.619 --> 00:26:22.960 see next 00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:23.240 week. 00:26:24.359 --> 00:26:24.819 And that 00:26:24.819 --> 00:26:25.099 is the 00:26:25.099 --> 00:26:25.519 context. 00:26:25.619 --> 00:26:25.920 And if you 00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:26.200 are a 00:26:26.200 --> 00:26:26.420 betting 00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:27.039 person you 00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:27.359 would not 00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:28.119 put a lot 00:26:28.119 --> 00:26:28.460 of money 00:26:28.460 --> 00:26:28.759 on the 00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:29.339 success of 00:26:29.339 --> 00:26:29.579 Jesus' 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:30.200 enterprise 00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:31.619 at this 00:26:31.619 --> 00:26:32.000 moment in 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:32.339 history. 00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:33.420 And yet he's 00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:33.859 making a 00:26:33.859 --> 00:26:34.400 promise that 00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:35.059 despite his 00:26:35.059 --> 00:26:35.980 imminent death 00:26:35.980 --> 00:26:38.319 that despite 00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:39.160 the incompetence 00:26:39.160 --> 00:26:39.879 of his followers 00:26:39.879 --> 00:26:41.140 he personally 00:26:41.140 --> 00:26:41.799 will work in 00:26:41.799 --> 00:26:42.480 sovereign power 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:44.220 and he will 00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:44.660 turn this 00:26:44.660 --> 00:26:45.059 bunch of 00:26:45.059 --> 00:26:45.720 half-baked 00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:46.559 disciples into 00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:47.039 a movement 00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:47.500 that will be 00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:48.079 more powerful 00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:48.940 than death. 00:26:51.220 --> 00:26:51.839 And it 00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:52.480 makes that a 00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:53.460 truly staggering 00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:54.039 promise. 00:26:54.940 --> 00:26:55.460 And once again 00:26:55.460 --> 00:26:56.200 history proves it 00:26:56.200 --> 00:26:56.460 true. 00:26:58.360 --> 00:26:59.140 Where are we 00:26:59.140 --> 00:26:59.360 now? 00:26:59.559 --> 00:27:00.220 We're just 00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:01.000 under 2,000 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:01.579 years on 00:27:01.579 --> 00:27:02.700 from that. 00:27:03.559 --> 00:27:04.259 We're over 00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:05.200 3,000 miles 00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:06.160 away from it 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:06.799 and yet when 00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:07.860 Jesus said 00:27:07.860 --> 00:27:08.740 these words 00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:10.180 here we are 00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:10.519 today. 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:13.120 What are we 00:27:13.120 --> 00:27:14.039 about 140 00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:14.559 or so this 00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:14.880 morning? 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:17.279 Gathered 00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:17.799 together to 00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:18.180 listen to 00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:19.259 his words. 00:27:21.500 --> 00:27:21.940 And no 00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:22.259 one has 00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:22.720 made us 00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:23.059 come. 00:27:28.120 --> 00:27:28.860 We're here 00:27:28.860 --> 00:27:29.440 freely. 00:27:32.059 --> 00:27:32.440 And there's 00:27:32.440 --> 00:27:33.059 groups like 00:27:33.059 --> 00:27:34.360 this meeting 00:27:34.360 --> 00:27:34.799 all over the 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:35.120 world. 00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:37.299 Some of them 00:27:37.299 --> 00:27:37.620 won't be as 00:27:37.620 --> 00:27:38.220 big as us 00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:39.660 but many 00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:40.000 of them 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:40.500 lots of 00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:40.740 them will 00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:41.140 be much 00:27:41.140 --> 00:27:41.740 bigger and 00:27:41.740 --> 00:27:41.920 there will 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:42.480 be hundreds 00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:43.460 and hundreds 00:27:43.460 --> 00:27:44.500 of millions 00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:44.920 of people 00:27:44.920 --> 00:27:45.339 in church 00:27:45.339 --> 00:27:46.120 today worshipping 00:27:46.120 --> 00:27:46.440 the Lord 00:27:46.440 --> 00:27:47.200 Jesus Christ 00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:48.779 as the 00:27:48.779 --> 00:27:49.220 son of the 00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:49.740 living God. 00:27:52.539 --> 00:27:53.019 And the 00:27:53.019 --> 00:27:53.339 world has 00:27:53.339 --> 00:27:53.620 changed 00:27:53.620 --> 00:27:54.519 beyond recognition 00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:55.079 in 2,000 00:27:55.079 --> 00:27:55.480 years. 00:27:55.960 --> 00:27:56.220 You think 00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:57.079 about transformation 00:27:57.079 --> 00:27:58.240 even brought 00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:58.680 about by the 00:27:58.680 --> 00:27:59.200 advent of the 00:27:59.200 --> 00:27:59.860 printing press. 00:28:00.819 --> 00:28:01.140 You think 00:28:01.140 --> 00:28:01.680 of the advances 00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:02.660 in modern 00:28:02.660 --> 00:28:03.180 medicine, 00:28:04.039 --> 00:28:04.279 modern 00:28:04.279 --> 00:28:04.759 transportation. 00:28:05.640 --> 00:28:06.019 You think 00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:06.720 of the empires 00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:07.039 that have 00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:07.620 come and 00:28:07.620 --> 00:28:08.279 have gone 00:28:08.279 --> 00:28:09.019 but the 00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:09.400 church of 00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:09.640 the Lord 00:28:09.640 --> 00:28:10.240 Jesus Christ 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:10.600 has stood 00:28:10.600 --> 00:28:10.880 firm. 00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:15.120 I've told you 00:28:15.120 --> 00:28:15.579 the illustration 00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:16.000 of mine so 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:16.400 many times 00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:16.839 you're bored 00:28:16.839 --> 00:28:17.240 of hearing it 00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:17.500 but let me 00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:17.700 tell you 00:28:17.700 --> 00:28:18.460 again about 00:28:18.460 --> 00:28:19.039 Lord Reith, 00:28:19.120 --> 00:28:19.480 the first 00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:20.140 general director 00:28:20.140 --> 00:28:20.640 of the BBC 00:28:20.640 --> 00:28:21.299 and he goes 00:28:21.299 --> 00:28:21.620 into the 00:28:21.620 --> 00:28:22.019 director's 00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:23.220 meeting and 00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:23.640 they're talking 00:28:23.640 --> 00:28:23.940 about it. 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:24.519 Lord Reith was 00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:25.079 a professor 00:28:25.079 --> 00:28:25.500 and Christian 00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:29.039 and they're 00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:29.420 gathered around 00:28:29.420 --> 00:28:29.779 the table 00:28:29.779 --> 00:28:31.799 and they 00:28:31.799 --> 00:28:32.279 be quiet. 00:28:32.360 --> 00:28:32.559 He says, 00:28:32.620 --> 00:28:32.799 what are you 00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:33.279 talking about? 00:28:33.339 --> 00:28:33.620 They wouldn't 00:28:33.620 --> 00:28:33.900 tell him. 00:28:33.940 --> 00:28:34.200 What are you 00:28:34.200 --> 00:28:34.640 talking about? 00:28:34.680 --> 00:28:34.980 They wouldn't 00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:35.220 tell him. 00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:35.700 And then somebody 00:28:35.700 --> 00:28:36.240 says, we were 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:37.279 planning a BBC 00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:38.039 programme on 00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:39.599 the funeral 00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:40.259 of the church 00:28:40.259 --> 00:28:42.359 and Lord Reith 00:28:42.359 --> 00:28:42.819 fangs his 00:28:42.819 --> 00:28:43.299 hand on the 00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:44.680 table and 00:28:44.680 --> 00:28:45.160 says the 00:28:45.160 --> 00:28:45.480 church of 00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:46.039 Jesus Christ 00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:46.519 will stand 00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:46.759 at the 00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:47.259 graveside of 00:28:47.259 --> 00:28:47.640 the BBC. 00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:49.559 And it 00:28:49.559 --> 00:28:49.740 will. 00:28:52.940 --> 00:28:53.420 And you 00:28:53.420 --> 00:28:53.779 can think of 00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:54.099 the future 00:28:54.099 --> 00:28:54.500 can't you? 00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:54.799 And there's 00:28:54.799 --> 00:28:55.420 so many that 00:28:55.420 --> 00:28:56.099 want to write 00:28:56.099 --> 00:28:56.740 the obituary 00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:57.500 of the church 00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:59.920 and there are 00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:00.359 certain grave 00:29:00.359 --> 00:29:01.019 threats to it 00:29:01.019 --> 00:29:01.339 today. 00:29:01.559 --> 00:29:01.980 Chief among 00:29:01.980 --> 00:29:02.559 them are 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:04.799 heresy from 00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:05.480 within and 00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:06.099 opposition from 00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:06.459 without. 00:29:07.699 --> 00:29:08.039 And new 00:29:08.039 --> 00:29:08.639 threats emerge 00:29:08.639 --> 00:29:09.119 all the 00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:09.619 time but 00:29:09.619 --> 00:29:09.879 for as 00:29:09.879 --> 00:29:10.259 long as 00:29:10.259 --> 00:29:10.519 Jesus 00:29:10.519 --> 00:29:11.199 delays, 00:29:11.639 --> 00:29:12.059 his church 00:29:12.059 --> 00:29:12.539 will stand. 00:29:15.179 --> 00:29:15.879 The final 00:29:15.879 --> 00:29:16.299 promise very 00:29:16.299 --> 00:29:17.019 briefly is about 00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:17.500 the power of 00:29:17.500 --> 00:29:17.839 the Christian 00:29:17.839 --> 00:29:18.299 message. 00:29:18.639 --> 00:29:18.779 Look at 00:29:18.779 --> 00:29:19.339 verse 19. 00:29:20.779 --> 00:29:21.259 The power 00:29:21.259 --> 00:29:21.839 given to the 00:29:21.839 --> 00:29:22.139 church. 00:29:22.639 --> 00:29:23.099 I will give 00:29:23.099 --> 00:29:24.059 you the 00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:24.899 keys of the 00:29:24.899 --> 00:29:25.279 kingdom of 00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:25.740 heaven and 00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:26.159 whatever you 00:29:26.159 --> 00:29:26.879 bind on 00:29:26.879 --> 00:29:27.219 earth shall 00:29:27.219 --> 00:29:27.559 be found 00:29:27.559 --> 00:29:28.419 in heaven and 00:29:28.419 --> 00:29:28.879 whatever you 00:29:28.879 --> 00:29:29.399 loose on 00:29:29.399 --> 00:29:29.759 earth shall 00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:30.159 be loosed 00:29:30.159 --> 00:29:30.699 in heaven. 00:29:31.559 --> 00:29:31.839 And then he 00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:32.399 strictly charged 00:29:32.399 --> 00:29:33.139 the disciples to 00:29:33.139 --> 00:29:33.639 tell no one 00:29:33.639 --> 00:29:34.139 that he was the 00:29:34.140 --> 00:29:34.460 Christ. 00:29:35.620 --> 00:29:36.140 The last 00:29:36.140 --> 00:29:37.040 bit is because 00:29:37.040 --> 00:29:37.400 they haven't 00:29:37.400 --> 00:29:37.880 really fully 00:29:37.880 --> 00:29:38.420 understood who 00:29:38.420 --> 00:29:39.180 Jesus is yet. 00:29:40.660 --> 00:29:41.460 The idea is 00:29:41.460 --> 00:29:42.000 much the same 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:42.860 as chapter 10. 00:29:44.900 --> 00:29:45.720 He says to 00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:46.140 them whoever 00:29:46.140 --> 00:29:47.060 receives you 00:29:47.060 --> 00:29:47.920 receives me 00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:48.860 and what he 00:29:48.860 --> 00:29:49.700 means is as 00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:50.220 the church 00:29:50.220 --> 00:29:51.460 proclaims the 00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:52.540 gospel message 00:29:52.540 --> 00:29:55.000 that you 00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:55.620 proclaim the 00:29:55.620 --> 00:29:56.400 apostolic 00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:57.620 gospel and 00:29:57.620 --> 00:29:58.120 as people 00:29:58.120 --> 00:29:59.180 receive that 00:29:59.180 --> 00:30:00.259 message from 00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:02.000 you, they 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:02.540 are receiving 00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:03.339 Jesus Christ. 00:30:06.099 --> 00:30:06.879 And so he's 00:30:06.879 --> 00:30:07.379 building on that 00:30:07.379 --> 00:30:07.920 idea, this 00:30:07.920 --> 00:30:08.599 gospel I am 00:30:08.599 --> 00:30:09.879 now appointing 00:30:09.879 --> 00:30:10.339 you to 00:30:10.339 --> 00:30:11.039 proclaim is 00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:12.059 very, very 00:30:12.059 --> 00:30:12.659 powerful. 00:30:14.159 --> 00:30:14.480 And if 00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:15.240 someone were to 00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:15.899 accept it, 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:16.799 God as it 00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:17.159 were will 00:30:17.159 --> 00:30:18.000 unlock the 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:18.440 gates of 00:30:18.440 --> 00:30:18.879 heaven and 00:30:18.879 --> 00:30:19.279 allow them 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:19.639 to enter 00:30:19.639 --> 00:30:19.839 in. 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:21.420 But if 00:30:21.420 --> 00:30:22.119 they reject 00:30:22.119 --> 00:30:22.700 the message 00:30:22.700 --> 00:30:23.180 you proclaim 00:30:23.180 --> 00:30:23.779 then God 00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:25.960 will bar 00:30:25.960 --> 00:30:26.519 the doors 00:30:26.519 --> 00:30:27.000 and lock 00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:27.579 the gates 00:30:27.579 --> 00:30:30.519 and ensure 00:30:30.519 --> 00:30:30.759 that you 00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:31.220 never gain 00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:31.579 entry. 00:30:32.539 --> 00:30:33.539 it's a 00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:34.019 promise that 00:30:34.019 --> 00:30:34.500 is made 00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:34.960 in the 00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:35.519 first place 00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:36.200 to Peter 00:30:36.200 --> 00:30:36.700 and then 00:30:36.700 --> 00:30:37.240 the apostles 00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:38.659 but it 00:30:38.659 --> 00:30:39.079 holds to 00:30:39.079 --> 00:30:39.420 the preaching 00:30:39.420 --> 00:30:39.619 of the 00:30:39.619 --> 00:30:40.399 gospel today. 00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:43.059 And so 00:30:43.059 --> 00:30:44.319 realise afresh 00:30:44.319 --> 00:30:45.200 what we 00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:45.720 do here 00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:46.059 Sunday 00:30:46.059 --> 00:30:46.779 morning and 00:30:46.779 --> 00:30:47.139 Sunday 00:30:47.139 --> 00:30:47.539 evening, 00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:48.279 Sunday by 00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:48.799 Sunday 00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:50.379 is 00:30:50.379 --> 00:30:50.920 significant. 00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:53.519 What do 00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:53.960 you do as 00:30:53.960 --> 00:30:54.420 God gives 00:30:54.420 --> 00:30:54.680 you the 00:30:54.680 --> 00:30:55.359 opportunity to 00:30:55.359 --> 00:30:55.799 speak with 00:30:55.799 --> 00:30:56.319 your friends 00:30:56.319 --> 00:30:57.079 about Jesus? 00:30:57.519 --> 00:30:57.740 And it's 00:30:57.740 --> 00:30:58.240 very easy 00:30:58.240 --> 00:30:58.639 isn't it to 00:30:58.639 --> 00:30:59.119 think about the 00:30:59.119 --> 00:30:59.779 biggest decisions 00:30:59.779 --> 00:31:00.220 in life. 00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:00.659 What are 00:31:00.659 --> 00:31:00.879 they? 00:31:00.880 --> 00:31:01.760 What are 00:31:01.760 --> 00:31:01.920 they going 00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:02.020 to be 00:31:02.020 --> 00:31:02.200 about? 00:31:02.280 --> 00:31:02.540 What would 00:31:02.540 --> 00:31:02.740 be the 00:31:02.740 --> 00:31:03.140 big decision? 00:31:03.260 --> 00:31:03.640 What job 00:31:03.640 --> 00:31:03.800 do you 00:31:03.800 --> 00:31:04.100 do? 00:31:05.680 --> 00:31:06.000 Who you 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:06.320 marry? 00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:06.760 The house 00:31:06.760 --> 00:31:07.000 that you 00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:07.340 buy? 00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:09.320 Though by 00:31:09.320 --> 00:31:10.940 far and 00:31:10.940 --> 00:31:11.360 away the 00:31:11.360 --> 00:31:11.560 most 00:31:11.560 --> 00:31:12.040 significant 00:31:12.040 --> 00:31:14.700 will be 00:31:14.700 --> 00:31:15.120 how you 00:31:15.120 --> 00:31:15.860 respond to 00:31:15.860 --> 00:31:16.260 the question 00:31:16.260 --> 00:31:16.540 of who 00:31:16.540 --> 00:31:17.080 Jesus is. 00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:19.700 And that 00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:20.060 means that 00:31:20.060 --> 00:31:20.560 as we talk 00:31:20.560 --> 00:31:20.860 to people 00:31:20.860 --> 00:31:21.180 about the 00:31:21.180 --> 00:31:21.460 Christ, 00:31:21.560 --> 00:31:21.840 the son 00:31:21.840 --> 00:31:22.300 of the 00:31:22.300 --> 00:31:22.480 living 00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:23.080 God, 00:31:25.020 --> 00:31:25.380 it's our 00:31:25.380 --> 00:31:25.700 privilege 00:31:25.700 --> 00:31:26.080 isn't it to 00:31:26.080 --> 00:31:26.560 be involved 00:31:26.560 --> 00:31:26.940 with them at 00:31:26.940 --> 00:31:27.240 the most 00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:27.700 significant 00:31:27.700 --> 00:31:30.020 point of 00:31:30.020 --> 00:31:30.340 their whole 00:31:30.340 --> 00:31:30.740 eternity. 00:31:30.880 --> 00:31:34.920 Because as 00:31:34.920 --> 00:31:35.440 we proclaim 00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:36.000 the gospel 00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:36.760 found in 00:31:36.760 --> 00:31:37.200 the Bible, 00:31:37.420 --> 00:31:37.780 written by 00:31:37.780 --> 00:31:38.260 the apostles, 00:31:38.520 --> 00:31:39.180 inspired by 00:31:39.180 --> 00:31:39.540 Jesus, 00:31:39.940 --> 00:31:40.480 so we 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:41.440 hold before 00:31:41.440 --> 00:31:42.360 our friends 00:31:42.360 --> 00:31:42.860 the gates 00:31:42.860 --> 00:31:43.180 of heaven 00:31:43.180 --> 00:31:43.500 and hell. 00:31:45.840 --> 00:31:46.140 And the 00:31:46.140 --> 00:31:46.480 way that they 00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:47.320 respond to 00:31:47.320 --> 00:31:47.820 that message, 00:31:47.920 --> 00:31:48.280 not in one 00:31:48.280 --> 00:31:48.980 conversation but 00:31:48.980 --> 00:31:49.520 in life, 00:31:49.860 --> 00:31:50.420 will determine 00:31:50.420 --> 00:31:50.900 whether they 00:31:50.900 --> 00:31:51.740 walk through 00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:52.160 and some 00:31:52.160 --> 00:31:52.700 will be set 00:31:52.700 --> 00:31:53.140 free, 00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:54.080 some will 00:31:54.080 --> 00:31:54.520 be loosed 00:31:54.520 --> 00:31:54.940 from their 00:31:54.940 --> 00:31:55.340 sins and 00:31:55.340 --> 00:31:56.020 others will 00:31:56.020 --> 00:31:56.900 be bound 00:31:56.900 --> 00:31:57.260 in their 00:31:57.260 --> 00:31:58.160 sins forever 00:31:58.160 --> 00:31:58.440 to the 00:31:58.440 --> 00:31:58.840 judgment of 00:31:58.840 --> 00:31:59.080 God. 00:31:59.079 --> 00:31:59.139 Christ, 00:31:59.439 --> 00:32:00.039 but it 00:32:00.039 --> 00:32:00.720 will turn 00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:01.859 on what 00:32:01.859 --> 00:32:02.199 they make 00:32:02.199 --> 00:32:02.679 of Christ. 00:32:05.679 --> 00:32:06.419 I think we 00:32:06.419 --> 00:32:06.740 do need to 00:32:06.740 --> 00:32:07.279 apply this 00:32:07.279 --> 00:32:08.220 more corporately 00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:09.460 because it's 00:32:09.460 --> 00:32:10.439 spoken to the 00:32:10.439 --> 00:32:12.099 church through 00:32:12.099 --> 00:32:12.339 Peter. 00:32:15.619 --> 00:32:16.419 It makes 00:32:16.419 --> 00:32:17.079 what we do 00:32:17.079 --> 00:32:17.759 Sunday by 00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:18.699 Sunday more 00:32:18.699 --> 00:32:19.319 significant. 00:32:19.319 --> 00:32:22.839 what we do 00:32:22.839 --> 00:32:23.299 Sunday by 00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:23.639 Sunday is 00:32:23.639 --> 00:32:24.099 more significant 00:32:24.099 --> 00:32:24.480 than any 00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:25.059 golf tournament 00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:25.480 or any 00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:26.159 football game 00:32:26.159 --> 00:32:27.039 or any 00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:27.419 social 00:32:27.419 --> 00:32:28.019 engagement. 00:32:32.619 --> 00:32:33.319 But what 00:32:33.319 --> 00:32:34.000 happens Sunday 00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:34.879 by Sunday, 00:32:35.399 --> 00:32:36.139 you see the 00:32:36.139 --> 00:32:38.059 keys of the 00:32:38.059 --> 00:32:41.599 kingdom are 00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:42.200 used to 00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:42.939 unlock the 00:32:42.939 --> 00:32:44.139 door of 00:32:44.139 --> 00:32:45.919 heaven to 00:32:45.919 --> 00:32:46.379 speak the 00:32:46.379 --> 00:32:46.819 message. 00:32:46.819 --> 00:32:48.200 church or 00:32:48.200 --> 00:32:48.740 you reject 00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:49.200 the message 00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:49.460 of the 00:32:49.460 --> 00:32:49.980 gospel which 00:32:49.980 --> 00:32:50.200 you've 00:32:50.200 --> 00:32:50.700 heard this 00:32:50.700 --> 00:32:51.039 morning and 00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:51.500 you've sung 00:32:51.500 --> 00:32:51.960 this morning 00:32:51.960 --> 00:32:52.279 and you've 00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:52.980 confessed this 00:32:52.980 --> 00:32:53.279 morning, 00:32:53.460 --> 00:32:54.379 you reject 00:32:54.379 --> 00:32:54.799 that and 00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:55.500 the door is 00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:56.159 locked. 00:32:57.579 --> 00:32:57.779 The 00:32:57.779 --> 00:32:58.659 confession says 00:32:58.659 --> 00:32:59.099 the keys of 00:32:59.099 --> 00:32:59.359 the kingdom 00:32:59.359 --> 00:32:59.819 are given to 00:32:59.819 --> 00:33:00.299 the offices 00:33:00.299 --> 00:33:00.740 of the church. 00:33:00.819 --> 00:33:01.079 That's what 00:33:01.079 --> 00:33:01.439 we're doing 00:33:01.439 --> 00:33:01.960 Sunday by 00:33:01.960 --> 00:33:02.339 Sunday. 00:33:02.740 --> 00:33:03.019 We're 00:33:03.019 --> 00:33:03.759 opening up 00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:04.740 and closing. 00:33:07.460 --> 00:33:08.319 It demonstrates 00:33:08.319 --> 00:33:08.779 to you how 00:33:08.779 --> 00:33:09.500 important Jesus 00:33:09.500 --> 00:33:09.919 is. 00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:13.079 For hundreds 00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:13.659 of years, 00:33:13.799 --> 00:33:14.279 God has been 00:33:14.279 --> 00:33:14.799 promising the 00:33:14.799 --> 00:33:15.599 arrival of the 00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:15.980 one who will 00:33:15.980 --> 00:33:16.799 reign over the 00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:17.240 whole world 00:33:17.240 --> 00:33:17.619 forever, 00:33:17.919 --> 00:33:18.259 who would 00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:19.180 destroy evil, 00:33:20.539 --> 00:33:20.879 who would 00:33:20.879 --> 00:33:21.919 establish God's 00:33:21.919 --> 00:33:22.500 new heaven and 00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:22.960 new earth, 00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:23.559 a place without 00:33:23.559 --> 00:33:24.000 pain or 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:24.480 suffering or 00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:24.839 tears or 00:33:24.839 --> 00:33:25.180 death, 00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:25.799 and the 00:33:25.799 --> 00:33:26.379 faithful people 00:33:26.379 --> 00:33:26.779 of Israel 00:33:26.779 --> 00:33:27.399 had longed 00:33:27.399 --> 00:33:27.619 for his 00:33:27.619 --> 00:33:27.940 coming. 00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:29.539 They'd longed 00:33:29.539 --> 00:33:29.779 for the 00:33:29.779 --> 00:33:30.099 Son who 00:33:30.099 --> 00:33:30.319 would be 00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:30.519 called 00:33:30.519 --> 00:33:30.940 Wonderful 00:33:30.940 --> 00:33:31.539 Counselor, 00:33:31.639 --> 00:33:31.919 Mighty 00:33:31.919 --> 00:33:32.279 God, 00:33:32.339 --> 00:33:32.879 Everlast, 00:33:32.940 --> 00:33:33.339 and Father, 00:33:33.460 --> 00:33:33.819 Prince of 00:33:33.819 --> 00:33:34.059 Peace. 00:33:34.579 --> 00:33:35.059 And now 00:33:35.059 --> 00:33:35.859 Peter realised 00:33:35.859 --> 00:33:36.859 he was 00:33:36.859 --> 00:33:37.480 here. 00:33:38.500 --> 00:33:38.819 You are 00:33:38.819 --> 00:33:39.299 the Christ, 00:33:39.419 --> 00:33:39.799 the Son of 00:33:39.799 --> 00:33:40.039 the living 00:33:40.039 --> 00:33:40.419 God. 00:33:43.159 --> 00:33:43.899 But now 00:33:43.899 --> 00:33:44.319 this morning 00:33:44.319 --> 00:33:45.180 the spotlight 00:33:45.180 --> 00:33:45.859 turns away 00:33:45.859 --> 00:33:46.339 from Peter. 00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:48.879 And on to 00:33:48.879 --> 00:33:49.180 us. 00:33:51.379 --> 00:33:52.019 And it's a 00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:52.599 very, very 00:33:52.599 --> 00:33:53.359 personal question 00:33:53.359 --> 00:33:53.740 isn't it? 00:33:55.279 --> 00:33:55.960 And it's the 00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:56.460 most important 00:33:56.460 --> 00:33:57.139 question that you 00:33:57.139 --> 00:33:57.899 will ever answer. 00:33:58.079 --> 00:33:58.960 What about you? 00:34:00.960 --> 00:34:02.079 Who do you say 00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:02.859 that Jesus is? 00:34:02.859 --> 00:34:06.559 Let me do some 00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:06.819 prayer. 00:34:06.959 --> 00:34:07.299 Let's pray. 00:34:07.299 --> 00:34:07.359 Let's pray.