All right, well this morning we return to the story of Jesus as told by Luke.
And today we're going to look at just a few verses.
We pick up the story in verse 21 of Luke chapter 9.
Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.
And he said,
The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders,
the chief priests, and the teachers of the law.
And he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
As we saw last week, Jesus is talking to his disciples in private.
And the conversation up till this point has been about who Jesus is.
Remember they asked,
Jesus actually asked the disciples,
Who do the crowds say I am?
And the disciples go through a short list of the answers that they've heard from different people.
Some say you are John the Baptizer, resurrected from the dead.
Others that you are the prophet Elijah.
He didn't die but was taken up to heaven by God and now perhaps God has sent him back.
And some others say you are one of the prophets from long ago, come back to life from the dead.
Jesus finally asks the disciples themselves,
What about you?
Who do you say I am?
And Peter, one of the twelve, answers,
God's Messiah.
Literally, the Christ of God.
Matthew records an even fuller answer of Peter's.
In his gospel,
You are the Messiah,
the Son of the Living God.
That title, Christ,
it means Messiah.
And Messiah means Anointed One.
It carries within it the meaning of being divinely chosen as king.
A king selected by God himself.
Up until this point,
there's been centuries of God speaking to the people of Israel through the prophets.
And great promises have been made by God.
There are these great expectations of a Messiah.
A coming king who is chosen by God.
We're not talking about, you know,
just a good and wise regional ruler for a time.
We're talking about a king whose reign,
whose kingdom will have global implications.
Something the likes of which the world has never seen.
Even the great empires of old,
even the modern day nations of today,
don't come close to what is promised about the Messiah.
Long ago, through the prophets.
A kingdom characterized by peace,
that endures.
By righteousness.
By justice.
And not by the violence and corruption
that we have seen through the centuries
and even still see today all over the world.
Well, because of these many great promises
spoken by the prophets long ago,
the Jews who had faith
carried within them
great expectations
and a deep longing
for this Messiah
to be given.
And so Peter and the disciples
who have been following Jesus
for a little while now,
they've been listening to his preaching,
they have witnessed his miracles,
and here's the moment
where they finally come to answer this question
of who Jesus is out loud.
When Jesus asks,
who do you say I am?
Peter blurts it out.
You are the one.
You are God's king.
There was some wondering at first.
If you recall the gospel of John,
as they went and found each other
and told each other about Jesus at first,
we, you know,
this could be the Messiah.
But this is that moment
where Peter just sort of blurts it out
and says,
I know it for sure.
But then what Jesus says next,
which we just read,
might be a shock to us.
Jesus strictly warned them
not to tell this to anyone.
Matthew's gospel is even more explicit.
Then he ordered his disciples
not to tell anyone
that he was the Messiah.
That's kind of surprising, isn't it?
Like, why not?
Why can't we tell people?
This is what this is all about, isn't it?
And none of the gospels at this moment
gives us a clear statement of why not.
Some suggestions have been made about this.
Some think that perhaps
just telling people that Jesus is the Messiah
would have brought about opposition too quickly.
And in the gospel of John,
we read that Jesus does seem to have
this sense of God's timing
and how things should unfold.
We hear him say,
my hour has not yet come.
There's sort of a pace
at which he reveals himself to the people.
Another idea is that Jesus wants the people
to arrive at this faith in him as Messiah,
not by just hearing him declare,
I'm the Messiah,
but by looking at the signs.
And perhaps just, you know,
saying it out loud all over the place
right from the beginning
would short circuit this process.
The most popular suggestion
is that Jesus commands them
not to speak of him as Messiah
because he knows that
their understanding of Messiah
and the people's understanding of Messiah
is full of misconceptions
and wrong ideas.
And so to go around declaring Jesus as Messiah
at this point might stir up ideas
of political revolution
when God's plan for the Messiah will unfold
contrary to expectations.
And this last idea kind of fits
with what we see in these next words of Jesus
in verse 22.
Jesus strictly warned them
not to tell this to anyone.
And he said,
the Son of Man must suffer many things
and be rejected by the elders,
the chief priests,
and the teachers of the law.
And he must be killed.
This is certainly not
what anyone was expecting
of the Messiah.
Let's look at these words
a little more closely.
We see that Jesus refers to himself
in the third person
as the Son of Man.
That sounds strange
to us maybe.
It's kind of a mysterious
and veiled way of speaking.
The Son of Man
was what God called
the prophet Ezekiel
in the Old Testament.
And as to its meaning,
it's a figure of speech
that basically means
a male human being.
That's what a son of man is.
But then there's this one passage
where the prophet Daniel
has a strange vision.
Daniel chapter 7, verse 13.
And in his vision,
this is many years before this,
Daniel sees one
like a son of man
coming with the clouds of heaven
and approaching God.
And this one like a son of man
in Daniel's vision
receives authority
and glory
and sovereign power
and all nations
and peoples worship him.
And he comes to rule
and reign over this
great kingdom
that will last forever.
Well, Jesus knows
who he is.
He is the Messiah.
He is this Son of Man
described by Daniel.
But there's enough mystery
around this title
that many will not see
the title as
an explicit claim
to be the Messiah.
Many will wonder about this.
Some will see it
and believe.
And yet others
who are looking to take Jesus out,
they won't really be able
to pin this on Jesus
as an overt claim.
But even if they do,
what Jesus is saying here
is very surprising.
The Son of Man
must suffer
many things.
Well, there's nothing
in Daniel's vision
about that.
We can imagine
the disciples
sort of sitting there
in this moment
scratching their heads
like,
what do you mean
the Son of Man,
the Messiah,
must suffer?
What kinds of things?
And Jesus goes on.
He says,
the Son of Man
must be rejected
by the elders
and the chief priests
and the teachers
of the law.
That's also probably not
what the disciples
were expecting.
Perhaps they were expecting
that eventually
Jesus would win them over.
That they too
would come to own
or recognize
Jesus as their Messiah.
Yeah, there's been opposition.
Yes, they've even been
plotting to kill Jesus,
but surely God's Messiah
won't be killed
by the leaders of Israel.
He's supposed to be
the one to unify
the people, right?
Yet Jesus says,
no,
he must be rejected
by the elders,
the chief priests
and the teachers
of the law.
If we think about
those three roles,
that covers both
the political side
of things
at the leadership level
in Israel
and the spiritual
side of things.
Not just the Sanhedrin
or the council of elders
who ruled the daily affairs
of the people,
but also the spiritual leaders
at the temple,
the priests.
Those considered authorities
on how to understand
the scriptures,
all of them
would reject Jesus.
Okay.
So how's this going to work
then, Jesus?
If you will be king,
then what role
or place
will those guys have
in the kingdom?
If they reject you,
then what will you do
with them
once you
have the throne?
This is how I imagine
the disciples
trying to sort this
all out in their minds.
And then comes
the jaw dropper.
The son of man
must suffer many things
and be rejected
by the elders,
chief priests
and teachers of the law
and he must be killed.
What?
This is the first plain mention
of this
by Jesus
to his disciples.
What kind of king
chosen by God,
what kind of anointed one
gets killed?
How could that be?
Jesus adds one more thing.
He says he must be killed
and on the third day
be raised to life.
And this last part
about being raised to life,
we know the story,
of course,
what that's talking about,
the resurrection,
but this last part,
it seems the disciples
heard it,
but it just didn't
really sink in.
It's like they were
so shocked
by the idea,
the thought,
that Jesus,
the one they've been following,
would be killed
and how that might
come about.
That very little thought
was given to that statement
that on the third day,
he would be raised to life.
Even after Jesus
rises from the dead,
there's that moment of,
oh, yes,
now I remember
he said something about that.
He said that he would
be raised to life
on the third day.
But for now,
it's like they hear the words
and they don't really hear it.
the part about getting killed
must have been
so utterly unexpected,
so contrary
to the expectations.
In fact,
at this point
in the conversation,
we read that
right after saying this,
Peter
takes Jesus aside
and begins
to rebuke Jesus.
We read of this
in Mark chapter 8.
Peter takes Jesus aside
and begins
to rebuke him.
You can almost imagine
Peter in this moment
like,
what are you talking
about, Jesus?
They're not going
to kill you.
You're the Messiah.
Don't say things
like this.
We're not going
to let anything
happen to you.
If anybody even
tries to lay
a finger on you,
and if you keep
talking like this,
Jesus,
you're going to start
scaring the people away.
We need their support
if we're going
to challenge
the elders
and the chief priests
and the teachers
of the law.
We can only imagine
what Peter said
as he rebuked Jesus.
It doesn't say.
Well, in Mark's gospel,
Jesus comes back
at Peter
with a stinging
rebuke of his own.
Get behind me,
Satan.
Jesus said,
you do not have
in mind
the concerns of God,
but merely
human concerns.
So this is a clue
that neither Peter
nor the rest
of the disciples
had the right
expectations
of how things
would go
with the Messiah.
I guess it seems
that they envisioned
this great movement
just sort of
picking up steam
and the followers
increasing
and as more and more
people become followers
then eventually
they all just
parade Jesus
right into Jerusalem
and toss out
the Romans
and put Jesus
on the throne
and the glory
days of Israel
will begin.
Kind of like
in the days
of King David.
I mean,
look at the miracles
that we've been able
to do,
Andrew,
in the name
of Jesus.
Look at the power
and authority
that he has.
He is God's
chosen one.
He is the Messiah.
This is it.
And then Jesus
just seems
to start raining
on his own parade.
it's wonderful
that you figured
out who I really
am, Peter.
But now
don't tell anyone.
I'm going to
suffer
many things,
be rejected,
and be killed.
This isn't
going to go
how you think,
Peter.
And it truly
baffled
the disciples
when Jesus
said these things.
We're going to
see that
bafflement
in the weeks
ahead.
What kind
of kingdom
begins
with the
suffering
of its
king?
What kind
of king
gets fiercely
hated and
despised by
the people
in the land
before he
comes to the
throne
and then
is put
to death?
How can
this be,
the kingdom
of God?
Why would
God allow
anyone to
do this
to his
chosen king?
This can't
be right,
can it?
This can't
be how the
story goes,
can it?
But it is
indeed how
the story
goes.
It was in
fact the
plan of
God right
from the
beginning.
And Jesus
knew this.
think about
this from
the
disciples
perspective.
What a
crazy thing,
eh?
It finally
comes to
that moment
where they
realize that
Jesus is
the Messiah
and they
say it
out loud
and now
Jesus says
good.
See that
you don't
tell anyone.
And from
here on out
I want you
to know
that your
expectations
for the
Messiah
are way
off.
It's
going to
go the
opposite
of how
you think
in the
short term.
At this
point
Mark
tells us
that Jesus
actually
calls the
crowd to
him.
And so
these next
things that
we're about
to read
he says
to the
disciples
and to
the rest
of them
to them
all.
Verse
23
Then he
said to
them all
whoever
wants to
be my
disciple
must deny
themselves
and take
up their
cross
daily
and follow
me.
for
whoever
wants to
save their
life
will lose
it.
But
whoever
loses
their
life
for me
will
save
it.
What
good is
it for
someone to
gain the
whole
world
and yet
lose
or
forfeit
their
very
self?
whoever
is ashamed
of me
and my
words
the son
of man
will be
ashamed
of them
when he
comes in
his glory
and in
the glory
of the
father
and of
the holy
angels.
So while
Peter's
probably still
trying to
figure out
why Jesus
rebuked him
so sternly
and called
him Satan
Jesus
is already
speaking to
the crowds
and proclaiming
a message
of denial
and death.
Jesus
said in
private to
them that
he must
be killed
now he
turns to
the public
and he
says if
you want
to be
my
disciple
if you
want to
be a
follower
of
mine
then you
must
take
up
your
cross
and
follow
me.
You
must
stop
trying to
save
your
life
and
lose
it
for
me.
I'm
not
even
sure
how
the
crowd
would
have
taken
these
words.
When
they
heard
that
word
cross
take
up
the
cross
did
they
picture
convicted
criminals
being
marched
down the
street
to the
place
where
they
would
be
executed
or
was
Jesus
saying
this
so
that
later
they
would
understand
as
they
watched
Jesus
carrying
his
cross
to
his
death.
I'm
trying to
think of
how they
would have
thought of
these
words.
Is
Jesus
calling
us
to
die
for
him?
Are
things
about
to
get
ugly
or
violent?
We're
going to
talk more
next week
about what
Jesus
is saying
about
being a
disciple
of his
with
these
words.
But
for
today
through
all of
this
we see
Jesus
hinting
to the
crowds.
We hear
him
alluding
to what
he just
told the
disciples
in
private.
Not
only
will
he
be
killed
but
he
will
be
crucified.
The
cross.
He
calls
them to
follow
him.
How?
By
taking
up
their
cross.
Jesus
knows
that
this
is
what
he
will
do
in
the
days
ahead.
The
cross
was
the
method
used
by
the
Romans
to
execute
criminals
and
make
a
spectacle
of
them.
It
was
a
bloody
and
torturous
death.
Slow,
painful,
brutal.
But
the
Bible
tells
us
that
this
was
the
plan
of
God.
That
this
was
the
only
way
to
restore
the
relationship
between
God
and
man.
A
relationship
that
is
broken
because
of
our
sins.
A
sacrifice
had to
be
made.
A
sentence
had to
be
served.
Justice
had to
be
done.
Jesus'
enemies,
as they
crucify him,
meant it
for
evil,
but God
used it
for
good.
The
Bible
tells us
that
by
Jesus'
death,
he
made
atonement
for
the
sins
of
the
world.
It
tells us
that we
can be
forgiven
of any
wrong
we have
done
in the
sight
of
God
because
2,000
years ago,
Jesus
stepped
forward
and
allowed
himself
to
suffer
many
things
and be
rejected
and be
killed.
He
took
upon
himself
the
punishment
that we
deserve
for our
sins
so that
we could
be healed,
forgiven,
restored
to
God.
God,
why would
Jesus do
this for
us?
The
answer of
the Bible
again and
again is
it's because
of his
great love
for us.
It's
amazing.
Why
would
God,
holy
God,
offer
eternal
life and
forgiveness
to
stubborn
and
rebellious
sinners
like you
and me
because
of his
great love
for us.
Listen to
how the
Apostle Paul
puts it
in his
letter to
the church
in Rome.
He says,
you see,
at just
the right
time,
while we
were still
powerless,
Christ
died for
the ungodly.
Very
rarely will
anyone die
for a
righteous
person.
Though for
a good
person,
someone might
possibly dare
to die,
but God
demonstrates
his own
love for
us in
this.
While we
were still
sinners,
Christ died
for us.
trust,
God does
something amazing
and wonderful.
He gives
us a new
birth.
He gives
us a new
life.
He changes
us.
He saves
us from
what the
Bible tells
us is
coming.
As we
talked about
this morning
in Sunday
school,
yes,
judgment
and wrath
are what
we deserve.
But there
is a way
that God
has provided
to be
saved from
that.
And that
way is
through faith
in Jesus,
the one
he sent.
Not only
that,
but he
promises us
citizenship
in his
kingdom
when Jesus
returns.
Many in
our world
are asleep
at the
wheel
and headed
for disaster.
By God's
grace and
mercy,
he has
awakened us
to the
danger ahead
and he
has shown
us the
way out.
And now
he has
sent us
to go
and to
wake others
to the
danger ahead
and show
them the
way to
be saved.
And that
way is not
complicated.
Sometimes we
overcomplicate
it.
It's just
telling people
this very
story of
Jesus.
The whole
thing,
from the
beginning
to the
end.
From his
birth,
to his
miracles,
to his
message,
to his
death,
to his
resurrection,
or as
much as
they're
willing to
hear.
By
putting
their
faith in
him and
what he
has done,
they can
be saved,
just as
we have.
The
people in
Davidson,
the
people in
Crake,
the people
in
Keniston,
out on
the farm,
in town,
young,
old,
people in
the farm,
the people
who
have
good news
of God's
love and
rescue.
And the
climax of
that news
is the
cross.
We're
going to
take a few
minutes now
to remember
and to
thank God
for the
cross,
how he
used the
evil of
men,
done to
his
innocent
son to
forgive us
and to
restore us
to him.
So in
just a
moment,
we'll
pass out
the bread
and the
cup.
And if
you believe
in Jesus,
that he is
the Christ,
then of
course the
next step
for you is
to be
baptized in
his name.
But if
you believe
in Jesus
like we've
been talking
about,
then please
join with
us in
remembering
the body
and blood
which was
broken and
poured out
for our
salvation.
Let's take a
few minutes
now to
quietly pray
and to
reflect.
And then
we'll have
Dave and
Simon come
and serve
the elements.
We'll wait
until everybody
has been
served and
we'll give
thanks and
we'll eat and
drink all
together.
Let's do
that.