Jesus is...Son of Man
12-18-22 Sermon Notes “Jesus Is…Son of Man”
This Advent, we are looking at some of the many names identified with Jesus. In this week’s gospel reading, we have Jesus asking his disciples what other people are “naming” him. Then he asks them the very important question all of us must face: “Who do YOU say that I am?”
Jesus had taken his disciples to a special place to ask this question. They had journeyed into Caesarea Philippi (Gentile territory) about 120 miles from Jerusalem in the northern part of Palestine. This was a region known for other religions – Baal worship, worship of Pan (the Greek god)…and it was the site of a temple built to honor Augustus Caesar. This is the setting – surrounded by shrines, and statues of gods, within sight of Caesar’s temple… It’s almost like there is a question hanging in the air: “Will the true God please stand up?” So, Jesus asked the question this way in Matthew 16: 13-28:
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build mychurch, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom ofheaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earthwill be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. 21 From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are astumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and thosewho lose their life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit them if they gain the whole worldbut forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
27 “For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repayeveryone for what has been done. 28 Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Some said Jesus was John the Baptist, others Elijah. Malachi prophesied that Elijah would come again, and some thought that Jesus fulfilled that. But – Jesus did not minister as Elijah. John the Baptist was the one who came “in the spirit and power of Elijah.” (Luke 1: 13-17). Some said Jesus was Jeremiah, the “weeping prophet,” who had a broken heart over the state of Israel. Jesus did weep over Jerusalem, but he was not Jeremiah reincarnate. Of course Peter had the correct response. “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” God had given Peter that revelation – it wasn’t something he investigated on his own.
Often missed in this discussion was what Jesus named himself. In verse 13, Jesus said “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Jesus called himself “the Son of Man.” What’s up with that?
Join us Sunday and find out!
Pastor Sam