Matt. 16:13-18 (ESV) "Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, 'Who do people say that the Son of Man is?' And they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter replied, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' And Jesus answered him, 'Blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven, And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Peter was speaking for the group.
The Jews had been looking for the Messiah since the time of Moses. The words Christ (Greek) and Messiah (Hebrew) are the same.. The disciples believed that Jesus was the Messiah to save them from tyranny, until they witnessed the cross. The Messiah has died! They were fearful, confused and grieving. Was He not who He said He was? They were locked in a room because they were afraid for their own safety. John 20:19 (ESV) "On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you.'
After the resurrection and followed by the 40 days of teaching and Pentecost things changed.
Acts 2:36 (ESV) "Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." The disciples spoke boldly! There were no longer afraid. They called the Jews out for crucifying the Messiah. It was a total transformation from when they were hiding in the upper room. Their belief became trust.
Acts 4:7-12 (ESV) "And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, 'By what power or by what name did you do this?' Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to the, 'Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who you crucified, whom God raised from the dead-by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.'"
Trust is the ability to step out, take a chance and act on your own belief and make yourself vulnerable. Some examples of this.
James 2:19 (NIV) "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that- and shudder."
Matt. 7:21 (ESV) "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."
Hebrew 11:1 (ESV) "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Trust = belief solidified. A belief is something we have, trust is something we do.
After the resurrection the disciples were still confused. They had no answers, but now they step out in faith and trust in who He is. And the trust Him unto death.
The disciples stepped out and acted in spite of ...
1. the confusion
2. the dangers
3. His bodily absence
4. His delayed return
How much do you believe? How much do you TRUST?
I. The Resurrection convinced the disciples of Jesus' Authority
Matt. 28:18 (ESV) "And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'"
1.The disciples had seen Him perform many miracles. They had seen Him heal, raise people from the dead, but He had overcome His OWN death.
2. The disciples saw Him Rise with a glorified body in an eternal state.
Rev. 1:17-18 (ESV) "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me saying, 'Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.'"
II. The Resurrection convinced the disciple of Jesus' Ability
Jesus can do anything He chooses to do. He has power.
III. The Resurrection convinced the disciples of God's Goodness
John 3:16 (ESV) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
Romans 5:8 (ESV) "but, God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
1 John 4:9-10 (ESV) "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
This poses a problem for believers. If God is all powerful and all good, why all of the evil and suffering in the world today? Why doesn't God fix it ? Why does He allow it? The disciples had the same problems and questions. But the lack of answers did not stop them from trusting, serving and moving on! Because they believed if God is all powerful and all good then He WILL deal with all evil, suffering, pain, and injustice in HIS WAY, in HIS TIME, according to HIS WISDOM!
John 16:33 (ESV) "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
Question...Do you believe that? Can you trust Him in that...in the midst of the bad?
IV. The Resurrection convinced the disciples of God's constant Presence
Matt. 28:19-20 (ESV) "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
They saw the resurrected Jesus for 40 days and then He ascended into Heaven and they never saw Him again, BUT they KNEW He was with them. He is with us...He is with me.
Hebrews 13:5-6 & 8 (ESV) "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'" "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
V. The Resurrection convinced the disciples that Jesus will Return
They probably believed that He would return in their lifetime, but when it didn't happen they remained faithful unto death.
Acts 1:4-6 (ESV) "And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, 'you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.' So when they had come together, they asked him, 'Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?'
2 Peter 3:3-4 (ESV) "knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, 'Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.'"
They were trusting...
1. He will return
2. He will establish His Kingdom
3. He will dispel all evil and wickedness
4. He will correct all wrongs
5. He will compensate us for all injustice.
They TRUSTED, followed, served even in darkness, confusion, suffering, martyrdom. They didn't just believe....they TRUSTED!
You probably believe, but what is your trust level?
Romans 10:9-11 (ESV) "because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, 'Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.'"
It is easy as ABC
Admit - you are a sinner/ in need of Jesus' sacrifice
Believe - He is the Son of God / the SACRIFICE He died for your sins and raised
Confess - Verbally which leads to TRUST- Acting upon that declaration.
Col. 2:6 (ESV) "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him"
Recive by faith and walk in faith in Him. The same way you received him so you walk in Him.
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