Jesus shows us what it means to follow him: Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow. Lay aside the mindset of men and take up the mindset of God.

Notes and Outline

Matthew has a lot of stories or blocks of teaching that seem to function like a Mosaic. Mosaics are an art-form using bits of rocks, tile, or bits of glass cemented to form a picture. Matthew seems to use blocks of stories and teachings that together form a picture of who Jesus is. They also show what it means to follow him. In these segments of teaching we often see stories that illustrate Christ, or illustrate some aspect of discipleship - what it means to follow him.

*Jesus rebukes the mindset of men*, and gives us a new mindset - the cross mindset. This is the mindset of a disciple.

#### I. He rebukes the pharisees/sadducees

- ask for a sign

- Jesus rebukes their lack of discerning the signs givens, and repeats the sign of Jonah, which would be his death, burial, and resurrection.

#### II. Rebukes disciples for their lack of understanding

- Oh you of little faith...do you not yet perceive?

- the connection of faith and understanding

- understanding the things of God has more to do with revelation and faith than intelligence.

#### III. Peter has a revelation

- You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God

- Christ points out that God the Father revealed that to him.

- \Peter - Rock. Paul later would recognize Peter, James and John to be pillars in the church... Paul comments the church in Ephesians is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ being the cornerstone.

KEY MOMENT- Jesus predicts his death and resurrection in Jerusalem.

- Peter rebukes him!

- So Jesus rebukes Peter! He addresses Satan himself - who seemed to be speaking through Peter. Mindset on the things of man vs. God.

*then Christ gives the disciple's mindset -*

#### IV. Christ's call to take up our cross

- self-denial

- embracing a death of self

- giving up your life in order to gain life

- opposite of man's mindset

- value your soul above all esle.

- *Jesus is teaching us to have the long view - life after death. Man's mindset focuses on the moment - Jesus focuses on living for eternity.*

- Why?

- Because v.27

- v.28 - mysterious verse, toughy

- some think its the transfiguration - seeing Jesus' glory

- some see it as the resurrection or some historical event in early church

- My best guess is its referring to the 2nd coming of Christ - which is in the future. the Apostle John had a vision of Jesus coming - he wrote it down... its the last book of the Bible - revelation.

- The point is that the Coming of the Kingdom is very real - and we need to live in light of that kingdom... not merely for what feels good in the moment.

#### Truth -

Jesus came to do the will of the Father, and that is to suffer, die, and be raised from the dead. It is the mindset of God, not men.

#### Application

- Jesus used these verses to call me to follow him - I resisted for a few years.... I was afraid. If I give my life to God...what would it mean? What would God do? will I have to die? But Jesus said it was worth it.

- Will you follow Christ? It requires a death of self, taking up your cross... its bleak at first - the way of discipleship

- But its gains are eternal - valuing the Kingdom of God, which lasts forever rather than the present moment.

Read from:

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®)

© 2001 by Crossway,

a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

All rights reserved.