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Series B – Second Sunday in Lent – Sunday, March 1, 2015 | Pr. Chris Rosebrough

Welcome to the Teaching Ministry of Kongsvinger Lutheran Church. Kongsvinger is a beacon for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is located on the plains of Northwestern Minnesota. We proclaim Christ and Him crucified for our sins and salvation by grace through faith alone, and now, here’s a message from Pastor Chris Rosebrough:

Time Stamp	Transcript
0:28	the holy Gospel According to Saint Mark
0:31	chapter 8 verses 27-38
0:35	Jesus and his disciples went on to the
0:37	Villages around caesarea Philippi
0:40	on the way he asked them who do people
0:42	say that I am they replied well some say
0:45	John the Baptist others say Elijah still
0:47	others one of the prophets
0:50	what about you he asked who do you say
0:52	that I am Peter answered you are the
0:55	Christ and Jesus warned them not to tell
0:58	anyone about him then he began to teach
1:01	them that the son of man must suffer
1:04	many things and be rejected by the
1:06	elders the chief priests and the
1:08	teachers of the law and that he must be
1:10	killed and after three days rise again
1:12	he spoke plainly about this and Peter
1:16	took him aside and began to rebuke him
1:18	but when Jesus turned and looked at his
1:21	disciples he rebuked Peter get behind me
1:23	Satan he said you do not have in mind
1:26	the things of God but the things of men
1:28	then he called The Crowd to him along
1:30	with his disciples and said if anyone
1:33	would come after me he must deny himself
1:35	take up his cross follow me
1:38	for whoever wants to save his life will
1:41	lose it whoever loses his life for me
1:43	and for the gospel will save it what
1:45	good is it for a man to gain the whole
1:48	world yet forfeit his soul or what can a
1:50	man give in exchange for his soul if
1:53	anyone is ashamed of me and my words in
1:55	this adulterous and sinful generation
1:57	the son of man will be ashamed of him
1:59	when he comes in his father’s Glory with
2:01	the Holy Angels
2:04	in the name of Jesus
2:07	so our gospel text this morning takes
2:10	place in a very interesting place the
2:11	text reads Jesus and his disciples went
2:14	on to the Villages around caesarea
2:16	Philippi now if you study that very
2:19	important book of the Bible called the
2:21	book of maps that’s right all of
2:23	scripture is inspired and God breathed
2:26	and inerrant from The Book of Genesis
2:28	all the way to the book of maps and so
2:30	if you look and consult the book of maps
2:32	you will see that caesarea Philippi is a
2:35	little bit outside of Israeli territory
2:38	in fact this is a town that well
2:41	caesarea had had experienced a name
2:44	change recently at the time of Jesus
2:47	named after Augustus Caesar the God man
2:50	the god king right and so Jesus is
2:54	telegraphing something here The Big
2:56	reveal the big confession is about to
2:59	take place as to who Jesus is finally
3:02	once and for all all questions will be
3:05	answered there will be no doubts as to
3:08	who Jesus is and this Revelation takes
3:10	place in caesarea Philippi
3:13	this is a place that prior to being
3:14	named caesarea Philippi was called
3:16	panion named after the god pan in fact
3:20	famous place there the gates of Hades
3:22	you know if you’ve ever been there I
3:24	haven’t been in fact I’ve studied a
3:26	Biblical archeology using other people’s
3:28	vacation photos that’s what you know the
3:30	internet’s good for but trust me the
3:33	people who’ve been there they took great
3:35	photos of it then you take a look there
3:36	at the gates of Hades you can see that
3:38	these little grottos up in the in the
3:40	stone wall there that where all these
3:42	different Idols were this is where Jesus
3:44	is so he’s asking the question you know
3:47	kind of the pr question the um the the
3:50	the generic public opinion poll question
3:52	who do people say that I am while
3:54	surrounded with all of these Pagan idols
3:57	so well they said well Jesus we took an
4:01	opinion poll 40 say that you’re John the
4:04	Baptist we got 25 coming in with Elijah
4:07	and then everybody else is not so sure
4:09	they say you’re one of the prophets of
4:10	old so there’s the opinion poll but this
4:13	opinion poll this question was kind of
4:15	the setup for the real question the most
4:17	important one what about you he asked
4:19	who do you say that I am
4:22	and the text doesn’t say that there was
4:24	that awkward pause but you can almost
4:26	imagine it can’t you
4:29	so Peter he Chimes up he says you are
4:33	the Christ
4:35	you’re the Messiah
4:37	now in the gospel of Matthew Jesus says
4:40	write and this hasn’t been revealed to
4:42	you by men this has been revealed to you
4:45	by the father but then Jesus goes on in
4:48	our Mark in text we’ve got to be
4:49	faithful to our text Jesus warned them
4:51	not to tell anyone about him which kind
4:53	of begs the question why what’s going on
4:56	well Peter’s next move helps us
4:59	understand that a little bit but if you
5:01	know anything about first century
5:03	Judaism under Roman rule is that there
5:07	was a lot of Messianic expectation
5:10	and some people even took it upon
5:12	themselves to claim themselves to be the
5:14	Messiah and they were always interested
5:17	in flexing political muscle raising an
5:21	army or a militia or zealots kind of
5:23	similar to um jihadists if you would and
5:27	you know basically making a stench of
5:29	themselves politically with the Romans
5:31	and part of the reason for this is is
5:34	that the people of Jesus’s time were
5:37	really good at keying in on the Old
5:40	Testament prophecies about the Messiah
5:42	that have to do with his coming in
5:44	judgment coming in power coming in glory
5:47	eradicating getting rid of the evildoers
5:50	right
5:51	well the problem was is that all of
5:54	those Old Testament prophecies point us
5:55	to Jesus’s Second Coming his second
5:58	Advent when we confess in the Creed you
6:00	know we believe that he will come again
6:03	with glory to judge the living and the
6:05	dead those there are prophecies about
6:07	Jesus’s return not only in the New
6:09	Testament but also in the old and so the
6:11	people under Roman oppression first
6:12	century waiting for the Messiah they
6:14	look at these they say the most high is
6:17	coming in he’s gonna Flex muscle and
6:19	he’s going to get rid of those ornery
6:21	Pagan Romans that’s how they read it but
6:24	that’s kind of the problem is because
6:25	they ignored the other passages Lo he
6:29	comes to you humble riding on a donkey
6:32	the cult the foal of a donkey on him was
6:35	laid the iniquity of us all he was
6:37	pierced for our transgressions bruised
6:39	for our iniquities so there’s prophecies
6:41	regarding Jesus’s first and second
6:43	Advent in the Old Testament and the
6:45	people of Jesus’s time they’re kind of
6:47	wrapped up in the prophecies regarding
6:49	Jesus’s second Advent so Jesus he’s at
6:53	this point teaching the disciples how to
6:55	rightly understand him and it’s going to
6:58	take up too much bandwidth for him to
6:59	correct everybody so he has to start
7:01	with this group right so Jesus warned
7:04	them not to tell anyone about him that
7:06	he’s the Messiah so then he began to
7:09	teach them that the son of man must
7:11	suffer many things and be rejected by
7:13	the elders the chief priests and the
7:16	teachers of the law and that he must be
7:18	killed and after three days Rise Again
7:20	notice Jesus is very blunt the text says
7:22	that he spoke plainly about this very
7:25	plainly so all right I’m the Messiah
7:27	guys but here’s the deal we’re going to
7:30	go to Jerusalem I’m going to be rejected
7:33	killed and then rise again on the third
7:36	day
7:37	nobody saw this coming
7:40	the disciples
7:41	what
7:43	and you can kind of Imagine at this
7:44	point they’re thinking but Jesus when
7:46	you come into your kingdom aren’t we
7:47	going to be your cabinet men you know I
7:50	I you know I want to be Chief of Staff
7:52	one other guy he wants to be the head of
7:55	the Department of War I mean we’re gonna
7:57	we’re gonna get rid of these Romans
7:58	right let’s talk about you being
8:00	rejected and killed
8:02	you know
8:04	so Peter does something
8:07	rather odd just a minute ago he was
8:10	praised and got the question right as to
8:12	who Jesus was that he’s the Messiah that
8:14	he’s the Christ so Peter takes Jesus
8:16	aside and began to rebuke Jesus
8:20	now in the corporate world we talk about
8:23	career limiting moves okay you so if in
8:26	the corporate world if you know the vice
8:28	senior vice president of a particular
8:30	Department makes a decision and one of
8:32	the guys in the lower ranks decides to
8:34	take the senior vice president aside and
8:36	then rebuke him or do it publicly that’s
8:39	called a career limiting move okay
8:41	generally that person is asked very
8:43	politely to go plan somebody else’s
8:45	corporate team okay so here we have
8:48	Peter and we could say that this could
8:51	be an eternity limiting move this is a
8:54	big deal he’s taking God in human flesh
8:56	aside in rebuking God
8:59	oof you know how do we say it here ufta
9:01	yeah this is this is a big ufta
9:06	so
9:08	Jesus is kind he’s patient and
9:10	long-suffering
9:12	but it says this Jesus turned and looked
9:14	at his disciples he rebuked Peter get
9:17	behind me Satan
9:19	whoops
9:22	ouch
9:24	so there’s the great Apostle Peter the
9:27	guy who confessed Jesus to be the
9:29	Messiah got the question right and then
9:31	turns around and does something
9:34	sinfully stupid so sinfully stupid that
9:37	Jesus gets right to the root of the
9:39	matter and says you do not have the mind
9:40	the things of God but the things of men
9:42	and as a result of it he says Peter is
9:44	Satan and tells him to get behind him
9:46	points out the fact that Peter is a lot
9:49	like in fact he’s exactly like all of us
9:54	all of us who in one moment we can
9:57	confess that Jesus’s savior that he’s
9:59	died for our sins that he is king of
10:01	kings and Lord of lords no sooner do we
10:04	confess the words of the Nicene Creed
10:06	God of God light of light fairy god of
10:08	very God begotten not made that we leave
10:11	here and we well
10:14	to something sinful
10:16	and this has to do with the fact that as
10:19	Christians we are saved
10:22	and still waiting for the consummation
10:25	of time the Redemption of our bodies the
10:27	resurrection so we have our sinful Adam
10:29	to contend with and our sinful Adam
10:31	really enjoys and is quite prone to
10:34	doing the work of the devil even Peter
10:37	had the same problem so Jesus rebukes
10:40	him says Get Behind Me Satan you do not
10:41	have in mind the things of God the
10:43	things of men Jesus has not come to flex
10:46	political muscle
10:48	he’s not come to get rid of the Romans
10:51	or set Israel free from the Roman
10:53	occupation that’s not what he’s about
10:55	those are the things of men not the
10:58	things of God Jesus has a very specific
11:00	mission for which he’s come and he’s not
11:02	allowed about to let
11:04	Peter tell him otherwise and so he puts
11:08	Peter in his place so then Jesus Calls
11:10	the crowd to himself he said if anyone
11:13	would come after me he must deny himself
11:16	take up his cross and follow me
11:19	now this is a phrase that has historical
11:21	meaning why because the Romans used
11:24	crucifixion as well let’s put it this
11:27	way psychological warfare
11:30	you want to see what happens to the
11:31	people who stand up to the emperor and
11:34	the Roman Empire well we’ll show you
11:36	we’ll show you what happens to those
11:38	people they take them out they March
11:41	them in a death march making them carry
11:43	their own crosses bloodied bruised and
11:46	beaten after being scourged and then
11:48	they take them right say outside the
11:49	city Gates you know along the path as
11:53	you’re going into Jerusalem for
11:55	everybody to see and they’re those poor
11:59	wretches are nailed to the cross and
12:02	they languish some of them for days and
12:05	then after they die oftentimes their
12:07	bodies are left on the cross this is the
12:09	statement you stand up to the Roman
12:11	Empire this is what we’re going to do to
12:13	you
12:14	and so everybody’s familiar with this
12:17	death march of the Romans and notice
12:19	what Jesus says
12:21	if anyone would come after me he must
12:23	deny himself take up his cross
12:26	and follow me Jesus is at the head of
12:29	the procession carrying his cross
12:32	he’s calling us all to deny ourselves
12:34	what kind of revolution is Jesus leading
12:38	the answer is he’s not leading a
12:39	revolution at all he’s calling Sinners
12:42	to die
12:43	die to themselves
12:45	and ultimately be raised Again by him
12:47	whoever wants to save his life will lose
12:51	it
12:51	whoever Loses His Life For Me In The
12:53	Gospel will save it so what good is it
12:56	for a man to gain the whole world yet
12:57	forfeit his soul let’s answer the
12:59	question
13:00	there’s no gain at all
13:02	you can be a billionaire
13:05	in this life have everything that this
13:08	life has to offer
13:11	and at the end of the day without
13:12	Penance and faith in Christ for the
13:14	Forgiveness of your sins your short tiny
13:17	little lifespan is nothing but a wisp
13:21	a vapor that vanishes when the sun comes
13:25	out you’ll die
13:28	you’ll die
13:29	and you’ll have nothing except for an
13:32	eternity in hell
13:34	so what can a man gain you know if he
13:37	gains a whole world and yet forfeits his
13:39	soul absolutely nothing or what can a
13:41	man give in exchange for his soul let’s
13:42	answer that question
13:44	I think there’s nothing you can give in
13:46	exchange for your soul nothing you are
13:49	incapable of saving yourself paying your
13:52	debt to God that has to be paid for you
13:54	and that’s what Jesus is all about and
13:57	Jesus says if anyone is ashamed of me
13:59	and my words in this adulterous
14:02	Generation Well the son of man will be
14:04	ashamed of him
14:06	and the thing is is that Jesus’s words
14:08	truly are shameful to the world you
14:10	really are telling me that I’m a sinner
14:13	that I need to be forgiven by Jesus that
14:17	there’s nothing I can do to to earn
14:20	God’s favor I can’t Merit it by my good
14:24	works precisely
14:26	repent deny yourself
14:29	take up your cross follow Jesus this is
14:32	what he tells us and thankfully Jesus
14:35	did not listen to The Satanic advice and
14:37	rebuke of Peter instead he fulfilled his
14:40	mission
14:42	he went to the Cross he was rejected by
14:45	the elders he was beaten he was scourged
14:48	he was crucified he did die and he did
14:51	rise again
14:52	and our epistle text frames it so nicely
14:55	as to what he accomplished by not
14:57	listening to Peter’s satanic advice
14:59	Romans 5 1
15:02	therefore
15:03	since we have been past tense we have
15:07	been declared righteous by faith we now
15:11	have peace with God through our Lord
15:12	Jesus Christ because Jesus didn’t listen
15:15	to Peter and fulfilled his mission we
15:18	now have peace with God
15:20	through him we have obtained access by
15:23	faith into this grace in which we stand
15:25	and we rejoice in Hope of the glory of
15:28	God not only that we rejoice in our
15:30	sufferings
15:31	that’s right the world doesn’t rejoice
15:33	in their sufferings do they
15:35	now the world sits there and says I’m
15:36	suffering there must be something wrong
15:38	what can I buy what can who can I talk
15:41	to what can I do to remove the suffering
15:43	from me
15:45	but we as Christians who’ve taken up our
15:47	crosses
15:48	followed Christ we rejoice in our
15:51	sufferings knowing that suffering
15:53	produces endurance
15:54	endurance produces character character
15:57	produces hope and hope does not put us
15:59	to shame because God’s love has been
16:01	poured into our hearts that the Holy
16:02	Spirit who has been given to us and
16:05	here’s the best part for while we were
16:07	still weak
16:09	at the right time Christ died for the
16:12	ungodly
16:14	did you catch that Christ died for the
16:16	ungodly
16:20	that’s you
16:22	that’s me
16:23	that’s how scripture describes us and
16:26	you sit there and go well I’m really not
16:28	that bad now let me read it again
16:30	while you were weak Christ died for the
16:33	ungodly
16:34	if you’re not ungodly Christ did not die
16:37	for you
16:39	he only died for the ungodly period
16:43	and that’s part of what it means to deny
16:45	yourself
16:47	stop fooling yourself into believing
16:48	you’re a good person
16:50	you’re not
16:51	I’m not
16:53	I’m ungodly
16:55	you’re ungodly and the good news is that
16:58	Christ fulfilled his mission he went to
16:59	the cross and he died for the ungodly
17:03	for one will scarcely die for a
17:05	righteous person though perhaps for a
17:07	good person one would dare to die but
17:09	God shows his love for us in that while
17:12	we were still sinners
17:14	Christ died
17:17	for us
17:20	so we’re all that
17:23	we are ungodly sinners
17:27	and Christ while you were weak powerless
17:30	unable to do anything he bled he died
17:33	for you and this is how God demonstrates
17:36	his love for you while you were at your
17:39	worst not your best at your worst Christ
17:43	dies for you
17:45	he dies from the ungodly and this is how
17:48	God shows his love for us and since
17:51	therefore we have now been declared
17:53	righteous justified by his blood
17:57	thank you Lord
17:59	that it’s all gift it’s all Mercy
18:01	how much more shall we be saved by him
18:04	from the wrath of God for if while we
18:06	were enemies there’s the word another
18:08	one
18:09	ungodly sinners
18:12	enemies while we were enemies we were
18:15	reconciled to God by the death of his
18:17	son how much more now that we are
18:20	reconciled shall we be saved by his life
18:22	more than that we also rejoice in God
18:24	through our Lord Jesus Christ through
18:26	whom we now have received reconciliation
18:30	so Christ went to the Cross he didn’t
18:32	listen to The Satanic advice of Peter
18:36	Peter was sinning in that moment and
18:37	Jesus rebuked him and Jesus fulfilled
18:40	his mission his mission to save
18:42	his enemies his mission to save the
18:45	ungodly his mission to save sinners
18:48	sinners like me
18:50	Sinners Like You
18:52	therefore we humbly deny ourselves take
18:56	up our crosses and follow Jesus and
18:59	rejoice in our sufferings because truly
19:01	this is an offensive message that we
19:03	have to Proclaim and yet it is the
19:06	greatest good news of all that God has
19:09	reconciled us to himself by what Christ
19:12	did for us on the cross
19:14	in the name of Jesus Amen
19:17	[Music]

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