Tag: Peter

Listen to Him!: The call to attention for disciples of Jesus

Matt Erickson1 Comment

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)

At the mount of transfiguration, Jesus’ glory is revealed before the eyes of Peter, James, and John. Overwhelmed by all they are beholding, Peter offers to build a set of shelters for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Mark tells us “[Peter] did not know what to say, they were so frightened” (Mark 9:6).

It is a great relief, then, that before Peter can go any further with his ideas, there is a divine interruption in with several accompanying physical signs. First, “a bright cloud covered them.” This cloud represents God’s presence and power, just as at the exodus God led the people with a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. Second, there is a voice from the cloud, booming through the cloud and accompanying the transfigured Jesus. Third, there is the message of that voice, which rings with dramatic power: speaking through the cloud to them, booming with this message: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5b).

The message here directly echoes the words spoken over Jesus at His baptism, with one significant addition. In Matthew 3, at His baptism, God’s voice speaks primarily for Jesus, affirming and commissioning Jesus into ministry. But here in Matthew 17, at the transfiguration, God speaks primarily for those who are with Jesus. The strong word, “Listen to Him!”, is for the disciples’ ears. They had listened to Him so well up to this point. Yet when Jesus begins to speak of going to Jerusalem to suffer, die, and rise again, they wonder if their idea that He is the Messiah might be wrong. But it is precisely here that they are to listen to Jesus. Even though some of the words He speaks may confuse them, particularly the part about messianic suffering and death, they must listen most attentively here.

For it is in the suffering and dying that the meaning of Jesus as Messiah will be most truly revealed. It is as if the Father says, “Listen, watch, attend to Him. What you will hear and see will shock you, but it will shock you right into abundant life.”

Eastbrook at Home – December 5, 2021

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Join us for worship with Eastbrook Church through Eastbrook at Home at 8, 9:30, and 11 AM. Here is a prayer for the second Sunday of Advent from The Book of Common Prayer:

Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and the comfort of your holy Word we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

This weekend we continue the journey of Advent and our series, “‘Tis the Reason,” as I preach from Matthew 17:1-13. At the Transfiguration we receive a glimpse of the glory of Jesus that is seen nowhere else in the Gospels before the resurrection. This brings into focus the glory that comes through Jesus to a world turned inside-out with humiliation.

You can access our Advent devotional that accompanies the series as a PDF, online, or through the Eastbrook app.

This series continues our extended journey through the Gospel of Matthew, which includes our previous series “Family Tree,” “Power in Preparation,” “Becoming Real,” “The Messiah’s Mission,” “Stories of the Kingdom: parables of Jesus,” and “Who Do You Say I Am?“

We also continue in-person services at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 AM this weekend at the Eastbrook Campus, and you no longer need to RSVP ahead of time.

If you are new to Eastbrook, we want to welcome you to worship and would ask you to text EBCnew to 94000 as a first step into community here at Eastbrook.

Each Sunday at 8, 9:30, and 11 AM, you can participate with our weekly worship service at home with your small group, family, or friends. This service will then be available during the week until the next Sunday’s service starts. You can also access the service directly via Vimeo, the Eastbrook app, or Facebook.

If you are not signed up for our church emailing list, please sign up here. Also, please remember that during this time financial support for the church is critical as we continue minister within our congregation and reach out to our neighborhood, city, and the world at this challenging time. Please give online or send in your tithes and offerings to support the ministry of Eastbrook Church.

Eastbrook at Home – November 28, 2021

Matt EricksonLeave a comment
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Join us for worship with Eastbrook Church through Eastbrook at Home at 8, 9:30, and 11 AM. Here is a prayer for the first Sunday of Advent from The Book of Common Prayer:

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

This weekend we begin a new series, “‘Tis the Reason,” as I preach from Matthew 16:21-28. Thus begins one of the most dramatic turns in the Gospel of Matthew from Galilee toward Jerusalem, and from Jesus’ Messianic identity being unveiled to His stark mission to suffer and rise again for humanity.

You can access our Advent devotional that accompanies the series as a PDF, online, or through the Eastbrook app.

This series continues our extended journey through the Gospel of Matthew, which includes our previous series “Family Tree,” “Power in Preparation,” “Becoming Real,” “The Messiah’s Mission,” “Stories of the Kingdom: parables of Jesus,” and “Who Do You Say I Am?“

We also continue in-person services at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 AM this weekend at the Eastbrook Campus, and you no longer need to RSVP ahead of time.

If you are new to Eastbrook, we want to welcome you to worship and would ask you to text EBCnew to 94000 as a first step into community here at Eastbrook.

Each Sunday at 8, 9:30, and 11 AM, you can participate with our weekly worship service at home with your small group, family, or friends. This service will then be available during the week until the next Sunday’s service starts. You can also access the service directly via Vimeo, the Eastbrook app, or Facebook.

If you are not signed up for our church emailing list, please sign up here. Also, please remember that during this time financial support for the church is critical as we continue minister within our congregation and reach out to our neighborhood, city, and the world at this challenging time. Please give online or send in your tithes and offerings to support the ministry of Eastbrook Church.

“Naming” Jesus

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This past weekend at Eastbrook, we concluded our preaching series, “Who Do You Say I Am?”, by finally drawing near to the text from which the title of the series arises: Matthew 16:13-20. In this dramatic turning point in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus asks His disciples a series of questions, including “Who do you say I Am?” Peter’s bold declaration of Jesus’ identity leads to an exchange between them. In a sense, Peter “names” Jesus, but in a deeper and more true way Jesus names Peter.

This message is part of the sixth part of our longer series on Matthew, which includes “Family Tree,” “Power in Preparation,” “Becoming Real,” “The Messiah’s Mission,” and “Stories of the Kingdom.”

You can find the message video and outline below. You can also view the entire series here. Join us for weekend worship in-person or remotely via Eastbrook at Home.

“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, 
‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’” (Matthew 16:13)

Jesus’ First Question (Matthew 16:13-14)

“Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

Who Have People Said Jesus Is?

  • John the Baptist (Matthew 14:2)
  • Elijah (11:14)
  • Jeremiah or one of the prophets (12:41)

Jesus’ Second Question (Matthew 16:15)

“But what about you? Who do you say I am?”

How had the disciples previously named Jesus?:

  • Rabbi with authority to teach (4:18-22; 7:28; 13:10-17, 36)
  • Healer and miracle worker (8:14-15; 14:18-21, 25-27)
  • Enigma: “What kind of man is this?” (9:27)
  • Friend of Sinners (9:11-13)
  • Son of David (9:27)
  • Awesome one: “Truly you are the Son of God” (14:33)

Peter “Names” Jesus (Matthew 16:16)

“You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”

Jesus is the Messiah

Jesus is the Son of the Living God

Jesus Names Peter (Matthew 16:17-20)

Jesus’ naming of Peter: “you are Peter”

An aside about Jesus’ command for silence on the matter

Encountering Jesus Today

Hearing Jesus ask us: “who do you say I am?”

“Naming” Jesus personallyHearing Jesus name us

Dig Deeper:

This week dig deeper in one or more of the following ways:

  • Memorize Matthew 16:15-16
  • Read through the Gospel of Matthew up to this point and note any way that Matthew records or describes titles of Jesus that would answer the question, “Who is Jesus?” Step back to reflect upon all the titles of Jesus given thus far in the Gospel of Matthew.
  • Take some time in stillness to reflect on Jesus’ question: But what about you? Who do you say I am?” How are you answering that right now? How might Peter’s answer or other titles of Christ in Scripture give shape to your answer?
  • Consider reading further on the titles of Jesus with John Stott’s The Incomparable Christ or Michael Scanlan’s Titles of Jesus.

Eastbrook at Home – November 21, 2021

Matt EricksonLeave a comment
Eastbrook-At-Home-Series-GFX_16x9-Title

Join us for worship with Eastbrook Church through Eastbrook at Home at 8, 9:30, and 11 AM.

This weekend we conclude our series, “Who Do You Say I Am?,” as I preach from Matthew 16:13-20 about Jesus’ piercing question from which the title of our series takes its name and Peter’s bold response to that piercing question.

This series continues our extended journey through the Gospel of Matthew, which includes our previous series “Family Tree,” “Power in Preparation,” “Becoming Real,” “The Messiah’s Mission,” and “Stories of the Kingdom: parables of Jesus.”

We also continue in-person services at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 AM this weekend at the Eastbrook Campus, and you no longer need to RSVP ahead of time.

If you are new to Eastbrook, we want to welcome you to worship and would ask you to text EBCnew to 94000 as a first step into community here at Eastbrook.

Each Sunday at 8, 9:30, and 11 AM, you can participate with our weekly worship service at home with your small group, family, or friends. This service will then be available during the week until the next Sunday’s service starts. You can also access the service directly via Vimeo, the Eastbrook app, or Facebook.

If you are not signed up for our church emailing list, please sign up here. Also, please remember that during this time financial support for the church is critical as we continue minister within our congregation and reach out to our neighborhood, city, and the world at this challenging time. Please give online or send in your tithes and offerings to support the ministry of Eastbrook Church.