EASTER SERMON SERIES
Starting March 1, 2026 through Easter
JOURNEY TO THE CROSS: WHO IS JESUS?
Matthew 16:13-23
Starting this Sunday through Easter Sunday, we will be following Jesus and His apostles as they journey together to Jerusalem for the last time. Although the disciples think this is just another trip to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover with their Lord, Jesus is well aware that this trip to the capital city will be His last—He is going to be the sacrificial lamb who will give His life for the sins of the world.
We begin this series with the question that Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Although Peter answers correctly, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” little did he and the other apostles understand that when they arrive in Jerusalem the Son of God will be handed over to the Jewish leaders to be crucified. Even when they are told by Jesus Himself what would be awaiting Him in Jerusalem, Peter was determined to stop it.
In this series we will follow Jesus along with Peter, James and John as they witness His transfiguration. We will enter Jerusalem with Jesus and the apostles as He makes His triumphal entry into the city on a donkey. We will sit at the table as Jesus gives a new meaning to the Passover meal at His Last Supper with His disciples. We will see the cruelty inflicted on Jesus from the very night of His arrest to His last breath on the cross. And on Easter Sunday, we will walk with the resurrected Christ as He joins two of His followers on the road to Emmaus.
Come join us this Sunday as we follow Jesus on His JOURNEY TO THE CROSS.
MATTHEW 16:13-23
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
