Lesson #16 Demands of Discipleship

(Matthew 18: 1 20: 34)

In Lesson #15 Jesus took his disciples to Caesarea Philippi where he asked them one question: Who do people say the Son of Man is? Peter answered for the group: You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. God then validates Peters answer on the Mount of Transfiguration. In the presence of two credible witnessesMoses and Elijah(as required by Deuteronomy 19: 15), the voice of God says: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him. In Lesson #15 Jesus identity is firmly established. In addition, Jesus lays the foundation for the Church that will emerge after his death, burial and resurrection.

With Jesus identity firmly established, his disciples struggle with the implications of that identity, both for Jesus and for themselves. For Jesus, being the Messiah, the Son of the living God means suffering and death at the hands of the religious and political leaders; for his disciples it means taking up their own cross, being a servant of all and possibly being killed themselves. All of this directly contradicts everything people believed about the Messiah.

Jesus disciples are left dazed and confused, while as readers we are left to ponder our own position in light of this startlingly new Kingdom.
Lesson #16 begins with Discourse #4, Charge and Authority of the Church (E) and it continues the heros journey motif as Jesus leaves Galilee and heads for Jerusalem and the cross (D).

The Gospel according to Matthews overall mirrored chiastic structure

A Narrative: Jesus as Messiah, Son of God (1-4) Minor discourse: John the Baptist identifies the authority of Jesus (3:7-12) B Great Discourse #1: Demands of true discipleship (5-7) C Narrative: The supernatural authority of Jesus (8-9) D Great Discourse #2: Charge and authority of disciples (10) E Narrative: Jews reject Jesus (11-12) F Great Discourse #3: Parables of the Kingdom of Heaven (13) E Narrative: Disciples accept Jesus (14-17) D Great Discourse #4: Charge and authority of church (18) C Narrative: Authority and invitation (19-22) B Great Discourse #5: Judgment on false discipleship (23-25) Narrative: Jesus as Messiah, suffering and vindicated (26-28) Minor discourse: Jesus identifies the authority of the church (28:18-20)

As we enter Lesson #16, Great Discourse #4 reflects a 2-part structure, prompted by the disciples question: Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (18: 1) 1. The character of those in the Kingdom of Heaven (18: 2-14). 2. The behavior of those in the Kingdom of Heaven (18: 15-35).

The Character of Those in the Kingdom of Heaven

The Behavior of Those in the Kingdom of Heaven

1. 2. 3. 4.

Departure: Jesus supernatural birth (1: 182: 23); Initiation: Jesus baptism by John (3: 1-17); First Trial: Jesus tempted by Satan (4: 1-11); Movement from the familiar: Jesus relocates to Capernaum (4: 1217); 5. Choosing Companions: Jesus gathers his disciples, his inner circle of companions (4: 18-22); 6. The Journey begins: Jesus travels throughout Galilee teaching, preaching and healing (4: 23-18: 35); 7. Final Trial: Jesus leaves Galilee and heads for Jerusalem and the cross (19: 1-20-34); 8. Entering enemy territory: Jesus Palm Sunday entry into Jerusalem (21: 1-17); 9. Engaging the enemy: Jesus escalating encounters with the religious leaders (21: 18-25: 46); 10. The climatic battle: The Passion (26: 1-27: 66); 11. Victory: Resurrection (28: 1-15); and 12. Reward: The Great Commission (28: 16-20).

Capernaum

Sythopolis

Jericho Jerusalem

Leaving the Sea of Galilee

Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

Past the Lower Jordan River as it exits the Sea of Galilee.

Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

Ford the Jordan River at Sythopolis, crossing to the east side (Modern-day Jordan)
Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

Follow the pilgrim road south to Jericho.

Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

Ford back to the west side of the Jordan River at Jericho.

Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

Begin the 17.3 mile ascent up the old Roman Road.

Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

Climbing from 900 below sea level to 2,500 above sea level.
Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

Capernaum

Sythopolis

Jericho Jerusalem

1. What are the three reasons Jesus gives for why a person might not marry? 2. What is the real problem with the rich young mans inability to come to Christ? 3. Is it fair that those who worked in the masters vineyard for one hour are paid the same as those who worked all day? Whats the deeper meaning of this parable? 4. James and Johns mother approaches Jesus with her sons, asking a favor. What does that tell us about James and John? 5. How does the story of the two blind men relate to that of James and John?

Copyright 2014 by William C. Creasy

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