It might be easy to criticize the disciples, but in today’s passage I find comfort in how much they are like us sometimes. Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit recognizes and affirms that Jesus is the Christ, or the Messiah, and Jesus praises him for that. Just a little bit later, Jesus tells them that He will suffer and die, and Peter rebukes Jesus to which Jesus calls him out for not setting his mind on the things of God. How quickly he went from understanding and accepting the kingdom to opposing it!
If we’re honest, this is how our devotional life can look; maybe we’re on fire on Sunday and then during the week we lose sight of the kingdom. Jesus gives a hard call that those who would follow Him would totally surrender their plans and expectations, give themselves up, and die to their desires, to be a part of His kingdom. But He is the Messiah, the Rescuer; His kingdom is the only one that will stand on the last day.
Matthew 16:13-28
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?
+ Who do the people think Jesus is? Why might they think that based on what we have seen of Jesus’ earthly ministry so far? [13-14]
+ Why does Jesus ask his disciples what they think about him? When Simon Peter responds, what does Jesus say caused him to respond in that way? [16-17]
+ What responsibility does he give to Peter? What power goes with that? [18-19]
+ What does Jesus tell the disciples about his future? [21]
+ Why do you think Peter responds the way he does? What does Jesus’ response to Peter indicate about Peter’s view of the situation? [22-23]
+ What does it mean “to deny yourself and pick up your cross and follow me”? This section is full of paradoxes. How is Jesus’ kingdom flipped from the kingdom of this world? [24-26]
+ Why does Jesus say they should obey this teaching? [27-28]
[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?
+ Is there a sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ It’s not enough to see Jesus just as a holy man, a good teacher, a prophet. He is the Christ, the incarnate God in flesh who saves His people from their sins. You either believe that and are a part of His kingdom or you are not. Ultimately, Jesus will ask each of us this question. Who do you say Jesus is?
+ Evaluate your life choices a minute. Are there places you need to surrender to follow Jesus fully?
[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?
+ What is my next step?