God's Gospel Truths
Matthew 16:21-28
Jesus Predicts His Death
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.”
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Pondering Point
Jesus was not surprised by the events that transpired the night of His arrest. He was not surprised by the actions of the chief priests, or of Judas in the betrayal, or of the other disciples in running away. One might claim He was in total control (likely a true statement) but this might be better characterized as being in total compliance with the will of the Father. He knew that the path to the cross was the plan from the beginning – and was OK with letting it play out for our sake.
Prayer for the Day
Father God,
You had a cross designated for Your Son Jesus to experience, a crucifixion that would bring life to the world through His sacrifice. He embraced that path to the cross with passion and love for us, and with a spirit submitted to Your will. Jesus has taught us that we also have a cross to bear;
Enable us by Your Holy Spirit to embrace Your plans for us with a passion and love for You, and with a spirit submitted to Your will. In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
To wind down this chapter, let me just speak from the heart. I deeply enjoy the practice of Sabbath. For me it's not a legalistic hangover from some fundamentalist shtick but a practice from the way of Jesus, a delivery system for life.
~ J.M. Comer, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, pp. 172, 173