Scripture Story for the Week
Pondering Point
As you read today's story, don’t be too hard on the disciple Peter. While known for being brash and quick-to-speak, he was ‘all in’ with Jesus. But all in does not mean all-understanding, as we see in this up-and-down episode from Peter’s life.
But Peter is hardly the only Jesus-follower to have certain things figured out in relation to God (16:16) while still being way off in other areas (16:23).
We should all operate with a steady dose of humility about how we understand things, particularly in situations where we disagree with brothers and sisters in Christ.
“I got it” and “say what?”
Matthew 16:13-28
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah
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,[b] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[c] will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[e] loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
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[f] 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.”
Footnotes:
[b] Matthew 16:18 The Greek word for Peter means rock.
[c] Matthew 16:18 That is, the realm of the dead
[d] Matthew 16:19 Or will have been
[e] Matthew 16:19 Or will have been
[f] Matthew 16:25 The Greek word means either life or soul; also in verse 26.
Prayer
Father God, grant me a strong mix of wisdom and humility as I follow you. Please correct my errant assumptions about the way You operate and serve, connect and love Your people. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
The Sabbath is to a spirit of restfulness what a soccer practice is to a match or band practice is to a show. It's how we practice, how we prepare our minds and bodies for the moments that matter most.
~ J.M. Comer, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, p. 150