Matthew 16:21-28 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 16:21-28 on biblegateway.com
Verse 21From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. Verse 22And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." Verse 23But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."
Verse 24Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Verse 25For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. Verse 26For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? Verse 27"For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Verse 28Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
Devotion
How often it happens that we, like Peter, stand in league with Satan – not intentionally, not because of great calculating forethought – but because we think we know best. On the heels of having just made his great confession that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, Peter simply can’t wrap his mind around the idea that Jesus must suffer and die for the salvation of the world – that Jesus’ purpose is otherworldly.
Jesus calls us to a task whose purpose we cannot fathom. But rather than trust the leading of the Spirit, we assume we know best – arguing, revising, re-visioning – to make the task fit our understanding of Jesus’ work in the world.
Prayer
Spirit of the Living God, open our ears to hear and our eyes to see so that we readily obey your call to us and so that we will never hear our Lord say, “Get behind me, Satan.” Amen.