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
I love Peter. To me he is the most human person in the Bible. We see him experience soaring highs and devastating lows. Indeed, in this passage we see one of those falls that lay waste to Peter. Immediately after Peter falls flat on his face Jesus tells his disciples that they must “deny themselves and take up their cross.”
I was at a conference once when a man said, “Your brother-in-law is not your cross. He might be a burden, but he is not your cross. Your cross is your discipleship.” For Peter, that meant coming to grips with the fact that Jesus was going to die. His faith wanted Jesus to be a triumphant deliverer not a crucified sacrifice. Jesus called him to believe something different.
So if your brother-in-law is not your cross, what is? Let Jesus challenge you. Peter did and great things happened. (And for the record, none of my six brothers-in-law is a burden.)
Prayer
Jesus, there are so many ways I let you down. Forgive me when I see your cross not as a comfort, but as a burden. Make my faith strong in your love. Amen.