Matthew 16:21-28
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[a] 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.”
Jesus was the Messiah. But he was not like the Messiah that the disciples expected.
The disciples had discovered who Jesus was. But they did not understand that the Messiah must suffer and die.
Jesus had agreed that Peter’s words were true (verse 16). He was the Messiah for whom everyone was waiting. The disciples must have been very excited. They would want to tell this good news to everyone. But Jesus forbade them to do this (verse 20). Some years later, Matthew saw two reasons for this. First, the disciples must learn the real nature of the Messiah. Then, they must learn the meaning of a real disciple of Jesus. Only then could they really announce that He was the Messiah.
Isaiah 52:13–53:12 described the Messiah. He would not be a great political leader. He would be a servant who suffered. Jesus said that He was going to suffer. But Peter tried to stop Him (verse 22). Peter had always had the normal Jewish hopes. So, he thought that Jesus must not suffer and die. He just could not believe what Jesus was saying.
Jesus had just called Peter a ‘rock’. Now, He said that Peter’s words were from Satan (the devil). Peter did not want to believe Jesus’ teaching. So, Jesus commanded Peter to be quiet. This showed Jesus’ wisdom. Even Peter could not understand the truth. So the disciples needed much more teaching. Only then could they tell other people that Jesus was the Messiah.
Jesus’ death was absolutely necessary. The disciples needed to understand that. Later, Peter understood it more than any of the disciples. (Read Acts 2:23; 3:18 and 1 Peter 1:11.) Peter was clear that Jesus’ death was necessary. It gave full meaning to the OT. But Peter taught more than this. He taught that it was the only way of salvation for men and women. (Read 1 Peter 2:21–24.) Jesus died instead of them. He saved them from the death that they deserved.
What it means to be a real disciple (verses 24–28)
Jesus wanted His disciples to say ‘No’ to themselves. They must obey Him completely, in everything. They must give themselves completely to Jesus. Then they must serve Him. These things are still true for us today. The standards are not just for some special believers. But they are for all those who want to be His disciples. They are for all those who want to share His glory too.
In verses 25–28, Jesus encourages us with three truths.
► The life of a real disciple is the only way to live life properly. It is a life that God approves of.
► Those who follow Jesus will have a reward that lasts for ever. (Read verse 27.)
► Real disciples can know Jesus Christ as king before they die. (Read verse 28.)
The Bible does not say that Jesus’ kingdom will appear at once. There was the time when people expected Jesus’ kingdom. This was in 17:1–8. Then His kingdom came. This happened slowly. First Jesus died and came alive again. He went back to heaven. Then He sent the Holy Spirit. Finally, Jesus will return to earth. Then He will complete His kingdom. Before they died, the disciples had Jesus’ new life in them. They had the Holy Spirit who was living in them.
Questions
1. As Christ’s disciple, what have I lost in this life? What have I gained by being a disciple? Is there something wrong in my life that must go? Decide a definite time when you will do it.
2. Plan a meeting for your church. The subject is: ‘When the Son of Man comes’. What will you include in the meeting?
3. There are three important things. They are: to be humble; to suffer; and to be weak. Non-Christians think of these things as failure. But Jesus was a servant. He suffered much. He died on the cross in great weakness. Does this mean that non-believers can never understand? What is the answer?