Matthew 16:21-28
Reflect
Matthew records for us a transition point for the disciples. They have grasped that He is the Christ, but now He reveals that He is the Suffering Christ. Peter, being part of Jesus’ inner circle, was abhorrent to this idea. He takes Jesus aside with a well-meaning reprimand from a friend: “God is merciful. May this never happen to You!”. But Jesus continues to turn his understanding upside down. Peter is Christ-centred, but in this passage he is not yet “cross-centred.”
Theologian Frederick Bruner observes that “Satan is the inspirer of human obsessing after greatness and success; God is the inspirer of the divine concern for lowliness and service… Satan leads up, God leads down.” In Peter’s words Jesus recognizes a temptation from Satan: to avoid suffering (see Matt 4:1-11). How we, too, struggle with this temptation! Our culture encourages us to avoid, coverup, outrun, and ignore suffering in any form. But that is not the way of Jesus nor His followers. Instead, we are directed to deny ourselves and take up our cross. This will be nuanced to our own journey with God, and we must each wrestle with it. Ask Holy Spirit to reveal an area in your life where you need to deny the longings of the flesh and/or accept suffering for a season.
Pastor Melissa
Pray
- Pray through the prayer section in our program.
- Pray for our Congregational Life Pastor, Mike Bartusek and his family.
- Pray for Dave Schneider, our Youth and Worship Pastor and Erin Gibbard, Youth Ministry Associate.
- Pray for Karen Alksne, our Congregational Life Ministry Associate.
- Pray for our Hospitality Coordinator, Irene Dickau.