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Matthew 16

Matthew 16

Show us a sign!  As if He hasn’t shown them enough all ready.  The religious leaders want proof He’s God!  You can see the weather moving in and no it’s gonna storm, but you can’t see what’s happening with the world around you!  Wicked look for a sign.  The sign of Jonah will be all you get.  Basically that’s what Jesus tells them.  Any guesses what He means by the sign of Jonah?

Oh man… we forgot to bring something to eat!  Mark 8 records the Disciples fear in a bit more detail.  Seems like a valid concern.  The set out across the water and brought very little to eat.  Why does Jesus rebuke their fear?

Who do you say I am, Jesus asks?
“Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”” Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Jesus goes on to tell Peter that on THIS rock I will build my church.   The  “rock” Jesus is referring to here, is NOT Peter himself, but more appropriately his confession of faith.   In fact it’s not even specifically Peter’s confession of faith, but the Gospel it’s self.  He continues explaining in more detail!

Jesus then moves to begin explaining to them what is going to happen to Him.  When He refers to His arrest, beating, and crucifixion, Peter responds “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”” Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬.

“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.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Peter wasn’t thinking Big Picture!  Peter was thinking immediate circumstances and comfort.  Peter was looking at Jesus death’ much like we look at death ourselves.  But truly “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain”, according to Paul in Phil 1:21.  Read on in Matthew 16 to see why Jesus responds so harshly.  

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬
Humbling ourselves, denying what we (our flesh) wants and living in obedience to Jesus is what He asks of us.  Living with a heavenly perspective - big picture!  We should be more concerned about FOREVER - where and how we will spend it than we are our temporary time here in earth.