Post by Woody Williams on Oct 2, 2024 8:04:00 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- Matthew 16:21-28
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From 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. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying,
‘God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.’ But 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.’
Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers,
let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For
those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose
their life for my sake will find it. For 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?
‘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. Truly
I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death
before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.’
Devotional
----------
Very quickly Jesus was moving toward the climax of his incarnational
purpose - death on a cross. Peter and the others did not understand
the need for a death that fulfills the role of the Suffering Servant
Messiah in revealing God's love through self-giving. Notice in the
text that disciples are called to live out that same self-giving love
to others. Jesus' death reveals the depth of God's love and invites
us to find the true meaning of our lives in the gift of sharing God's
love.
Prayer
------------
Holy Spirit, grant me the courage of faith to love as a disciple of
the Suffering Servant. Amen
----------
From 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. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying,
‘God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.’ But 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.’
Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers,
let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For
those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose
their life for my sake will find it. For 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?
‘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. Truly
I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death
before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.’
Devotional
----------
Very quickly Jesus was moving toward the climax of his incarnational
purpose - death on a cross. Peter and the others did not understand
the need for a death that fulfills the role of the Suffering Servant
Messiah in revealing God's love through self-giving. Notice in the
text that disciples are called to live out that same self-giving love
to others. Jesus' death reveals the depth of God's love and invites
us to find the true meaning of our lives in the gift of sharing God's
love.
Prayer
------------
Holy Spirit, grant me the courage of faith to love as a disciple of
the Suffering Servant. Amen