From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. 22 Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” 23 He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? 27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct. 28 Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Jesus was on his way down to Jerusalem, the city where many prophets were killed (Mt. 23:37). While they were at Caesarea Philippi, Jesus told the disciples about his coming passion at the hands of the religious authorities, and about his resurrection which was God’s plan of salvation for mankind. The elders, the chief priests, and the scribes comprise the Sanhedrin, the official Jewish council in Palestine which was under Roman rule. The disciples would have understood but not wanted to accept Jesus’ comments about suffering at the hands of the religious authorities, but they would have had no understanding of resurrection at that time. Peter took Jesus aside and very strongly expressed his displeasure with Jesus’ revelation. Jesus in turn saw Peter’s remonstration as an attempt by the devil to turn him away from the path God had determined for him which he was willingly taking. This was another temptation by the devil (Lk. 4:1-14).
Jesus then explained what would be demanded of his disciples who must love God, “With your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength (Deut. 6:5).” They must bear their crosses, imitate his life, and submit to God’s will. The penalty for not doing so could be the loss of eternal life which cannot be purchased with riches so they should not seek great wealth or avoid martyrdom. Eternal life is granted based on one’s loyalty to Christ and the works performed in Christ’s name, and one’s works will be judged by Christ himself. Some of the disciples with Jesus will still be alive when the Kingdom of the Risen Christ is established in power.
Almighty God, help us to believe all that Jesus taught and to do all that he commands with the sure and certain faith that as Jesus rose from the dead we will rise to eternal life. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Comments