Tuesday 24 April 2012

Day 22: Matthew 16

Jesus is the Christ who will suffer, but the disciples, who will suffer, don't get it

What a chapter! After Jesus has been making the blind see, the deaf hear, the mute speak, feeding well over 9,000 people with a packed lunch, the Pharisees demand a sign! They don't get another one, those who don't have even what they have will be taken, only Jesus death and resurrection. The disciples still don't understand parables, even though He can't be complaining they don't have enough bread! But they do understand who Jesus is (kind of), but this is revealed to them by God. Their recognition of Him will be the foundation of the church that will storm the gates of Hades, rescuing sinners from the clutches of death- what they do here on Earth will have eternal consequences.

But they don't understand that Jesus must suffer. Jesus even calls Peter Satan as he tempts Jesus with a cross-less Christianity- satanic thinking being the thoughts of men. Jesus goes on to explain its necessity and also the fact they too will carry a cross and suffer and die. The way of discipleship is the way of the cross.

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