Chapter 16
21From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to
Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and
teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to
life. 22Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said.
“This shall never happen to you!” 23Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind
me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of
God, but the things of men.” 24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would
come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For
whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will
find it. 26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits
his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27For the Son of Man
is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward
each person according to what he has done. 28I tell you the truth, some who are
standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his
kingdom.”
Meditation:
1. Peter didn’t like the idea of Christ facing death by crucifixion. So he urged
Jesus to avoid it! Jesus angrily pushed him away for he lacked the perspective
of God. Every disciple must learn to look at his or her life from God’s
perspective and “take up his cross and follow”. Not that we will literally be
crucified, our cross doesn’t represent suffering or death. Instead, the cross
represents the plan and purpose of God for each of us that we need to find
and do, just like Jesus did.
2. It often seems to us that if we do the will of God, we will “lose our life”.
However, the truth is that we will only “gain” our life and become what we
most desire to be when we do the will of God each day.
3. What perspective do I gain on my current priorities from Jesus’ “gain and
lose” teaching (vv25-26)?
Personal Notes:
1. What's the plan and purpose for me in this season of my life? Faithfully training and equipping brothers and sisters in Crossroad to become mature disciples of Jesus Christ. Plan and prepare for wedding. What does God want me to be and do at this season of my life?
2. I often want to save my life through my own efforts and agendas. In the past, I thought that getting good grades, making myself to become popular, trying to be cool, working out to look fit, making lots of money by being a master trader will save my life and I would be happy. I did not care much about the will of God, but rather care about my own selfish well being. I pretty much had no life throughout those years in my life when I turn away from God. I reflected back at the time I was willing to lose and give up my life to God. I was willing to give up more time, energy, $$$, heart, and my own desires to God. I finally find a life and I now have purpose and meaning in life.
3. How does this apply TODAY?
Am I willing to sacrifice more of my heart, energy, time, and $$$ for Jesus Christ? (It belongs totally to Him anyways in the first place)
Am I willing to lose my life by faith knowing Jesus Christ will deliver me by His miraculous ways?
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