Surrender to The Cross
October 2, 2022
Commentary
Jesus explained to His disciples that His death was near (v. 21). He explained how it would be necessary for Him to go to Jerusalem where He would suffer many things at the hands of the religious leaders, and eventually He would be killed.
Peter hearing these things, took the Lord aside and began to rebuke Him (v. 22). Though he spoke in private, Peter may have had the support of the others on this occasion. He could not understand how Jesus could be Messiah and yet die at the hands of the religious leaders. Until he was filled with the Spirit, he had a tendency to argue with God’s Word.
Peter had become an instrument of Satan, trying to persuade Jesus from becoming the Redeemer. Jesus rebuked Peter by saying “Get out of my way, Satan” (v. 23)! It is very sobering to see how a person as close to the Lord as Peter was, could so easily become an instrument of Satan. The “gentle Jesus” could be very stern when He had to be. He knows when to show us compassion, and He knows when we need correction or rebuke. He always gives us what we need, not what we want.
The Lord goes on to show that discipleship involves a cost (vv. 24-26). He uses the phrase, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (v. 24). To deny self does not necessarily mean to give up things but to give yourself wholly to Christ and identify in His shame and death (vv. 27-28). To take up a cross does not mean to carry burdens or have problems. It simply means making oneself completely available to the master. True disciples have the promise of full reward at His coming (v. 27).
Application
How would I describe my response to Jesus’ call to discipleship? (1) I can identify with Peter, (2) I’ve got a long way to go, (3) I’m doing everything I know right now.
Matthew 16:21– 28 (NET)
21 From that time on Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him: “God forbid, Lord! This must not happen to you!” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.” 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it. 26 For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what can a person give in exchange for his life? 27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. 28 I tell you the truth, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Illustration: Zanzibar’s Quick Surrender
For those who think the coalition troops of Operation Desert Storm must have set some kind of record with their 100-hour ground assault against Iraq, the “record book” of history says otherwise. The shortest war on record was fought between Britain and Zanzibar (now part of Tanzania) on August 27, 1896. The huge British fleet issued an ultimatum to the sultan of Zanzibar, then followed with 38 minutes of bombardment before the badly mismatched sultan surrendered! (Today in the Word, July 3, 1993).