Daily Bread

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Whoever Wants to Be Jesus' Disciple

Date: Jul. 31, 2015

Passage

Matthew 16:21-28

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, 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.”

Key Verse: Matthew 16:24

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

First, God's concerns, human concerns (21-23). Jesus began to teach the disciples what the Messiah came to do. He would go up to Jerusalem where he would suffer many things, be killed and then raised to life. This was Jesus' most important mission. Jesus did this to save sinners, like us, from their sins. This is what God wanted. But Jesus' words upset Peter who said he would block this from happening. By not accepting what God wanted, Peter became a stumbling block to Jesus and an instrument of Satan.

Second, too follow Jesus (24-28). To be a disciple of Jesus requires denying one's own sinful ideas and passions, to take up one's cross and to follow Jesus. Instead of trying to save himself in this world, as Peter was trying to do, a disciple must lose his life for Jesus. But Jesus also promises that genuine disciples will find life. They will be rewarded for what they have done for him when he comes again.

Prayer: Lord, may your concerns be my concerns. Please help me to deny myself, take up my cross and follow Jesus everyday.

One Word: Be a genuine disciple of Jesus

God is Our Deliverer

Psalm 78:40-72

Key Verse: 78:65

Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
like a strong man shouting because of wine.

Today's Question

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