Matthew 16:21–27
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.”
Commentary
Last Sunday we saw how Jesus realized his true identity, values and purpose. Today, we continue with Jesus in the later stage of his journey as what is said in Hebrews 12:2 “keep your eyes fixed on Jesus…who leads us in our firth and brings it to perfection.”
Today’s Gospel reading can be divided into two sections: the narrative section covering verses 21 to 23, and the collection of sayings section running from verse 24 to 27. The order of the two is very traditional in the Bible. If we read the Bible carefully, we soon notice that after teaching immediately follows narrative. It happens in today’s reading as well. Translating this biblical approach in modern language it means truth flows from experience.
It is at the moment of truth in Jesus’ life after realizing his true identity that he decides to go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed. It is also at this moment of truth of his life that he convinces that on the third day he will be raised.
This moment of truth in Jesus’ life is what Charles Dickens described that it is the best moment and it is also the worst moment. It is the best moment for Jesus because he has gathered plentiful fruits in his ministry in Galilee in the north of Palestine. Large crowds follow him and his fame spread even throughout Syria (see Matthew 4:23-25). On the other hand, it is also his worst moment because religious leaders in Jerusalem have felt the threats posted by Jesus and decided to do him away. Jesus decides to face them in their territory, Jerusalem. The coming confrontation between Jesus and the religious leaders will be the moment of truth about Jesus’ true identity and God’s salvation.
We may pause for a moment to be with Jesus to sense and feel how he choose a course of action that would cause hurt to people who he loves, his mother, his disciples, but he accepts it fully basing on his understanding of his life journey.
If we can’t pause here long enough to feel how Jesus feels we can’t know how we choose in our life. It is only after we have experienced how hard it is to make choices, then we would understand Jesus’ exhortation: “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.”
Of course, nowadays, there are many cheap, easy and painless ways to make choices as suggested by Peter: “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” How many times we ask not to drink the cup in our prayers? How often do we resort to off-shelf “help yourself chicken soup for soul” solutions to our problems? But Jesus knows how to choose! So, help me Jesus to make choice as you do. And help me to get rid of my disordered affections. Amen.