Matthew 16:13-28

13    Now when Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Human One is?” 

14    They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” 

15    He said, “And what about you? Who do you say that I am?” 

16    Simon Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 

17    Then Jesus replied, “Happy are you, Simon son of Jonah, because no human has shown this to you. Rather my Father who is in heaven has shown you.  ¹⁸  I tell you that you are Peter. And I’ll build my church on this rock. The gates of the underworld won’t be able to stand against it.  ¹⁹  I’ll give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Anything you fasten on earth will be fastened in heaven. Anything you loosen on earth will be loosened in heaven.”  ²⁰  Then he ordered the disciples not to tell anybody that he was the Christ. 

21    From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he had to go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and legal experts, and that he had to be killed and raised on the third day.  ²²  Then Peter took hold of Jesus and, scolding him, began to correct him: “God forbid, Lord! This won’t happen to you.”  ²³  But he turned to Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are a stone that could make me stumble, for you are not thinking God’s thoughts but human thoughts.” 

24    Then Jesus said to his disciples, “All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross, and follow me.  ²⁵  All who want to save their lives will lose them. But all who lose their lives because of me will find them.  ²⁶  Why would people gain the whole world but lose their lives? What will people give in exchange for their lives?  ²⁷  For the Human One is about to come with the majesty of his Father with his angels. And then he will repay each one for what that person has done.  ²⁸  I assure you that some standing here won’t die before they see the Human One^r coming in his kingdom.” 

Listening to God:  Never doubt that there is an Adversary who is eager to bring you down and many others with you.  In fact, if you are about my business in the world you can expect all kinds of opposition.  Don’t waste too much time fighting against these things.  The opposition is too powerful for you.  Instead, trust in my promise that the powers of hell and death will never prevail against my church and my chosen ones.  Faithfully put on all the armor that I have provided for you, and the Adversary cannot touch you.  Keep on being filled with my Spirit every day, and you will be saved.

Journal or lift up your prayers and reflections to God.

It’s a Sabbath Day – in addition to your personal prayer time worship God in community today!  If you are local to the Olathe area, we would love to have you join us for worship at either 10:30am or 5pm.

*Our season of prayer guide comes from Joan Gray’s book, Sailboat Church: Helping Your Church Rethink Its Mission and Practice.