From Rock to Stumbling Block

In Matthew 16:13-28, Jesus is now starting to get more direct with helping his disciples understand who He really is, and what that identity entails. Peter is the point person for Jesus’ questions, and he’s taught a hard lesson. He gets it but he doesn’t and Jesus pulls no punches to make the truth stick. One moment confessing Jesus as the Son of God, he then tries to prevent the necessary suffering that must take place to fulfill God’s plan. As kindhearted as this may seem at first, it is a totally human perspective that lines up more with Satan’s thinking than God’s. And not only will our Savior suffer, if we are his disciples we will, too.