Thursday 4 Aug 2022

August 4: Matthew 16:21-23

Key Verse: Matthew 16:21
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Devotion:
One of the hardest things for the disciples to grasp must have been the words Jesus started teaching them from this point onward; about how He would have to face much suffering and eventually be killed. The disciples would not accept this at first because He was their Messiah, and as far as that goes their Messiah should not be able to die!

But Jesus was trying to prepare them for what was going to happen to His physical body knowing full well He would not stay dead and would have to endure this all in order to save us from our sinful ways. How else would a perfect sacrifice be able to be made for our sins. For far too long the people had to sacrifice whatever animals they could get their hands on, trying to ensure they would be free from and damage when the time came to offer them as the sacrifice.

Jesus was without sin and the only perfect sacrifice which could ever be made to cover all of our sins once and for all. He was going to get this done so there would not have to be the continual sacrificing of animals. He was going to the cross so we would not have to!

When the disciples objected, Jesus rebuked them in a very strong manner! Peter wanted none of this to happen because He thought it would not be fair; but Jesus knew this was the only way things could be done. He was willing to step forward and accept this all because of His love for us. This was God’s call and not the call of any human being. This had to be done for us!

Points to Ponder:
Do you ever think about why Jesus did what He did?

Will you remember Jesus today and thank Him for what He did?