Big Idea
This month's memory verse
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
Peter’s Declaration about Jesus
13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”*16:13 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.
14“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
15Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah,* the Son of the living God.”
17Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John,*16:17 Greek Simon bar-Jonah; see John 1:42; 21:15-17. because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’),*16:18a Greek that you are Peter. and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell*16:18b Greek and the gates of Hades. will not conquer it.19And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid*16:19a Or bind, or lock. on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit*16:19b Or loose, or open. on earth will be permitted in heaven.”
20Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Jesus Predicts His Death
21From then on Jesus* began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.
22But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him* for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!”
23Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”
24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.26And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?*16:26 Or your self? also in 16:26b. Is anything worth more than your soul?27For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.28And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”