21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Jesus began to explain to the disciples that it was necessary for Him to go to Jerusalem, suffer, die, and be raised. Without this, the Father’s will and the salvation of people could not be accomplished. Peter was still focussed on the idea that Jesus was going to establish His kingdom immediately and Jesus’ death didn’t fit in his paradigm. Peter, who had just been commended for recognising the truth (“You are the Christ”) is now rebuked for resisting the truth. Satan was behind Peter’s opposition. If Jesus had listened to Peter and not gone to the cross, then none of us could be saved. Sometimes (maybe more often than not) God’s ways don’t line up with our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9) as we see in the very next paragraph. May we not be too bold and declare how God should act based on our point of view but may we humbly obey His Word and trust Him completely to do what is best.
Following Jesus is about delayed gratification. The world says “you can have it all now.” Jesus says, “deny yourself now and you will be rewarded in heaven.” The world promises wealth that might last as long as you live (Jas 4:14). Jesus promises wealth that will last eternity—but you must deny yourself in this life. Live for now and you might receive the glory of men. Live for Jesus and “He will repay each person according to what he has done.” To maximise this life is to live for self in the dog-eat-dog world where the rich get richer and everyone else doesn’t matter. To maximise reward for eternity is to deny yourself, take up your cross (every day—Luke 9:23) and follow Jesus.
Verse 28 seems difficult to understand because all of Jesus’ disciples have died and Jesus still hasn’t returned in His Kingdom. But three of the disciples (Peter, James, and John) got to see Jesus in the full glory that He will one day return in on the mount of transfiguration (the next chapter). Peter later referred to this event as the “power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:16).