Monday, August 24, 2026

Matthew 16:21 

From that time on [after Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Christ], Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 

Peter was the first disciple to call Jesus the Messiah. And Jesus was truly amazed that Peter had made that connection because Jesus was not acting like a Messiah. Everyone expected the Messiah to be a military leader who would gather armies to overthrow the Roman occupiers. That certainly was not what Jesus was doing. 

So, seizing the opportunity, Jesus decided it was time to reveal to his disciples what the Messiah’s true mission was… to “undergo great suffering”, “be killed”, and “on the third day be raised.” He knew this would be difficult to understand because that was not the Messiah they were taught to hope for. 

In corporate America, this is like a “re-org”. It is changing the whole mission of a company. The old way of doing things is not going to be accepted any longer. And for those of you who have lived through it, it is not fun. For the disciples, it had to have hit with the same weight as other things Jesus said; like, “Love your enemies”, “pray for those who persecute you,” and “Forgive the person who wrongs you 70 times 7 times.”  

Our heads spin when we hear Jesus’ words; the disciples must have felt that way, too.  

– Pr. Paul

Lord Jesus, two thousand years later we still struggle to understand your suffering and death, and how deeply your love for each of us runs. Nevertheless, teach our hearts to keep praying “thy kingdom come; thy will be done.” Amen.