When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
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.
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Matthew 16:13-24

Peter gets the title of Jesus right, but gets the character of Jesus wrong.

The Great Reversal

Jesus is the promised Messiah, but Jesus fills out what it means to be the Messiah in a way that was totally unexpected.

Jesus’ entire life and ministry is one giant reversal.

Bottom Line

Jesus is a cross-shaped Messiah and we are to be a cross-shaped people.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Matthew 16:24

If we are going to be faithful to the way of Jesus, we actually have to follow the way of Jesus.

Action Steps

Do you want to become a follower of Jesus?

Where is Jesus inviting you to live a cross-shaped life?

• In your marriage? 
• In your parenting?
• In your workplace?
• In your neighborhood? 
  

What will this look like in action?