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Matthew 16:16-26; Matthew 4:1-11
As we talked about last week, when Jesus said to Peter, "On this rock I will build my church," Jesus did not mean that the church would be built on the person or personality of Peter. While some take this literal approach to what Jesus said, this can not be right. Why? Because Peter was a man and men always fail us. If you put your trust in a person, even if it is a faithful, trusted friend, eventually that person will disappoint you.
We see in versus 21 and 22 that Peter fails Jesus by trying to tell Jesus that his plan is a mistake. Peter and the disciples were expecting Jesus to take down the Roman rulers and planned for Jesus sit on the throne of a physical kingdom. Jesus then corrects Peter and says, "Peter, get behind me Satan. You have no idea how God works."
Jesus nailed Peter and called him Satan because Jesus knew that Satan was working in Peter's heart which broke Jesus' heart. Jesus was teaching us here that Peter -- representing all of us -- does not understand the mind of God because humans are selfish. It is our core sin. One pastor says we are all founding members of the cult of self-absorption. Jesus was never concerned with an earthly power struggle; he was and is only concerned with giving every human being personal access to our creator God.
Next Jesus says access to God is simple. Matthew 16:24-26 says,
Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 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?"
What? Here Jesus throws down the most difficult challenge. He demands that we give up what we want and follow what he has planned for our lives. And, he promises a win-win. If we follow Jesus, we are promised a full life on this earth and eternal life with God in heaven.
God will work his plan in your life if you make yourself available. Stop doing what pleases you or comes to your mind out of survival instincts. Turn in your membership in the cult of self-absorption. Give up self and listen to the still small voice of God.
