Who is Jesus like? Vv. 18-21 The identity of Jesus, the Messiah from God, was proclaimed by the angel (2:21). Simon praised this (2:26) and the evil spirit knew this too (4:41). Jesus also showed who he was through his ministry. Finally, after the miracle of five loaves and two fish, Peter confessed in public that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus waited until the disciples understood and confessed this truth on their own. Vv. 21, 22 Jesus is the Christ to suffer, die and be resurrected. Jesus warned Peter to not to tell others because the Messiah (Christ) they were expecting was different from Jesus. To Jesus, obedience to God was more important than making people happy. His purpose was not to bring glory to himself, but to save people and raise the dead. What lesson is God teaching me? Vv. 23-25 The way of the Lord is the way his disciples have to go through. As the Lord obeyed to the point of death, his disciples also had to deny their own desires, possessions, and even lives, taking their cross. They had to give up their own kingdoms and surrender to the kingdom of God. We have to stop our greedy competition, ignoring others’ safety to be safe ourselves, taking others' resources and making war. V. 26 Anyone, who does not surrender to the world during times of trouble and is not ashamed of the Lord, keeping his Word, is his disciple. Be careful to not to be put to shame on the day the Lord returns with his holy angels, because you were trying to grasp futile honor and glory in this world.
Lord, let me live as a peacemaker, practicing self-denial and sacrifice.
