Jesus’ predicts His death the first time in an unsettling passage that makes clear redemption will come at a cost. The redemptive suffering of Jesus brings into focus how much a world needs meaning in what can often seem like meaningless suffering.
(Matthew 16:21-28)
Sermon Outline
“From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things…and that he must be killed and on the third day raised to life.” (Matthew 16:21)
A Different Sort of Messiah (Matthew 16:21)
- “From that time on…”
- The suffering Messiah
- The resurrected Messiah
Confusion About the Messiah (Matthew 16:22-23)
- Peter’s rebuke
- Jesus’ rebuke of Peter’s rebuke
- The concerns of God versus the concerns of humanity
A Different Sort of Discipleship (Matthew 16:24-28)
- Discipleship is shaped by a Cross
- Discipleship loses one’s life in order to find it
- Discipleship lives in light of the coming glory of Jesus
A Different Sort of Peace in Jesus
- Seeing Jesus as Messiah in His own way
- Encountering the Cross of Jesus the Messiah
- Living in the Cross of Jesus the Messiah until full glory arrives
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- When have you experienced generous provision for a need in your life? What happened?
- This week we begin a new series, “‘Tis the Reason”, which mirrors the Advent journey. We look today at Matthew 16:21-28. Begin your study in prayer by asking God to speak to you through the Scripture. Then, whether you’re on your own or with others, read that passage aloud.
- How would you summarize Jesus’ depiction of His way as the Messiah in verse 21?
- Why do you think this might have been confusing or shocking to people in Jesus’ time?
- In the immediately preceding passage, 16:13-20, Peter has offered one of the most striking and insightful declarations about Jesus. Now, Peter shockingly rebukes Jesus. Why do you think Peter does this after only recently declaring Jesus as Messiah?
- Jesus’ in turn rebukes Peter because “you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” What do you think it means to have only human concerns but miss the concerns of God?
- Jesus goes on to describe the life of His disciples in verses 24-26. What would you say are the identifying characteristics of Jesus’ disciples here?
- What do you think it means to live out that sort of discipleship in your everyday life? What do you find easiest or most difficult about this?
- This passage concludes with Jesus’ describing His coming glory in verses 27-28. What do you think this means and why is it here?
- What is one thing God is speaking to you through this study? If you’re on your own, write that down, pray over it, and share it with someone this week. If you are with a small group, share your answers with one another before closing in prayer.
DIG DEEPER
- Memorize Matthew 16:21 or 16:24
- Journal, draw, paint, or ink this episode of Jesus’ teaching and His interaction with Peter and the other disciples. As you do this, ask God to help you grow in understanding what He wants to speak to you about your relationship with Christ.
- Reread the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) in light of Jesus’ description of discipleship here in Matthew 16:24-26. As you read, lay areas of your life down before the Lord, confess sin that God brings to your mind, and invite Jesus to be Lord of your life in new ways.
- Consider reading further on the topics of this passage with John Stott’s The Cross of Christ or Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship.