The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Matthew:16:21-28

kjv@Matthew:16:21 @ From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

kjv@Matthew:16:22 @ Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

kjv@Matthew:16:23 @ But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan : thou art an offence unto me : for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

kjv@Matthew:16:24 @ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

kjv@Matthew:16:25 @ For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

kjv@Matthew:16:26 @ For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

kjv@Matthew:16:27 @ For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

kjv@Matthew:16:28 @ Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Today's notes:For My Sake

Context:

Before - Who do they say I am
After - Transfiguration

What is man believing/doing?:

rebuking the Lord
being an offense to the Lord
savoring the things that be not of God
saving life, but losing it
losing life for Christ's sake, finding it in Christ

What is making man to believe/do as he is doing?:

because of the talk of His suffering at other's hands death
speaking against/contrary to Lord's plan
best intentions for Lord in human terms

Notes:

The denial of self/bearing of one's cross is being suggested to a group of men that have already given much of themselves to be here at this point with Jesus. Giving of one's time and vocation, while part of, is not the same as the losing of one's life. In the immediate case it involves getting behind Jesus, allowing Him to do what He needs to get done, to not presume to know what is to follow and what needs or needs not occur. It means to lay aside the offense that yet remains between ourselves and our Lord.

Coming in His Father's glory with His angels may be meant to be similar yet different from coming in His kingdom as it has been divided by what people of that very time would and would not see before their own deaths. Some did see His transfiguration. Some did see His ascension. Some did see the indwelling of His Holy Spirit. And one beloved did see the fuller revelation of the coming final days. No one to this day has seen Him in His Father's glory with angels.

Nothing in all the world could be given by a man in exchange for his soul. What is his to give? Yet the Son of Man gave something of His in exchange for all men's souls. As Son of God through whom all things were created are not all things His? Has He not given all things then in the form of His own life? And for what? Our souls? Who shall it be then to attempt to out bid Christ Jesus?

In that we have nothing to give that is not already His, the losing of our life to find it appears detached from our giving of it in exchange. Perhaps it is not of us to give it, but to follow it; to where ever it is found.

Key Messages:

What does this say about our present condition?

That somehow we know better than the Lord, enough to tell Him to His face what should and should not occur, even with the best human intention.
That a seemingly unfulfilled prophecy of His could mean but the one thing critics most want it to mean, after everything else that has been fulfilled; fulfilled often in the most unpredictable ways.When have His critics been right elsewhere?
Plenty of adjustments can be made to our lifestyle to make it feel as if we have given and have followed. Plenty of weight and suffering can be carried to make it feel that have born. It does not mean however that such has actually been done. If we feel that way it more likely indicates that we actually haven't.

Further Resources:

Comment Board:Matthew:16:21-28
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Matthew:16:21-28 rwp@Matthew:16:21-28 mhcc@Matthew:16:21-28
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index

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