Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection
Are we getting it?
From that time on Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised on the third day.
The disciples learn that Jesus would suffer necessarily. The Lord Jesus gave these men a detailed prediction of His sufferings, death, and resurrection, things that “must” happen
And just when we begin to think that Peter is getting it, he steps up and rebukes Jesus. Clearly, Peter was not infallible! He goes from rock to stumbling block, which is the literal meaning of that word “offense” in verse 23
In light of the path that Jesus took, the path of obedience that accomplished for us our salvation, the question becomes, “Will we follow Him?” He suffered once for all necessarily; we now suffer willingly (vv. 24–28). This is what it means to follow Jesus and be a part of His church. You die to yourself by putting aside self-righteousness, self-indulgence, and everything that belongs to you—your desires, your ambitions, your thoughts, your dreams, and your possessions.
At the same time, you take up your cross (v. 24). For the early disciples, the language of taking up your cross would have immediately brought to mind images of crucifixion. Anyone carrying his cross was a dead man walking. Your life as you once knew it was over.
Verse 27 tells us that the Son of Man is going to come and reward people according to what they have done, and since this coming is imminent, we must be prepared for it.