Daily Bread

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Take Up Your Cross

Date: Jul. 17, 2021

Passage

Matthew 16:21-28

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

21 From that time 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 on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 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? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Key Verse: Matthew 16:25

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

When Jesus revealed the suffering he would experience, Peter took him aside like a protective service agent and denounced any of it would ever come to him. Peter was telling Jesus that suffering is something that can and should be avoided. In response, Jesus gave one of his harshest rebukes recorded, saying, “Get behind me, Satan!”

Life is precious, but one cannot live life trying to avoid or deny suffering without losing oneself in the process. Instead, Jesus said that one must deny themselves and take up their cross. Be courageous and vulnerable, and expect the inevitable mistakes, failure, pain, and rejection. If we could avoid all of that, we would have no need for a savior. A life lived without suffering may not experience the stuff of real life, which includes grace, redemption, gratitude, joy, and love. Suffering also produces in us compassion for others who are suffering.

Prayer: Prayer: Lord, thank you for coming as the Savior of humanity, as the Messiah who is familiar with suffering. May we take off the armor of fear and insecurity and, even in our shame, experience your saving grace. Sow seeds of your kingdom from the remnants

One Word: One Word: Experience loss, find your soul.

We Are Your Sheep, Lord

Psalm 79:1-13

Key Verse: 79:13

But we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

Today's Question

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