Matthew 16:21-23

A prediction of suffering, death and resurrection Matthew 16:21-23 : There was no way for Jesus or His disciples but the way of the cross. "From that time Jesus began to show to 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 the third day." (Matthew 16:21)

Peter rebuked Jesus for talking about suffering, dying, and being resurrected. Jesus called him "Satan." "...Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." (Matthew 16:23) Satan was using Peter to speak a message to Jesus. Satan uses many voices today to have his message heard.

We must understand the necessity of the cross if we are to understand Christianity. Christianity would make no sense apart from the sacrifice of Jesus. What a shock it must have been to the disciples when Jesus told them that (1) He would suffer at Jerusalem, (2) that He would suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, (3) that He would be killed, and (4) That He would be raised again the third day. Jerusalem was the city of sacrifices where our Passover Lamb died for our sins. (1 Corinthians 5:7) John the Baptist had said "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1:29)