The Cost of Following

Confession and the Way Ahead · Matthew 16

Story guide: Peter resists the path of suffering; Jesus corrects him and calls every disciple to follow at real cost.

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21From 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.

22And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord; this will certainly not happen to you.”

23But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on human concerns.”

24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

26For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?

27For the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will repay each one according to his conduct.

28Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will certainly not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.

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