A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

JESUS MUST DIE – Part 2     

Matthew 16:22-23 “Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” 

God’s way is not man’s way. Peter and the disciples often were not in sync with Jesus. In regard to Jesus telling them He “must be killed,” (verse 21) Peter’s response (today’s devotional verses) was to “rebuke Him. . . ‘Never, Lord!’” he said to Jesus. Jesus then said to Peter, “. . .you do not have in mind the concerns of God.” God sent Jesus into the world “. . . to be a propitiation (atoning sacrifice) for our sins.” (1 John 4:10) Hebrews 9:22 says “. . . without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” 

While many wanted Jesus to establish an earthly kingdom and some do yet today, Jesus came to present Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. Isaiah prophesied He would be, “. . . pierced for our transgressions . . . crushed for our iniquities . . . the punishment that brought us peace (would be placed) on him, and by His wounds, we (would be) healed.”(Isaiah 53:5) Peter’s words pick up on Isaiahs, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)  

Peter had it all wrong. Jesus must die! (Matthew 16:21) Jesus said to him, “you do not have in mind the concerns of God.” His death, the shedding of His blood on Calvary’s cross was the atoning sacrifice for our sins and not only for ours but for the sins of the entire world. God desired the salvation of all people. Only His Son could bring that about. Only Jesus’ shed blood has the cleansing power to wash away your sins and the sins of all people.  

Prayer: Jesus Savior wash away, all that I have done wrong today. Amen. 

How wide the love of Christ! It knows not class or race  
But holds our one humanity Within its broad embrace. 

How long the love of Christ! Its patience will not cease  
Until this broken world is bound In everlasting peace. 

How high the love of Christ! Beyond all thought it soars,  
And yet upon our passing lives Unmeasured mercy pours. 

How deep the love of Christ, Descending to a cross!   
He bears within His wounded hands All human pain and loss. 

All praise to You, O Christ, For love whose depth and height,  
Whose length and breadth fill time and space With endless life and light.  

How Wide the Love of Christ // LSB 535