The Fifth Sunday in Lent (GA)

Matthew 16:13-23
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
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.”
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Mt 16:13–23). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Jesus predicts his death and resurrection. Jesus Christ has to teach his disciples that he will sufer and die. He needs to remind his disciples that all these things must take place to fulfill scripture. It would be difficult for any of us to stand in Peter's place.

If I told you that I needed to die in order to save someone else or prevent the world coming to an end, what would you say? Most of us would say there must be another way. We will come up with reasons why this thought process is wrong. We may even go to the extent of placing me in some kind of psychiatric care.

But this is simply because we do not have our mind set things greater or the things of God. Jesus Christ had to repeat this message to his disciples, because this is what it means to be the Christ the son of the Living God. The Son of God must be handed over to the Chief Priests Scribes and Pharisees to be crucified die and buried. He will then rise on the third day. Why must these things take place, because he is the sacrifice for the forgiveness of all sins.

The Son of God has the plan of God in mind. The Son of Man has the plan for mankind in mind. The Son of Jonah has the things of man on his mind. The Son of Jonah would definitely be wrapped up in his own issues. Thus, God continues to remind us of his plan for the forgiveness of your sins.