Note.—This was the middle of the third year of Christ’s ministry, when he began to announce Himself as a suffering Messiah. It was in the summer of A.D. 29. In connection with the lesson study read the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah, noting each point wherein the Saviour fulfilled the prediction of Him found in this chapter.
21 “From that time began Jesus to show unto His disciples, how that He must go into Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the 22 third day be raised up. And Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him, saying, Be it far from Thee, Lord; this shall 23 never be unto Thee. But He turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind Me, Satan; thou art a stumbling-block unto Me; for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men. 24 Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and 25 follow Me. For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; 26 and whosoever shall lose his life for My sake shall find it. For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life? 27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then shall He render unto every man according to his deeds. 28 Verily I say unto you, There be some of them that stand here, which shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in His kingdom.”
Golden Text: “He was bruised for our iniquities.”Isa. 53:5.
Suggestive Questions.
(1) What did Jesus at this time begin to do? Verse 21. (2) At whose hands would He experience these sufferings? Same verse. (3) To what extent would His sufferings go? Same verse. (4) In what words did He foretell His victory over death? Same verse. Note 1. (5) After the Saviour had thus spoken, what did Peter do? Verse 22. (6) What did he say in regard to the Saviour’s sufferings? Same verse. Note 2. (7) How did the Saviour reply to Peter? Verse 23. Note 3. (8) What did the words of Peter indicate in regard to his condition? Same verse. (9) What did the Saviour then say to His disciples? Verse 24. (10) What will those receive who strive for the rewards of temporal life? Verse 25. (11) What will those receive who are willing to give up this life for the work of the Lord? Same verse. (12) What important question does He ask in regard to the profit of worldly living? Verse 26. (13) What other question did He ask His disciples, and through them the whole world? Same verse. Note 4. (14) What precious promise did the Saviour then make? Verse 27. (15) What will He do at that time? Same verse. Note 5. (16) What remarkable prophecy did the Saviour utter at this time? Verse 28. Note 6.
Notes.
1. And be killed.—He was going to Jerusalem, that this crowning act in the work of redemption might take place at the capital of the Jewish nation, the place of the temple. Thus would the sacrifice be complete, fitting; for here were the continual sacrifices offered which were typical of the Saviour. After the disciples had come to believe in Jesus as the Messiah, then He began to correct their preconceived ideas in regard to what the Messiah should be and do. He tells them of His death now, that when it takes place they may not lose hope and faith.
2. This shall never be unto Thee.—Notwithstanding all that the Saviour had said in regard to His mission, Peter could not see how His work could be successful if He allowed Himself to be killed. He, as well as the Jews in general, was looking for a glorious ushering in of the kingdom, with a king to whom all would be willing to bow in reverence. But the death of the Messiah, Peter thought, would be a death blow to his own hopes. There is no doubt that the tinge of selfishness had been allowed by them, unconsciously, to stain their understanding of the Saviour’s teachings upon this point.
3. Thou art a stumbling-block unto Me.—Peter was placing before Christ a temptation similar to that which He had borne in the wilderness,—the temptation to gain the kingdom in some other way than that appointed from the foundation of the world. Therefore he was a stumbling-block to the Saviour, for he was in reality doing a work similar to that which Satan had done in his temptation. For this reason the answer which He gave to Satan is applicable also to Peter.
4. What shall a man give in exchange for his life. The teacher may bring up the examples of Esau selling his birthright; Judas selling his Lord for gain; and Peter denying Him to escape danger. “There is no compensation for the loss of the soul. All other losses may be repaired. The loss of the soul is without remedy and without hope.”—Peloubet.
5. Then shall He render unto every man according to his deeds.—This sets at rest the question of the time at which the dead will be rewarded. That work will be done when Christ, with His angels, appears in the clouds of heaven. The righteous will at this time be caught up to meet their Lord in the air. 1 Thess. 4: 16, 17. The wicked will be destroyed with the brightness of His coming. 2 Thess. 2: 8.
6. Till they see the Son of man coming in His kingdom.—This was fulfilled on the mount of transfiguration, when Moses, the representative of those raised from the dead, and Elias, the representative of those who shall be translated without seeing death, stood by the Saviour’s side. This was a representation in miniature of the kingdom of Christ. The King was there and also a representative of each class of His subjects.
