Who's Ashamed of Whom? Follow Christ to the Cross

Matthew 16 puts Peter’s good confession right next to Peter’s bad thinking. Peter had said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” and Jesus commended that confession. But Jesus then plainly says that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and rise on the third day. Jesus makes it clear that salvation is 100% Jesus Christ and 0% Peter.

Peter cannot handle that word. Peter takes Jesus aside and rebukes Him, as though Peter knows better than the Son of God what the Messiah ought to do. Peter wants a Christ who fits his own picture, his own goals, and his own ideas. Jesus answers with strong words, “Get behind Me, Satan,” because Peter has set his mind on the things of men rather than the things of God.

The theology of glory always pulls faith away from the cross and puts the focus back on man. The theology of glory centers on man’s decision, works, deeds, feelings, and ability. Peter had wanted to stay on the Mount of Transfiguration, where there was glory and no suffering. But Jesus refuses every shortcut, every easy way out, and every human plan that would keep Him from the cross.

The cross reveals divine wisdom and divine power where human ideas see foolishness and offense. Jesus becomes the casualty whose death furnishes victory for His people. Jesus suffers, dies, and rises because sinful humanity cannot save itself from sin, self, or its own false ideas about faith. Satan continually tries to move the eyes of faith away from Christ crucified and toward possessions, recognition, comfort, and self.

The question becomes, who is ashamed of whom? The love of family, houses, cars, cabins, applause, or a name in lights can become idolatry when those things matter more than Christ. Luther’s word stands firm: whatever is loved most is God. Jesus does not call His disciples to a lukewarm faith or a balanced faith where Christ gets only part of life.

Jesus calls anyone who would follow Him to deny self, take up the cross, and follow Him. The theology of the cross does not promise escape from sickness, suffering, death, ridicule, or the anger of the world. Christ does promise that every temptation has been faced and defeated by Him, and every sin has been placed upon Him. Christ’s death and resurrection make Peter’s confession an absolute, bona fide, 100% guarantee: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Salvation is Christ’s work alone Jesus does not need Peter’s plan, strength, or correction to accomplish redemption. Christ goes to the cross because sinners cannot do the work themselves. Faith rests not on human effort but on the finished work of Christ crucified and risen. [24:02]
• 2. Theology of glory centers on man The theology of glory sounds religious, but it quietly makes man the anchor of faith. It prefers success, comfort, feelings, and visible glory over a Savior who suffers. The cross tears down every confidence that begins and ends with self. [27:20]
• 3. Every rival love becomes an idol Possessions, family, approval, and recognition become dangerous when they are trusted more than Jesus. Self-worship does not always look loud or obvious, but it still puts the creature where Christ alone belongs. Christ calls for full devotion because no earthly thing can bear the weight of salvation. [33:10]
• 4. Christ calls disciples to carry crosses Jesus does not hide the reality of suffering from those who follow Him. The cross includes hardship, ridicule, sickness, and loss, yet none of those things mean Christ has abandoned His people. Christ has already endured, defeated, and transformed suffering through His own cross and resurrection. [39:24]
• 5. Christ’s victory gives certain hope Every temptation has already met Christ, and every sin has already been laid on Him. Christ’s resurrection means that forgiveness is not wishful thinking or a temporary feeling. Peter’s confession stands as a sure confession because Jesus truly is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [10:03] - Gospel Reading
• [20:20] - Who’s Ashamed of Whom?
• [22:08] - Peter’s Confession and Peter’s Rebuke
• [22:59] - Jesus Must Suffer and Rise
• [24:20] - Get Behind Me, Satan
• [26:52] - The Theology of Glory
• [29:47] - God’s Way Is the Cross
• [32:52] - What Is Loved Most?
• [36:14] - No Shortcuts and No Quick Fixes
• [39:24] - Deny Self and Take Up the Cross
• [42:32] - Christ’s Victory and Certain Salvation
• [43:32] - Seventy-Five Years of Grace

Bible Reading

Matthew 16:21-24
“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. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.’ 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.’ Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’”
[22:55] [24:27] [24:36] [39:24]

Matthew 16:16
“Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’”
[22:26]

Mark 8:34
“And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’”
[39:24]

1 Corinthians 1:18
“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

Observation questions

1. What does Jesus say must happen to Him in Matthew 16:21, and which groups does He name as those who will cause Him to suffer? [22:55]
2. What sharp contrast appears between Peter’s confession in Matthew 16:16 and his response when Jesus speaks about suffering and death?
3. According to Jesus’ words to Peter, what is the difference between setting the mind on “the things of God” and “the things of man”? [24:36]
4. What specific examples are named as things that can compete with love and trust in Jesus? [33:10]

Interpretation questions

1. Peter correctly calls Jesus “the Christ, the Son of the living God,” yet he rejects Jesus’ path to the cross. How can a person speak true words about Jesus while still wanting Jesus to fit personal goals, comfort, or expectations? [25:28]
2. Why is Peter’s attempt to keep Jesus from suffering such a serious hindrance to God’s plan of salvation? What would be lost if Jesus had taken the easy path instead of going to the cross? [30:37]
3. The theology of glory places confidence in human decisions, works, feelings, and ability. In what ways can these things quietly become the anchor of a person’s faith rather than Christ crucified? [27:37]
4. Jesus calls disciples to deny themselves and take up their cross. How is this different from trying to earn salvation through suffering, effort, or religious activity? [42:50]

Application questions

1. When have you been tempted to say, in effect, “Lord, this does not fit my picture of You”? What difficult circumstance, unanswered prayer, or biblical teaching has made that temptation real for you? [25:57]
2. What is most likely to draw your attention away from Christ: comfort, possessions, approval, family expectations, success, or self-reliance? What would trusting Christ more than that rival love look like this week? [33:20]
3. Where do you most feel the pull to seek applause, recognition, or the approval of others? How might that desire make it harder to speak or live openly as a follower of Jesus? [35:18]
4. Jesus does not promise shortcuts, quick fixes, or a life free from suffering. What cross or hardship are you carrying right now, and how does Christ’s own suffering and victory give strength for it? [37:47]
5. Denying self means refusing to make yourself the center. What is one practical decision—at home, at work, online, or in a relationship—where you could choose faithfulness to Christ over protecting your own comfort or image? [39:37]
6. Every temptation has been faced and defeated by Christ, and every sin has been laid upon Him. In what area do you especially need to rest in Christ’s forgiveness instead of relying on guilt, effort, or self-improvement? [42:50]
7. Peter’s confession is certain because Jesus truly died and rose again. How can the words, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” shape the way you face fear, suffering, or uncertainty in the coming days? [43:10]