From that time on, Jesus taught His disciples of how He would have to go to Jerusalem and suffer at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law, and that He would be killed but on the third day be raised to life.
Peter took Jesus aside and told Him that that was never going to happen to Him.
Jesus rebuked Peter and said to get behind Him Satan because he was a stumbling block who only had human interests in mind.
Jesus spoke to all of His disciples and said that whoever wants to be His disciples must take up their cross and follow Him. Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good is it to gain the whole world and yet forfeit your soul? What can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father’s glory with the angels and reward each person according to what they have done.
Jesus also said that the truth is there were some standing there that would not taste death before they saw the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.
This is a tough passage. It’s tough because Jesus calls us to an obedience that goes beyond a checklist. If we are going to be His disciple…we must die to ourself as we follow His example. In fact, He says what good is it to have everything else but lose your soul because you weren’t willing to lose your life? ITS NOT ABOUT US. It’s not about our wants, opinions, or desires. It’s about dying to all of that so we can focus solely on the mission at hand. How’s your walk with Jesus? Have you been dying to yourself in order to follow Him? Or have you been more like Peter…focused more on the human interests? It’s a tough passage, but it’s what Jesus calls us to. Are you willing?
A Journey With Jesus 