Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus asking for a sign. Jesus says an evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign, but the only sign given is the sign of Jonah. He left them. The disciples forgot bread, Jesus warned them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They misunderstood and Jesus said they had little faith, He can provide bread, beware of false teaching. People were asking who Jesus is, Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said he is blessed because the Father revealed it to him, not flesh and blood. Then he said, “you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 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.” He told the disciples not to tell anyone He was the Christ. Jesus then began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and raised from the dead on the third day. Peter rebuked Jesus that this shouldn’t happen. Jesus 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 said that if anyone would follow Him he or she must deny himself, take up his or her cross, and follow Jesus. Don’t seek to gain the world and lose your soul. Jesus will come with glory in judgment. Some there won’t taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.
Jesus is God’s Savior. God keeps His promise to save His people. Jesus’ death and resurrection is the only way that salvation can be accomplished and applied to God’s people. And for the first time we see that God is going to unite a new people together through the blood of Christ – the church. Jesus is worth giving up everything for. Will you give up the things of this world to be found in the righteousness of Jesus Christ when He comes in glory to judge the living and the dead?