Verse of the Day (June 27, 2020)

Verse of the Day (June 27, 2020) #BMSeminary – {vv. 21-28} Entrance into the reign of God is a valuable treasure and a great joy to those who experience it (13:44–46), but it involves the hardship of living in a way that is out of step with a sin-ravaged world. For Jesus, this meant experiencing the shame of rejection from the intellectual elites of his own culture, and a form of death—crucifixion (16:21)—reserved for the least valued and least powerful members of his society. From the perspective of a world in rebellion against God, to choose a life leading to such a death seemed like “folly” (1 Cor. 1:18–25). Despite the profound insight Peter has just had into Jesus’ identity, and despite the Savior’s promise to build his church upon that truth (Matt. 16:13–20), Peter is not yet sufficiently transformed by the gospel to understand just how dramatic is the conflict between Jesus and the sinful world (vv. 22–23) and how pivotal will be the role of the church in binding hearts to heaven (vv. 18–19). Jesus therefore instructs Peter and all of his disciples (including, through this written account, disciples today) that entering God’s kingdom by following him entails putting oneself at odds with the values and goals of the sinful world (vv. 24–28). Living in a way so dramatically different from the unbelieving world can feel shameful today, just as it did for the early Christians (v. 24; cf. 1 Cor. 1:18–25; 2:1–5; Gal. 6:14; Heb. 12:2). Jesus encourages his disciples not to believe the world’s lie that following him is shameful. What the world believes to be “life” is not life at all but really the loss of life, while the disciple of Jesus has chosen the path of true life that leads to lasting joy (Matt. 16:25–26; Eph. 2:1–3; 4:17–19). The believer may not experience the fullness of that joy until eternity, when the true nature of a life spent gaining the whole world versus a life spent following Jesus will become clear (Matt. 16:27). But we can experience the joy of the gospel even now, as we live with the assurance of God’s constant presence, eternal care, and plans for our ultimate good (11:28–30; 13:44–46). [Gospel Transformation Study Bible]