Contemplative Bible Reading

Matthew 16:21-22 (New Living Translation)

21 From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.

22 But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!”

Jesus tells the followers what will happen in the near future. Peter protests!

Let’s review. Jesus told the disciples PLAINLY. Perhaps there is something lost in the translation, but this plainly says that Jesus spoke PLAINLY. Jesus was not talking in riddles or something that was difficult to understand.

Jesus was to rise from the dead on the third day.

Peter didn’t hear that part. He only heard the part about Jesus being killed. How could Peter miss the “raised from the dead” part? Was Peter listening? It is easy to sit here 2,000 years later and write how foolish was Peter for missing something so obvious. We listen much better today, right? Huh?

No, afraid not. We don’t read much better. We don’t listen much better. We don’t act much better. Peter is an excellent example of us, of me. Please God, help me in my unbelief.