eschatology, Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven (Mt.16)

Jesus asked His disciples some questions, and based on Peter's answer, Jesus told Peter how he would help set up the Church Age.  Now, Peter probably didn't know anything about the Church Age.  They still were hoping that they'd be going into the Millennial kingdom soon - because - Jesus was their Messiah and He was there on earth - right there - with them...

(Matthew 16:13-19)  Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” 

So, right after a fairly decent compliment from Jesus, (although Peter didn't fully understand what that "compliment" all meant) Peter got WAY ahead of himself and thought he had a say in what Jesus should do.  Jesus. being God, knew that it soon would be time for Him to go to the cross.  At the mention of Jesus suffering and being put to death - Peter would have been thinking, "No, this is our Messiah, who is to lead us into the Millennium and fulfill our covenants.  He has to stay alive!  We want to get rid of the Romans and all other enemies and get all our land, and then be safe, rich, fruitful and happy..."

Jesus knew that the Israelites had already rejected Him, therefore they were not going to see the last seven years of the Jewish Age for a while, therefore they were not going to enter into the Millennium anytime soon.  He was there to die and pay for all sins of all time, and then have victory over death, so that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life and a personal relationship with God...

(Matthew 16:20-23)  Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ. 21 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 be raised up on the third day. 22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” 23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”

Today's takeaway:  as believers, how often are we like Peter?  One moment, we are doing God's work and feeling blessed - the next moment, we are getting proud and selfish and sometimes actually doing the work of Satan!  Taking up our cross means to do God's will, to practice what we preach, and to serve God...

(Matthew 16:24-26)  Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?..."

I believe our spiritual gifts should be fairly obvious to us - it'll be doing whatever we are good at and we enjoy doing.  Just a thought - using a gift would not be "spiritual" until we used it with the right motives which are "Spirit-led".  Nothing should be done with selfish motives to build up ourselves - BUT in everything we do, it should be done with the selfless motive of love to help build up the Church...

(Ephesians 4:1b-13)  ...walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says,

“When He ascended on high,
He led captive a host of captives,
And He gave gifts to men.”

9 (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) 11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

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