Key Bible Passage(s):

Matt.16:21-25, 26:31-35 & 69-75; I Peter 1:6-7 & 2:21-25

Tier 1:

Peter was a man who had to learn how to suffer for Christ himself, before he could teach others. He started where so many do: with the idea that we can follow Christ without having to suffer. In Matt.16:21-25 there is a famous exchange between Jesus and Peter, where first, Peter rebukes Jesus for knowing the cross is inevitable; and then in turn Jesus rebukes Peter for trying to think about Jesus without reference to His passion and death. It is worth pondering the strength of Jesus’ words and seeing that to think of the ways of God as somehow avoiding suffering, is describes as satanic!