Jesus Says No to a Miracle
1A group of Pharisees and Sadducees [1] came to put Jesus to the test by demanding he show them a miraculous sign from God.2Jesus answered them by saying, “When the sun goes down, you know to say, ‘Red sky tonight is tomorrow’s delight.’ 3And when the sun comes up, you know to say, ‘Red sky this morning is today’s weather warning.’ You do just fine interpreting these signs in the sky. But you don’t have a clue about how to interpret what I’ve been doing. [2]
4“It’s an awful generation that looks for a sign. But I’m telling you the only real sign they’re going to get from me is what I’m calling the Sign of Jonah.” [3] Jesus walked away from them and then left the area.
Yeast Metaphor Puzzles Disciples
5Jesus and the disciples cross to the other side of the lake, but the disciples forgot to bring any bread with them. 6Jesus said, “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” [4]7The disciples started talking among themselves, trying to figure out what Jesus meant by that. “Did he say that because we forgot to bring the bread?”
8When Jesus realized what they were talking about, he said, “Where’s your faith? And why are you talking about not having any bread? 9Don’t you get it yet? And what about your memory? Don’t you remember the five loaves we used to feed 5,000? And don’t you remember how many baskets of leftovers we picked up? 10And what about the seven loaves we used to feed 4,000. How many baskets of leftovers did we pick up then?
11“When I warned you about the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees, what on earth made you think I was talking about bread?” 12That’s when the disciples finally figured it out. When Jesus warned them about the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees, he wasn’t talking about their bread. He was talking about their teachings.
Jesus: “Don’t Tell Anyone I’m the Messiah”
13Jesus and the disciples traveled to the area of Caesarea Philippi. [5] When they got there, Jesus asked them, “What do people think about the Son of Humans? Who do they say I am?”14The disciples told him, “Some say you’re John the Baptist. Others say you’re Elijah. And others say you are Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
15Jesus said, “Yes, but what about you? Who do you say I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” [6]
17Jesus said, “You are blessed with insight, Simon, Jonah’s son. You didn’t figure this out on your own or get it from anyone else. You got this insight from my Father in heaven.
18“Let me tell you something. You are Peter. [7] The Rock. I’m going to build my church on this rock. Death [8] itself can’t stop it. 19I’m going to give you the keys to unlock the kingdom of heaven for people. You’ll have the authority to speak for heaven. If you forbid something down here on earth, it will be something that has been forbidden in heaven. If you allow it on earth, it’s something that will have been allowed in heaven.” [9] 20Jesus warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he’s the Messiah.
Jesus Tells His Disciples He Will Die
21From that time on, Jesus started teaching his disciples that he had to go to Jerusalem. He said that the Jewish elders, the top priests, and the scholars known as scribes would make him suffer. He told his disciples he would be killed. But he added that on the third day he would rise from the dead.22Peter pulled Jesus aside and scolded him by saying, “No way will this happen to you, Lord! Never in a million years!”
23Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get out of here, Satan! You’re in my way because you’re thinking like a typical human. You’re not in sync with God.”
High Cost of Following Jesus
24Then Jesus told his disciples, “If you want to follow me, you can’t do it by following yourself. You’ll need to make some big sacrifices. 25If you insist on living life your way instead of God’s way, you’ll be lost. But if you’re willing to lose your life for me and for the good news I’m teaching, you’ll be saved. 26What good would it do you to buy the whole world if it costs you your soul? Tell me, what’s your soul worth?27“The Son of Humans is going to come in a glorious return, with the Father and his angels. Then he’ll hold everyone accountable for their behavior. 28I’m telling you, there’s no doubt whatsoever that some of the people standing here right now will live to see the Son of Humans coming back with his kingdom.”
