What Jesus Did! 'Transition to the Cross' — Matthew 16:21

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

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.
— Matthew 16:21 NLT

Key Thought

As Jesus' disciples, the major points in our lives are a series of transitions strung together with prayer. The quality and impact of our lives are dependent on God's blessing and our successful use of the resources and opportunities he places before us.

Jesus' ministry is very much the same. He now faces the greatest transition of his ministry as he moves toward the awful and yet glorious "opportunity" that lies ahead, the cross. Only now is he ready to let folks call him Son of God, Son of the Righteous One, because he will forever redefine what it means to be Messiah, Christ, Son of God, and Savior.

In the process of redefining what people thought the role of Messiah should be, Jesus will also give even greater definition to what it means to be his disciple. His is the way of the cross - service and salvation at great sacrifice. As he journeys down this road, he looks over his shoulder to his disciples and to us, then says, "Follow me."

Today's Prayer

Holy and loving God, I still marvel that you would subject yourself to the limitation of human flesh and the way of the cross. Please help me to be more willing to follow in the way of the cross and serve others redemptively, even if the price is high. Please give me courage for the journey and a heart more like Jesus so that I can see the eternal stakes in the lives of those I serve just as he did. In the name of my Savior and Sacrifice, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

4 Related Resources by Heartlight

Conditioners
Article by Elizabeth Price
How have you been conditioned? So many of us have been conditioned to not see the call of the cross in our lives!
C2K - DNA Testing
Article by Phil Ware
Does the connection show up in our ministry? All too frequently people claiming to follow Jesus separate proclamation from compassion, evangelism from service, but if we have a DNA connection with Jesus, both must be present.
The Question
Article by Phil Ware
When's the last time you thought about life's most important question? Phil Ware begins a four post series on Jesus' question to the disciples about who they thought he was and Jesus comes and asks us this question personally, so what will our answer be?
Heaven's Window
Article by Phil Ware
Doesn't discipleship involve more than just saying the right words? Phil Ware shares his second post in his four article series on Peter's confession, focusing this time on our tendency to reduce faith to words and not actions and discipleship.

Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 16:21 NLT — He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Wednesday, August 6, 2025

A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'When Life Is Hard'
"Dear Beloved, There are times when life is very hard. Remember when I fed 5,000 people out of five loaves and two fish (Matthew 14:13-21)? The people..."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Morning Thought: Job 10:2
"Perhaps, O tried soul, the Lord is doing this to develop thy graces. There are some of thy graces which would never be discovered if it were not for....."
Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
Romans 8:38-39
"I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither present nor the future, nor powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else....."
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'United in the Spirit' (Ep. 4:3)
"Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!