PETER’S CONFESSION OF THE MESSIAH

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi,G,j he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”H

14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”k

15 “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”l

17 Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah,I,m because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven.n 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,o and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,p and whatever you bind on earth will have been boundJ in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosedK in heaven.” 20 Then he gave the disciples orders to tell no one that he wasL the Messiah.q

HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION PREDICTED

21 Fromr then on Jesus began to point out to his disciples that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.s 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, “Oh no,M Lord! This will never happen to you!”

23 Jesus turned and told Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me because you’re not thinking about God’s concernsN but human concerns.”t

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.u 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it.v