The Pharisees and Sadducees Demand a Sign
The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus, trying to trap him with a challenge. They demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove who he was. Jesus answered them by pointing to something they already understood well. "When evening comes," he said, "you look at the red sky and say the weather will be good tomorrow. And in the morning, when you see the sky is red and cloudy, you predict storms are coming. You're experts at reading the sky and knowing what the weather will bring, but you completely miss the signs of what God is doing right now in your own time." Then Jesus spoke with stern disapproval: "You are an evil and unfaithful people, always demanding miraculous proof. But no sign will be given to you except the sign of Jonah." With that, he turned away from them and left.
The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees
When Jesus and his disciples crossed over to the other side of the lake, the disciples realized they had forgotten to bring any bread with them. Jesus looked at them and said, "Be careful! Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." The disciples started talking quietly among themselves, trying to figure out what Jesus meant. They decided he must be upset because they hadn't brought any bread along for the journey. Jesus knew what they were whispering about. He turned to them and said, "Why are you talking among yourselves about not having bread? You still don't have much faith, do you? Don't you understand yet? Have you already forgotten what happened when I fed five thousand people with just five loaves of bread? How many baskets full of leftover pieces did you collect that day? And what about when I fed four thousand people with seven loaves? How many baskets did you fill with the leftovers then?" Jesus continued, "How can you not see that I wasn't talking to you about actual bread? I'm telling you to watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!" Finally, the disciples understood. Jesus wasn't warning them about the yeast that bakers use to make bread rise. He was warning them about the false teaching that came from the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Peter's Confession of Christ
When Jesus and his disciples reached the area around Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked them a question: "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" His disciples answered, "Some people say you're John the Baptist who has come back to life. Others think you're the prophet Elijah. Still others believe you're Jeremiah or one of the other prophets from long ago." Then Jesus asked them directly, "But what about you? Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter spoke up and declared, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus responded to Peter, "God has blessed you, Simon, son of Jonah! No human being taught you this truth. My Father in heaven revealed it to you directly." Jesus continued, "And I'm telling you that you are Peter, and on this solid foundation I will build my church. Even the powers of death itself will not be able to destroy it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven." After this conversation, Jesus gave his disciples strict instructions not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
From that time forward, Jesus began to tell his followers what was going to happen to him. He explained that he had to go to Jerusalem, where he would suffer terrible things. The religious leaders—the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law—would cause him great pain. He told them clearly that these men would kill him, but that on the third day, he would come back to life. When Peter heard this, he pulled Jesus to one side and started arguing with him. "Lord, don't say such things!" Peter said firmly. "This will never happen to you!" But Jesus spun around to face Peter with fierce intensity. "Get away from me, Satan!" he said. "You are trying to make me stumble and fall. You're not thinking about what God wants—you're only thinking about what people want."
The Cost of Discipleship
Then Jesus spoke to his followers and said, "Anyone who wants to follow me must give up living for himself. He must be willing to suffer and die, just as I will, and then follow me. The person who tries to save his own life will end up losing it. But the person who gives up his life because of me will truly find life. Think about this: what good does it do someone if he gets everything the world has to offer but loses his own soul in the process? What could anyone possibly trade that would be worth as much as his soul?" Jesus continued, "The Son of Man is going to return in his Father's glory, surrounded by his angels. When that happens, he will give each person exactly what they deserve based on how they have lived. I'm telling you the truth—some of you standing here right now will still be alive when you see the Son of Man coming as king in his kingdom."