Peter makes the great confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (Matt. 16:16). Christ will build His church on the rock and the gates of Hades don’t stand a chance (16:18). It’s exiting to hear the apostles will teach and rule, bind and loose, that the gospel and the people of God will be victorious in the world. But now Jesus lays out what He will do and it sounds so much like failure that Peter rebukes Him. And it’s not just Jesus. All of is followers must take up their crosses. The way to life is through death; the only way to receive the crown is by means of the cross.