In Matthew 16:21-25 God reveals a familiar pattern to all who follow Jesus Christ. Recognition of the pattern can lead to a renewed Merry Christmas.
Peter heard Christ's words as recorded in Matthew 16:17, 'Blessed are you, flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but the Father which is in heaven.' Peter sensed the sweeping spiritual pinnacle of the Father's revelation and his sense of dependence on God quickly decreased as his pride increased.
Peter spoke with shocking arrogance and 'took Jesus and began to rebuke Him' (vs. 22) because Jesus had revealed His way of suffering and death (vs. 21). Peter made it all about himself, and his run-away emotions.
Christ answered Peter to reveal the reason behind Peter's impudence. He had erred on the side of his fallen nature to align himself with the devil's work (vs. 23).
In verses Matthew 16:24-25 (See also Luke 9:23-24) Christ exposed the pattern in Peter. Christmas is Merry because Christ was born so we could die to the fallen nature, and Christ died so we could be born again to Live unto Him.
