Mathewu 16:13-28

Kwathi uJesu esefikile emikhawulweni yeKesariya yeFiliphi, wabuza abafundi bakhe, wathi: Abantu bathi mina iNdodana yomuntu ngingubani? Basebesithi: Abanye bathi unguJohane uMbhabhathizi; labanye bathi nguJeremiya kumbe omunye wabaprofethi. Wathi kubo: “Nina-ke nithi ngingubani na? USimoni Petru waphendula wathi: “Wena unguKristu, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu ophilayo. UJesu waphendula wathi kuye: “Ubusisiwe wena Simoni kaJona, ngokuba inyama negazi akukwambulelanga lokhu, kodwa uBaba osezulwini. Nami ngithi kuwe: Wena unguPetru, phezu kwalelidwala ngiyakulakha ibandla lami; futhi amasango esihogo ngeke alinqobe. Ngizakunika izihluthulelo zombuso wezulu, njalo loba yini ozayibopha emhlabeni izakuba kubotshiwe ezulwini, njalo loba yini ozayikhulula emhlabeni izakuba yinto ethukululiwe ezulwini. Wasebalaya abafundi bakhe ukuthi bangatsheli muntu ukuthi yena unguJesu uKristu. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi uJesu waqala ukubonisa abafundi bakhe ukuthi umelwe ukuya eJerusalema, ahlushwe ngokuningi ngamalunga nabapristi abakhulu nababhali, abulawe, avuswe ngosuku lwesithathu. UPetru wayesemthatha, waqala ukumkhuza, ethi: “Makube kude nawe, Nkosi; Kodwa yena waphenduka wathi kuPetro: Suka emva kwami, Sathane; Khona uJesu wathi kubafundi bakhe: “Uma umuntu ethanda ukungilandela, makazidele, athabathe isiphambano sakhe, angilandele. Ngokuba yilowo nalowo othanda ukusindisa ukuphila kwakhe uyakulahlekelwa yikho, kepha olahlekelwa ngukuphila kwakhe ngenxa yami uyakukufumana. Ngokuba kuyakumsizani umuntu, uma ezuza izwe lonke, onakalelwe ukuphila kwakhe, na? Yingabe uyakukhiphani umuntu, kube yisihlengo sokuphila kwakhe, na? Ngokuba iNdodana yomuntu iyakuza ngenkazimulo kaYise kanye nezingelosi zayo; khona-ke iyakuvuza yilowo nalowo ngesenzo sakhe. Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Bakhona abanye kwabemi lapha abangayikuzwa ngempela ukufa, baze bayibone iNdodana yomuntu iza embusweni wayo.”