The disciples had rightly figured out Jesus' identity. They were all-in for him as Messiah. While at the seat of pagan teaching and practice Caesarea Philippi), Jesus taught about his sufferings: rejection by any and all those in authority and death. He taught about the end-game as well, rising again after three days.
In the place, people degraded themselves for the sake of no-gods that would supposedly bring them fertility for body and earth. People sought their "god" through prostitution and bestiality. It was false worship of the worst variety.
Interesting that this is where Jesus would teach plainly about his own plan in the days ahead. The Jewish establishment was not to degrade themselves as these pagans in calling out to their God. They would degrade themselves in another way. In the name of the true God, they worked to destroy His Son. As I see it, what they did was worse. They defiled themselves in God's Name. It's religion at its all-time worst.
The Kingdom of God--which was to be represented by the church Jesus' followers established--was to be planted on the very people they were then surrounded by. People who defiled themselves for no-gods would be the very ones through whom the Gospel would be established and spread world-wide. This was God's plan. Why was it such a big deal that Peter rebuked Jesus? Because Peter was rebuking God's plan. He was seeing things his own way. It seems like his emotional lenses kept him from seeing things through Jesus' eyes.
This is actually a terrible thing. I think it sounds a lot like what Lucifer did in heaven. Through his own eyes, full of pride and selfishness, he rebuked God's plan and rule, leading many angels to do the same. I also think this is why Jesus said, "Get behind me, Satan!" It almost seems like Jesus had heard this kind of thing before and wanted none of it.
Jesus' way was to take up a cross each day and follow him. Human concern seeks self-preservation. It seeks relationship and protection of life (good things, actually, when in proper context where self concern is removed) over the perspective of Jesus.
What a lesson! I think it's among the hardest to learn. Even the best of intentions and concerns look tainted with evil in this light. It's not about human perspective, where we choose the setting, the people, and justice. In God's eyes, these things are very different. Even relationships and our emotional desire for a close friend's preservation have to be set aside if in opposition to the ways and plans of Jesus.
In the movie, "Quo Vadis," Christians (men, women, even children) are depicted in the arena with lions as Nero and Roman citizens watched on. Before they went into the arena, as they were stressed and anxious about what they were about to face (certain death), Peter shows up, encouraging them and reminding them that the pain they were to face paled in comparison to the riches they would experience with Jesus, and that even while their blood was spilled, the Message of Jesus would be firmly established. The Christians then faced martyrdom singing hymns of praise.
Do my human feelings and perspectives prevent me from seeing and believing God's plan? Do my desires for relationships (even the best of them) and success blind me to the truth of Jesus' path and the path of a disciple? Do I see people and refuse to believe that the Kingdom of God can be established in them?
Father, I submit my eyes, perspective, and desires to Yours. May I see with Your eyes. My I be full of your feelings and perspectives. May Your goals and definitions of success become mine. Holy Spirit, fill me! Jesus, transform me! Father, fling laboring harvesters into Your harvest field, beginning with me!
No comments:
Post a Comment