Have you ever felt misunderstood? Been ostracized? Wondered if you were relevant any more. Wondered if you make the right choice? Well Jesus did too. Let read Matthew 16: 5-19. This is from the Passion Translation.
“Later, as Jesus and his disciples crossed over to the other
side of Lake Galilee, the disciples realized they had forgotten to bring any
loaves of bread. Jesus spoke up and
said, “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”
Thinking Jesus was scolding them over not bringing bread,
they whispered among themselves. Knowing
their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “You have such little faith! Why are you arguing with one another about
having no bread? Are you so slow to
understand? Have you forgotten the
miracle of feeding the five thousand families and how each of you ended up with
a. basket full of fragments? And how seven loaves of bread that fed four
thousand families with baskets left over?
Don’t you understand? I am not
talking about bread, but I’m warning you to avoid the yeast of the Pharisees
and the Sadducees.”
Then finally they realized he wasn’t talking about yeast
found in bread, but the error of the teachings of the Pharisees and the
Sadducees.”
When Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples
this question. “What are people saying
about me, the son of Man? Who do they
believe I Am?”
They answered, “Some are convinced you are John the
Baptizer, others say you are Elijah reincarnated, or Jeremiah, or one of the
prophets.” But you, who do you say that I am?” Jesus asked.
Simon Peter spoke up and said, “You are the Anointed One,
the Son of the Living God.!” Jesus
replied, “You are favored and privileged Simeon, son of Jonah! For you didn’t discover this on your own, but
my Father in heaven has supernaturally revealed it to you. I give you the name Peter, a stone. And this truth of who I am will be the
bedrock foundation on which I will build my church.”
This interaction took place after Jesus had just encountered
the Pharisees who challenged Him to show them a sign to prove who He was. Of course, Jesus did not and turned and left
them.
Jesus first wanted to know what others were saying about
him. He knew he was being misunderstood
and hated. Love by many but not
all. I can’t imagine what it is like
for Jesus. To know you have the power to change people
lives and that you are the light of the world.
The Savior, the Christ and not be received. To have endure torment and being ostracized
by others. The religious ones of the day
certainly did not believe in him and they were the ones who needed him the
most. Don’t you think Jesus was grieved over their non-belief?
It was important to Jesus to know that his crew, his
disciples were getting it. That they
recognized why he came. Who sent Him. That he was not a fraud. I can almost sense in a moment of deep
sadness that Jesus needed encouragement.
He needed to hear that someone got him.
That someone understood the message.
The significance of his being.
Just before that question, the disciples misunderstood Jesus when He
spoke of being wary of unleavened bread thinking he was upset that they did not
have bread. Again, they misinterpreted
what he meant. Really? You have been with me all this time and you
still don’t understand me?
Jesus then asked his disciples what other people were saying
about him. The disciples give him a number of answers but none say he is Jesus the son of
God come to save the world, and then Peter replies, you are the anointed one,
the son of the living God. I can see the
scene as Jesus listens to their answers about the “word on the street.” Discouraged about their response there was a
need in him to hear the ones who are closest to him encourage him. Peter spoke not on his own but receive
supernatural revelation from God. The
Father spoke through Peter to his Son. You
are the anointed one. The Son of the
living God. Remember who you are. You are my son. You are the Christ come to save the
world. In that moment Jesus was
encouraged. In that moment Peter also
became a new man. A fresh revelation
transforming Simeon, son of Jonah into Peter, the Rock. The rock on which I will put together my
church a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will
be able to keep it out.
I think about this application today. Who do we say that He is? When we talk about Jesus to others who do we
say that He is? Are we ashamed of our relationship? Do we proudly proclaim the gospel or when given
an opportunity to speak truth shy away not wanting to be judge or ostracized? I will be honest there are moments I have
missed when I should have spoken up. I
know that grieved Jesus just like it did when His disciples disappointed him.
Who do you say that I
am? Who do you say that I am at work? Who do you say that I am at the gym? Who do you say that I am at school? Because as his followers, we are his sons and
daughters his family. How do we hurt the
heart of Jesus, Holy Spirit and Father when we deny Him. It can be very subtle. We love our comfort. Who doesn’t.
But I do not want to be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The bible says the righteous are bold as a
lion. Boldness is needed in our
day. Courage is needed. Jesus never said you would not be prosecuted
for what you believe. He actually said
the exact opposite. But we do so with
Love.
But what really is
love??? Just giving people a part of the
gospel is not love. Jesus said that
those who know him will enter the kingdom of God. That is a journey that is eternal. But to know Him you need to experience Him in
totality. Jesus is definitely love. It was His love that cleared the temple of
the religious. It was love that rebuked
Peter. It was love that spoke to the
rich young ruler. It was love that died
on the cross. He is Love. It’s the truth spoken in love.
John Bevere says in his book, Killing Kryptonite, that “It's
putting a heavy emphasis on grace that allows us to live an immoral life. In other words, “putting a heavy emphasis on
grace that covers but not grace that empowers. “we have become so tolerant that
we do not speak the truth. “When it
comes to leadership silence is communication.
It communicates agreement and it grants permission.”
Don’t get it twisted.
The truth of the bible requires life style changes not just accepting
his grace. It is because of his grace we
have the power to change.
Prophetic proclamation from Holy Spirit:
My sons and
daughters. Now is the time. This is the hour. My beloved.
My heart yearns to draw closer to you.
Seek me for revelation for this hour.
Do not cling to the past. Allow
me to begin something new in you. Let me
renew your strength. The window is
closing on your opportunity to make the transition. This is not about salvation but about
destiny. About fulfillment. My army is being equipped to cover the
earth with My glory as the water covers the seas. Glory clouds.
Glory clouds are coming. Let me
position you for my glory. Let me navigate
and steer the boat. The window is
closing to make the correction and the transition into the new. Glory clouds are coming. Come up come up above the fray and you will
see what I see, and you will see the wonder if what I am about to do.
Keep Flourishing!
Barbara
