Dear Student of the Word,
Do you take for granted the insight God has given you into His Word and work? Has this insight caused you to be a bit proud, feeling like you have an "inside track" to God? This week we move into Matthew 16, where Jesus took His disciples away to have an important but private conversation. When Peter declared that He was the Christ, Jesus declared him blessed! Yet in the next breath, Peter became Jesus' counselor and Jesus had to rebuke him for his impudence to assume that because He knew one thing about the will of God that He then knew them all.
This week I wrote:
v. 21 – The disciples had just discovered, from Jesus’ own words, that He was the Christ. As if that wasn’t enough revelation for one day, Jesus went on to explain that He had to go to Jerusalem and be killed, only to be raised again from the dead. Now we see why Jesus took them so far away from the crowds. They had to have this most serious talk and have time to process it away from their Jewish cultural pressures.
It is interesting that later the disciples acted as if they had never had this conversation with Jesus. When He died and they were huddled in fear in the upper room, it doesn’t seem that anyone reminded them of this meeting and discussion. You can understand why Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith at that time. He predicted what would happen, but they did not believe or remember it!
I have been at home for six weeks as I write and being at home for me means no income. Yet I feel like I have a wonderful chance to trust the Lord. Too often in the past, I have acted like the disciples in this case. God promised He would provide, but I didn’t believe Him! I fretted, wondered where I had gone wrong and pleaded with God to do what He promised to do. I forgot His past provisions and promises. He always provides, although not according to my timetable. Yet this time I am determined to take Him at His word, trust in Him and rest. How about you? Are you fretting, or not taking God at His word, as the disciples did in this verse? You can make a decision to think differently today if that is the case.
v. 22 – Peter was full of confidence and some pride after he had given the correct answer to Jesus’ question as to who He was. Peter decided then to become Jesus’ counselor. When Jesus predicted His death and resurrection, Peter took Jesus aside and began to tell Him that He was incorrect. This would never happen to the Messiah, the Chosen One of God! Who can be God’s counselor? Who can give Him advice? Peter tried and I have, too.
I have presumed I knew what God would and could not do. I have confidently boasted that I knew the mind of Christ on certain issues when I did not. I had opinions, but I didn’t know, but I acted like I knew. I hoped that certain things would or would not happen, yet I spoke with such certainty. This has caused me no small amount of anxiety and even anger, when I was proved wrong, after being convinced I was right. Has this ever happened to you?
v. 23 – Jesus must have shocked Peter with His response. He referred to Peter as Satan and told him to fall in place behind Him! Peter was not speaking the mind of God, but was speaking the will of the devil. Can you imagine that? One minute Peter is speaking the revelation of God, the next the revelation of the devil! Good insight once isn’t a guarantee of ongoing insight, that’s for sure!
While we have not seen his opposition since Matthew 4, we see here that the devil was still opposing Jesus in more subtle ways. This proves the validity of what Jesus said: The gates of hell would not prevail but would certainly try to do so. Jesus dealt ruthlessly with Peter’s rebuke, since it was directed at the very purpose for which He came – to give His life for His sheep. You cannot deal with the devil in halfway measures. You must oppose him firmly (but you don’t have to yell at him). Where are you encountering devilish opposition at this point in time? How do you intend to deal with it?
As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. You can write them or find the studies to Corinthians, First Timothy and Mark's gospel on the site where this week's entry is posted. You can also go there to sign up to receive each week's study.
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Dear John,
I loved the study today. And the bit that challenged me most is the one about being proud just because God has given me insight into His word at some point. I pray, almost on a daily basis for God's insight into his word. Every so often when I've had to share/preach/teach there will be someone who will say how insightful they found the preaching to be. And if truth be told, I cannot help feeling deep inside of me some sense of self importance. I've caught myself thinking I have more insight than others in a bible study group situation. Your post got me thinking. I might have insight but not the mind of God. And most of all, it should never ever be a reason to feel like I have this special rapport with God that others do not have.
Keep writing John and the Lord bless you and your family.
Posted by: Rose | June 20, 2008 at 02:03 AM