86. Jesus’ death
foretold, denied by Peter- Matt. 16:21-28, Mark 8:31-38; 9:1, Luke 9:22-27
-Jesus states plainly His plan and intentions in carrying
out the directives from His Father that He had been sent to accomplish to
initiate the Kingdom of God and the redemption of mankind. This plan involved
suffering and rejection at the hands of the elders, the chief priests, and the
scribes. It involved laying down His life in obedience to the Master’s call and
a resurrection that would have power and glory from on High. Peter, not
understanding the full ramifications of this plan and thinking in the flesh,
pulls Christ aside and tries to rebuke His Lord. Christ Jesus calls him Satan
seeing the anti-Christ spirit of the moment and denounces the mindset of
putting man’s interests ahead of God’s. He calls His premier disciple a
stumbling block in His response and then takes the opportunity to teach all of
His disciples one of most important lessons of ministry on earth. He tells
them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his
cross and follow Me. For whosoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but
whoever loses his life for My sake will find it (Matthew 16:24-25, Mark 8:34-35,
Luke 9:23-24).” He then related that it profits man nothing to gain the whole
world when his soul is forfeited and lost for eternity. In other words, nothing
on this temporal earth compares to knowing the Lord and spending eternity in
His presence in Paradise because of what He accomplished to pay the debt of our
sin. Jesus told His disciples that this Kingdom would be seen coming before
they tasted death. *Application* Have you lost your life yet and put your
entire focus on God’s interests rather than your own? This is the key to life
eternally as Jesus so succinctly puts it. He will repay every man according to
his deeds (Matthew 16:27). What is humanly counted as loss in this life will be
resurrected in power and strength that the Lord will provide when we trust in
Him to take us and make us new. There will be tribulation in this world and
suffering, but the final victory is assured when we give up our rights for the
glory of the Lord (John 12:25; 16:33)! His love and peace remain in us as we
trust in Him and overcome all the obstacles that the enemy puts in our way. Die
to self and live in Him!
Verses to Memorize-
Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:36
87. Transfiguration
of Jesus- Matt. 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-10, Luke 9:28-36, John 1:14
-Six days (Luke says “some, like, about” eight days in an
eyewitness’ vague remembrance) after Christ’s words to His disciples about
denying self, taking up the cross, and following Him He took His inner circle
(Peter, James, and John) up on a high mountain to pray. During the course of
this time of prayer Moses and Elijah appear and are talking with Jesus
concerning His soon departure from earth in Jerusalem (Luke 9:31). Peter,
James, and John awake from sleep to witness this transfiguration of Christ
along with the prophets of old. They hear the voice of the Lord coming out of
the cloud that enveloped them and they were terrified and in great awe (John
1:14, 2 Peter 1:16-18). The LORD told them to listen to His Son and Chosen One.
In a state of shock during the transfiguration Peter said that they should
build a dwelling place there, a tabernacle. Luke tells us he didn’t even
realize what he was saying at that point, which I think is humorous. When it
was all said and done, Jesus warned them not to say anything about this
incident until after He had risen from the dead (Matthew 17:9). *Application*
When we go into His presence deeply in prayer and supplication we can
experience the miraculous just as Peter, James, and John did. This was an
incredible thing that they were able to witness, but we too can come into the
presence of the LORD God Almighty feeling His power, authority, majesty, grace,
and truth. He is the One who washes us whiter than any other cleaning could and
makes us whole again. O Christian, pray in the Spirit and welcome all He has
for you! It will leave you speechless and astounded to the point that your
words make about as much sense as Peter’s J.
Verse to Memorize-
John 1:14
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