Peter’s Confession and the First Prediction of Christ’s Suffering (Luke 9:18-22)
How often do we get the future, God’s plans, and what we think God wants, wrong? Luke has already reported what the masses were saying about Jesus when the Twelve were carrying out their mission. Herod and the government had even heard about Jesus and were speculating about His identity in supernatural ways. The apostles had heard all of these things as well. Clearly the world knew God was up to something. Everyone was wondering what this supernatural event was all about. Everyone was offering incredible speculations, but no one seemed to be going all the way. No one was suggesting that Jesus might be the Messiah.
Except His apostles. When Jesus asks them who they think He is, Peter responds correctly. “The Christ of God.” However, Jesus tells them to keep this to themselves. Why?
People in Jesus day, including His disciples, had a guess about who and what the Messiah was going to be. They were all wrong. Jews had seen the triumphant Messiah coming as a King of Kings in power to set the world right. They had missed the humble servant idea of how God was planning to do that. The Messiah will come one day, in the Day of YHWH, to bring justice to the world and punish sin. However, He had come first to bring Grace and a way of forgiveness.
If people had gotten confirmation about Jesus’s messiahship from close to the source, they might have acted differently in the long run. As it is, the masses were suspecting Jesus might be there to liberate them from Rome and set up a Jewish kingdom. God’s plan required people to choose to sacrifice Him instead.
Expectations are a tricky thing. Even today we have strong ideas and opinions about what God should do. We need to remember to trust Him to have the best plans.
Except His apostles. When Jesus asks them who they think He is, Peter responds correctly. “The Christ of God.” However, Jesus tells them to keep this to themselves. Why?
People in Jesus day, including His disciples, had a guess about who and what the Messiah was going to be. They were all wrong. Jews had seen the triumphant Messiah coming as a King of Kings in power to set the world right. They had missed the humble servant idea of how God was planning to do that. The Messiah will come one day, in the Day of YHWH, to bring justice to the world and punish sin. However, He had come first to bring Grace and a way of forgiveness.
If people had gotten confirmation about Jesus’s messiahship from close to the source, they might have acted differently in the long run. As it is, the masses were suspecting Jesus might be there to liberate them from Rome and set up a Jewish kingdom. God’s plan required people to choose to sacrifice Him instead.
Expectations are a tricky thing. Even today we have strong ideas and opinions about what God should do. We need to remember to trust Him to have the best plans.
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