MARK 8:31. “And He began to teach them, that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” THE WORLD AROUND. Jehovah’s Servant was abounding in the work of His Father, and yet even in the case of the Master- Teacher, there were many who didn’t understand Him, His words and His work. It seems that even though evidence is clearly seen and truth is clearly presented, there is a part of each person that must be humbled and surrender, before God can work in the soul.
The world around has become so much a part of us, that we hardly consider there is such a thing as the kingdom of God among us. Consider the variety of need and responses in a short period of time and a small part of the harvest field when the Lord was here.
THE HUNGRY: for three days they had been with the Lord; for three days they had nothing to eat; for three days, they had listened to His words and observed His miracles. His compassion reaches to the basic need of men and women – food. The provision from the hands of the Creator, more than meets the need of all. HE IS THE COMPASSIONATE CREATOR.
THE OPPOSITION: there were those then as there are today who resent the presence of true righteousness among them. The righteous living Pharisees did not want the presence of One among them whose righteousness was from within. They only wanted the outside to look good. The necessity of reality evaded them. HE IS THE OMNISCIENT ONE.
THE SLOW TO UNDERSTAND: the miracle of the seven loaves and a few small fish was only just past. They had only one loaf of bread. And even as the Lord had given warnings to them of the falseness of the teachings and practices of the opposition, the disciples missed the point completely. How often we make judgments on the spur of the moment that miss the point of the lesson God gives us. HE IS PATIENT ONE.
THE BLIND: the man without sight was brought by others who wanted Him to repeat what they had seen and touch him. Each person is unique to God; each need is personal. He knows each one and does what is appropriate to the need, not as an answer to the demands placed on Him. HE IS THE UNIQUE ONE.
THE INSIGHTFUL: the evidence was all before the disciples. They couldn’t miss the fact that everything He said, and everything His did bore testimony as to who He is. Their eyes and minds were open and they knew the Messiah was with them. HE IS THE ANOINTED ONE.
THE TEMPTERS: how scary it is that the same person who knows the Person of Christ, and knows of His authority and power, would dare to question and rebuke God. Can it be that a man, even after worshipping can question God? Can it be that Satan can influence one of His own followers? HE IS THE HOLY ONE.
THE FOLLOWERS: the cross is not made to be an easy load. The yoke is what is easy, but the cross demands that all else be set aside. There is no room for the cross and other things at the same time. In whatever calling I am called: the cross is there to pick up and carry. Identification with Christ is to be there in every life situation. HE IS THE LEADING ONE. “O Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: I know it was a delight to Thee to follow the life of the Lord Jesus in every situation. It certain is a delight to me. His adaptability, His approachability without rancor of any kind, is such an example for me to learn from. Even when opposed and tempted, He used the minimum words needed. He didn’t go on and on about all the wrongs. He dealt with the issues as each case arose, with absolute wisdom and discretion. Please help me to follow that pattern with insight from Thyself. Amen.”
MARK 8:27- 9:1
HE SPOKE PLAINLY The teaching of the Lord had made plain to the Jews that their Christ had come. There was evidence of His authority and power in the miracles He did. Now the Lord Jesus Christ begins to tell the disciples what it will mean to them to be in the kingdom of God. There is now, and will be in the future, suffering and death before glory. And it began with the suffering and death of the King Himself. In the area of Caesarea-Philippi the idolatry of the Gentiles was in full bloom. This was a most fitting place for the Lord to open up this teaching to His disciples, as they could see illustrated what He meant by the contrasts around.
In that place with evidence of the false gods all around, He asks the question, "Whom do men say that I am?" The answer was obviously varied although they all had in common the knowledge that the Lord Jesus Christ was uncommon and had been sent by God as a prophet. The Lord then made the question personal by asking, "But whom say ye that I am?" It is not enough to know what other people say or think about Jesus. There must be a personal acceptance of Him as the Christ of God, the kingly One anointed to fill the office of the Supreme Ruler and Authority of the Kingdom of God. This supremacy recognized by Peter is what makes the few words, "Thou art the Christ," so important. Probably Peter and others thought the Lord was going to restore Israel as a nation among nations. The disciples then had to learn that this kingdom living was not one of ease but of suffering before victory. There will be deprivation, hard work and persecution on this kingdom road.
Then He told them the startling revelation of His coming suffering, rejection, death and resurrection. This plain speaking must have so alarmed the disciples that Peter immediately resisted that message. Up until this time the kingdom was revealed in power: power over evil, disease - even over nature. Now this new unfolding of what it means to be in the kingdom of God, seemed just the opposite. The Lord spoke of the first being last, getting and giving, saving and losing. Now He speaks of rejection before acceptance. The illustration of carrying a cross would have brought fear instead of joy. A life built on pleasure and possessions is a lost life. To follow the Lord Jesus will mean abundant living now in the midst of suffering and rejection as well as in the future.
To reject Christ now may help one escape the humiliation and embarrassment that may temporarily come, but it will mean that one is lost forever. To give the proper view of what it means to be forever in the kingdom of God, He gives a view of the physical aspects of the kingdom of God. The Lord now spoke plainly about the kingdom of God. He had shown powerful evidence of His authority over all that would oppose that kingdom. Now He prepares them for what is ahead.
Sometimes there are words spoken and we are not sure what they mean. Later on, when time passes, we learn they didn't say what it seemed. Plain speaking needs to be done with grace and with truth- And we will be able to understand the meaning and the worth Of a message contained in a few words fitly spoken - Recognizing this to be far more than just a token Given to vaguely put us off until some later day When we will learn what the speaker really meant to say.
To speak truth means I make sure the listeners understand - The message the words convey shouldn't seem trivial or a form of slight of hand. But it should be given with compassion and empathy, and the salt seasons the grace - So, the importance is not overlooked nor misleads anyone from the path of faith. Not everything we hear will make us feel happy or content, Because there are warnings to give when a messenger is sent. Kingdom living today does not mean everything is easy and smooth. When we bear the cross of identification with Christ, the world thinks we loose.
The big picture of what is going on in the kingdom of God today, Is very different from what some unfaithful religionists say. Things are not getting better and they will continue to get worse - Until the full fruit of evil has spent itself on this earth that is cursed. It is well from our place in history to remember suffering brings glory. Righteousness will be under Messiah's reign at the end of the story. Until that time comes it remains a call and a challenge to me - To "rightly divide the truth" to hearers, that by faith, Christ they will see.
"When the Lord Jesus Christ, was here, Father: I know He spoke plainly about some things and in parables about others. I am thanking Thee for the privilege of being able to serve Thee in the Gospel. I ask Thee to keep me from saying anything that is wrong or inappropriate. May Thy name be glorified in every message I give. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."