April 9, 2025
Luke 9:20–22 (NASB95) And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.” 21 But He warned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day.”
Seems pretty plain when we look at it with hindsight, but the disciples didn’t quite get what Jesus was saying. “The Son of Man must suffer” wasn’t on their radar or bingo card; they had been taught that the Messiah was going to triumph over all oppressors, and they couldn’t wait until He started squishing Romans under His feet. Instead He died to save them. His “victory” on the cross was not political, or confined to Jerusalem, it was spiritual and eternal. It wasn’t about rescuing a people and their little bit of land from the power of Rome. It was about rescuing ALL THE WORLD from the power of sin and death. And He did it with His own death and resurrection!
Do you think we ever miss the big picture of what God is doing because we are looking at the little picture of what we want done for ourselves? I think we all do. That’s why Jesus re-centered us in the Lord’s prayer to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
As we enter passion week why not ask the Lord to give you greater insight into HIS plan and purpose.
I love you, Pastor Randy