We must not allow times of confusion to destroy us

 

Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”   Luke 9:20-22 (ESV) Peter acknowledges that Jesus is the Christ. He acknowledges that Jesus is God, the one the Jews have waited for, the Messiah. Yet, there is and will be some confusion, for no man seems to be able to grasp the idea that the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe came to this earth to die for us. Any thinking person knows that an Almighty, self-existent being does not need us, and the thought of Him wanting us is overwhelming. Peter now enters a time of confusion that will last a while and eventually lead to developing him as the first leader of the first church. Confusion is not unusual, and if left unresolved, it leads to fruitless, hopeless, and meaningless lives. Jesus allowed the confusion to last a while, but always had a plan to use the mass confusion to clarify who He was, who Peter was, and His ultimate plan for humanity. We must not allow times of confusion to destroy us. Rather, seek God in times of confusion, and allow Him to transform your confusion into a confession of who you really are and who He really is. Then live in the context of what is and has been reality.

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Peter: Correctly Incorrect

 

Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”   Luke 9:18-20 (ESV) The most important issue in life is not about what the majority thinks about Jesus, but what I think about Jesus. I will never answer to God as to what others believe. I am not responsible for their belief or lack of belief. Who is it I say Jesus is? Why? If I claim that Jesus is God, do I act as if He is God? I may claim that Jesus is God, yet, in reality, live as if He is not. In that case, I will probably be put through a series of life lessons, as Peter was, in order to get my life in line with what I believe. Peter was correct in his declaration, but incorrect in his demonstration. It is incredible to watch Jesus work to get the two the same.

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Opportunity or Inconvenience?

 

Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.” But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” And they did so, and had them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.   Luke 9:12-17(ESV) The disciples said, the day is old, we are tired, the crowd is hungry. Let’s call it a day.  Jesus saw the crowd and realized that now was a perfect time to demonstrate His love and power to them. The day was old for all involved. All were hungry, all were needing to pause, regroup, and prepare for tomorrow. What Jesus saw as opportunity, the disciples saw as inconvenience, even impossible. Jesus asked what they had and asked them for it, and they obviously gave it to Him. It was inadequate, and the disciples focused on the inadequacy, while God focused on what could be done with the inadequate. What will I focus on today? Why?

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Focus

 

And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”    Luke 9:1-5 (ESV) Jesus was very specific as to what His disciples were to do. He did not have them raise support to a particular level before they could go serve Him. He did not allow them to have “extra” anything with them. He even told them that when they were rejected to just, go on, shake the dust off their feet, and continue to serve. Shaking the dust off their feet seems to indicate that He did not want them taking the rejection, the lack of care, or concern of those they ministered to with them. He did not want the past to haunt them. He certainly did not want them to harbor bitter or angry thoughts towards those who rejected them. Perhaps we focus too much on making sure we have provisions before we serve and spend far too much time making sure those we serve treat us “properly.” Servants are just that, servants. I need to focus on what I am, and what my Master asks of me. In that, I will be fulfilled.

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Faith in What? Who?

 

And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler's house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.”    Luke 8:48-50 (ESV) Jesus told this woman that her faith is what made her well. So is it faith that makes us well, or is faith something that has to have an object, and the object of the faith is what makes us well? Would having faith in eating banana leaves make her well? Would having faith in medicine or money have healed her? Faith, in and of itself, is not useful without it having the right “object.” If God is the one in whom we have faith, is a possibility that the mountains can move? If our faith is in our words, our money, our rituals, or our beliefs we, in essence, have no faith. When Jesus speaks of “faith” healing, He is speaking of one who has their faith in the right “object.”  If I lack faith, I lack an understanding of who God is, for if I knew who He was, I would have faith.

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Those who come.l..

 

And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.”    Luke 8:43-46 (ESV) In Jesus’ day there were no secret service to guard public figures. I am sure there were many who touched Jesus as He walked through the crowd. Yet, Jesus noticed one who touched Him and stopped and wanted that person to speak up as to what had happened. There are many who come to Christ to see the spectacle of “religion” or out of curiosity, or in order to not be left out of something the crowd is doing. There are those who come to Jesus to be healed. They have understood that without Him they have no hope, no life, and no purpose, and have looked to Him, and touched Him so that they may regain what is lost. Those who come to Christ wanting healing, will find healing. Those who come out of curiosity will forever just be curious.

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Scared by the thought of God.

 

And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.   Luke 8:36-39 (ESV) The demon-possessed man was healed, and the people who witnessed it wanted Jesus to leave town? Really? The people were afraid of Jesus. Why? He, alone, was able to approach a troubled man who had harassed the community for some time and heal him. He was no longer trouble. However, this, as much of the unknown in life, is scary. When you do not know God, you are scared by the thought of Him. When you do know God, you are comforted by the thought of Him. What direction do your thoughts bring you? Why?

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