You may be totally convinced…
It hadn’t been long since Jesus had fed the five thousand and now Jesus has once again fed four thousand (not including women and children) with seven loaves and a few small fish. Even after these miraculous works there is confusion with the disciples. Jesus asks them, “When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”” Mark 8:19-21
Jesus then teaches the disciples about His coming rejection, suffering, murder, and resurrection. Peter rebukes Jesus for the thought of it and Jesus quickly shuts Peter down.
As they followed Jesus, He has ministered to the least of these. He’s not used His power to infiltrate the Pharisaical order. Jesus hasn’t built an army to overthrow the Romans. And now, Jesus speaks about His death. Things weren’t unfolding the way the disciples thought they would.
Chances are things aren’t unfolding as you’ve planned. Well, guess what… for me either at times. But we’ve seen over and over in the scriptures and personally Jesus’ way is the better way. It may not look like it in the moment, but His plans are higher than ours. So, when you start to press against His will, His way, remember Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” Mark 8:34-36
- To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.