We find Jesus interacting with the Pharisees and then His disciples. The Pharisees seeking a sign from heaven. Jesus rebukes them for this. To think they are asking for a sign when Jesus stands in their presence. What’s the saying, “you can’t see the forest for the trees”? How often we can be guilty of the same though. I find myself asking Jesus where He’s at sometimes. Yet He’s actively working in and through me and it’s quite evident.
Then we find Jesus interacting with His disciples. He asks them what others were saying about Him and what the disciples thought. (Hint: Jesus often ask questions He knows the answer too already.) Jesus tells them He will be suffer, be killed, and raised on the third day only to be rebuked by Peter. How does Jesus respond? “But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”” Matthew 16:23
In that moment the same was true for Peter that was true for the Pharisees. They had their own agenda in mind. How many times do we find ourselves approaching the Lord with our own agenda? Even with the best of intentions we can find ourselves living for OUR agenda instead of HIS agenda. Chances are if you haven’t taken time to pray about it or consider how your plans will affect the kingdom of God you are living for a temporary agenda. Jesus said to His disciples, and He says to you and me today, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 16:24-25
- To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.