Devotional
for the Week of 17th March 2008
Worship and The Cross
Scripture Text: Mark
8: 31 - 38
Today’s
bible passage is a familiar one. Peter had just confessed
Jesus as Christ and Jesus began to teach His disciples
that He would suffer many things. He also revealed that
he would be killed, but after three days, would rise
again. In this season of Lent, we reflect on the life
and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ and from today’s
passage, we will explore the lessons that we can learn
from Jesus.
1.
Dealing with Discouragement
When
it comes to election time, candidates and political
parties, in an effort to get voted into power, will
often promise the voters a myriad of good things that
the voters will receive (e.g. financial aid or a reduction
in taxes) if they vote for a particular candidate or
party. Jesus was different. He told His disciples openly
and plainly about the life He would lead and the outcome
which He would have to suffer, i.e., face rejection
by the chief religious authorities and ultimately be
killed. Unlike candidates in an election campaign that
promise a rosy outcome, Jesus shared about His death.
Peter
did not understand God’s salvation plan and in
his humanity, found Jesus’ words hard to bear.
The disciples had left all they had to follow Jesus
for 3 years and had naturally expected Jesus to become
an earthly king. Peter, unable to accept this grim outcome,
took Jesus aside and rebuked Him, hoping to speak some
“sense” into Jesus.
Jesus
in turn rebuked Peter. Jesus seemed to refer to Peter
as “Satan” but it was not because Peter
had become Satan but because Peter’s words, like
that of Satan’s, showed a lack of understanding
of God’s plan of salvation. Like Satan, Peter
was (unknowingly) tempting Jesus with earthly thinking
and desires, very much like the time Satan tempted Jesus
in the wilderness with earthly power and material comforts
and the possibility of having and enjoying them now!
Peter was inadvertently discouraging Jesus from doing
what God had appointed Him to do. For this reason, Jesus
had to tell Peter that he did not have the mind of God
but rather, was worldly in his thinking.
Just
like Jesus, we are to be sure of our calling. When we
face discouragement while trying to carry out God’s
will, we are to rebuke it.
2.
Following Christ Is a Life-Long Commitment
Jesus
was very sure of His mission and was not afraid that
it entailed suffering, rejection and death. The Bible
says that God was very pleased with Jesus in this way.
As Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient to death
on the Cross, God gave Him a name that is above every
name. God highly exalted the name of Jesus - such that
every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord. This has been and will always
be to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2).
Jesus
gave His life for the glory of God the Father. What
sort of life are you leading? How are you leading your
life to show that it is in obedience to God? What can
you do this week that will show that you are living
a life obedient to God?
Following
Christ is a life-long commitment. Whoever believes in
Jesus must deny him or herself and carry his / her own
cross daily. To truly find a real and meaningful life
in God, a child of God must be committed to God and
prepared to make sacrifices if called upon to do so.
Many missionaries understand this principle as they
literally give up all they have to serve God when He
calls. Making sacrifices is always a difficult thing
but Matthew 16:26 reminds us that there is no good in
us gaining the whole world, but forfeiting our souls
in the process. If you are ashamed of the Son of Man,
He will also be ashamed of you too when He returns.
God
is always at work. In life, it is not how much we know
or how much we have, but rather how much love we have
for God. Your love for God will challenge you not only
to move on in life but also to move out for greater
service to God.
Prayer
Response
Dear
God, thank you for today’s reminder about living
a life worthy of our high calling as God’s children.
Please help me be obedient to your calling and help
me not to be discouraged when the way ahead appears
challenging. Amen.
Devotional
Based On a Sermon by Rev Lee Yam Kai.