I find it amazing how easily perspective can change.
Peter went from declaring that Jesus is the Messiah in the Gospel of Matthew (v16-17) to reprimanding Jesus for saying He had to die (v22-23)
It shows how easy our minds can shift into a human point of view, when not focused on God’s.
The Disciples would have heard Jesus’ teachings of the Torah for over three years while walking with Him. They witnessed the miracles, the healings, and the crowds that followed Him. Peter was even part of the inner circle of Jesus, and yet, still, Peter declared that death would never happen!
It’s comforting and heartbreaking that the Disciples never had that real revelation of Jesus’ identity – even up until the resurrection.
How easy is it for us to pick the good bits out of a situation, and then, like Peter, try to sugar coat over the harder stuff.
Friends, have you sugar coated over your true identity?
We need to understand where ”half-truths” have taken hold in our lives and repent to God for believing those lies.
It’s time that we walk in our true identities. One where we are not fearful of what lies ahead, but more that we understand that Jesus died to set us free. That no weapon formed against us shall prosper, and therefore, all nations shall hear the Gospel because then, we get to go home
Don’t sugarcoat the hard parts of Discipleship, just because we are comfortable with the situation at hand – Jesus paid the ultimate price for us to take up our cross, and follow Him.
So if you believe that something ”will never happen,” remember God’s viewpoint
”Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. (Matthew 16:16-17)
But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!” Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap for me. You see things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”” (Matthew 16:22-23)
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