Monday: A Preface to the Cross
What were the reactions of the disciples to Jesus’ predictions of His own sufferings and death, and what should their reactions teach us about the dangers of misunderstanding Scripture?
Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 9:30-32; Luke 9:44-45,
Image © Lars Justinen at Goodsalt.com
Jesus was born to die, and He lived to die. Every step that He took brought Him closer to His great atoning sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. Fully conscious of His mission, He did not allow anyone or anything to distract Him from it. In reality, “His whole life was a preface to His death on the cross.” — Ellen G. White, Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 382.
In the last year of His earthly ministry, Jesus spoke more and more explicitly to His disciples about His forthcoming death. But they seemed unable and unwilling to accept the reality of His statements. Filled with false notions about the role of the Messiah, the last thing that they had expected was for Him, Jesus, especially as the Messiah, to die. In short, their false theology led them into needless pain and suffering.
Already to Nicodemus, Jesus had declared, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:14-15, , NKJV). While in Caesarea Philippi, Jesus told His disciples that He had to “go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day” (Matthew 16:21, NKJV). Passing privately through Galilee (Mark 9:30-32) and during His final journey to Jerusalem (Luke 18:31-34), Jesus spoke again to His disciples about His death and resurrection. Because it was not what they wanted to hear, they didn’t listen. How easy it is for us to do the same.
| People, especially God’s chosen people, had false concepts regarding the first coming of the Messiah. What are some of the false concepts out there today regarding the second coming of Jesus? |
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We probably need to remember that the account of the Gospels was written after the events they described and probably with the benefit of hindsight. The fact remains that the disciples had a very different picture of the kingdom of heaven in mind right up to the cross. Threaded through the narrative of the last week of Christ's ministry we find the story of the disciples jockeying for position in the new Kingdom. James and John even engaged their Mum to help them out! But their preconceived ideas of what a heavenly kingdom would look like closed their eyes to reality.
When I came to Australia from New Zealand to attend Avondale College, I was in for a big surprise. I had seen photographs of the place and had tried to imagine what it would look like in the big picture. When I arrived, I found that I had the picture back to front. What I thought was in the east was in fact in the west and vice versa. I suddenly had to do a reversal in my mind so that the sun came up in the right place the next morning.
The disciples went to the cross, thinking that this was the big moment when Jesus would announce the new Kingdom. It was going to be a spectacular event. Then he was killed and their picture of the Kingdom collapsed right in front of them.
You can see their disbelief in:
They did not want to believe what Jesus was telling them. I can imagine them sitting down after the crucifixion and going over what Jesus has said at the time. The cross had given them a brain reversal and they could now see the big picture. "So, that is what Jesus was trying to tell us!"
And if the disciples needed a brain reversal at the cross, is it possible that we have a few things wrong about the Kingdom of God in our own minds at this point in history? Perhaps we need to remain teachable.
False interpretation of Scripture can lead us to, as did Peter,take God aside, and rebuke Him.
This is SO TRUE. I read last night that when Judas fell at Jesus feet crying out that he had betrayed innocent blood, Jesus calmly looked down and said, "For this purpose came I into the world." And the crowd marveled that he forgave his disciple.
Sharon: See Matthew 27:3-4 Judas made that statement to the chief priests and elders when he returned the betrayal money to them. He did not apologize to Jesus.
Maurice, yes, definitely we need to remain teachable.
Talking about a brain reversal, as we read acts chapter 1 and 2, Peter in his speech seemed knowledgeable and reassured about what happed after the crucifixion.
Acts 2:36-38, 41
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off*, even as many as the Lord our God shall call*.
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
When Jesus appeared to many after His death we read
In Acts 1:6
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord*, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
And in verse 8 He gave them an important message before ascending to heaven again.
Acts 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
At this time was this news a bit mind boggling to them? I think not since immediately after that 2 angels took over the proper messaging:
Acts 1:11
And while they looked stedfastly* toward heaven as he went up*, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
So the best they could do at this time, since it was too much for them to absorb, went back to Jerusalem to the upper room and prayed.
Acts 1:14
These all continued* with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
We are teachable, if we press in prayer and supplication together or even alone, trusting God‘s word and asking for the Holy Spirit to fill us daily.
In this world we are going to be frustrated. Our plans seem to be mingled with the material world that we can grasp. But the will of God can be different. Sometimes what we may think is the will of God is totally the reverse. Why? Perhaps because we fall into the trap of focusing on our own perceptions, not on God's. God is able to do much more than we can think of, specially when we allow Him to do so completely! We need to deliver our will to His, wholly.
Answering the above question: Some false beliefs I have heard are; we will be raptured, some people are already in heaven looking down on us and we won’t go up to heaven but we will remain here on earth.
Some false beliefs (which I too once shared but now believe the truth) about the second coming of Christ go like this: There will be a secret rapture, according to Matthew 24:40-41, 43 and Revelation 3:10, where Christians are taken away to Heaven while others are left on Earth. Then there will be a 7-year period of waiting for Jesus to return in full view, and during the 7-year period the Antichrist comes into power and the tribulation begins. The idea of the tribulation period is a misinterpretation of Daniel 9:24-27, where the 70th week of the prophecy of Daniel is taken out of context and pushed way into the future. Many Protestants believe that this also gives the Jewish nation and the unraptured a time of probation to be saved; hence a second chance. It is also believed, and more so in the year 2022, that the Antichrist is definitely not the papacy. Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us continue to study the Word of God alone, which teaches that there will be no second chance or secret rapture. Please reread these scripture texts:
Study asks:
What are some of the false concepts out there today regarding the second coming of Jesus?
One false concept of the second return of Jesus is that he will return to a physical temple in Jerusalem.
Scripture shows Jesus entered the presence of his Father as a new creation and us through him.
This carnal creation is headed for complete corruption, just like Jerusalem of old, and Babylon, all destroyed.
There will be New Heavens and new Earth.
The Woman does not look out the window all the time, looking for her husband's return, but does her duty so everything is in order for *whenever* he returns. The same for us as a wife of Jesus.
The phrase "....we are of all men most miserable" of 1 Cor. 15:19-26 comes to me as I picture the disciples during Crucifixion weekend.
Those who had not walked with Jesus, had no hopes placed in Him, were living life as normal. Eating, drinking, marrying, giving in marriage. Celebrating the religious rituals of Passover (which pointed to Jesus) that weekend. They were not crying in agony over Jesus's death. Things were going along in a familiar way, including Roman crucifixions. The Laodicean says it, "I'm doing well, I'm prospering, I need nothing". In today's language, "It's all good. No worries." Maybe take a few substances to smooth out the nervous system. Zen smiles and shut eyes.
In contrast, even before their calling, Jesus's disciples had reached a point where life as normal was no longer an option. Nathaniel was a man in whom was no guile, said Jesus. Meaning he was any or all of these things: childlike, transparent as glass, wore his heart on his sleeve, neither credulous nor mistrustful, honestly ready to yield to the force of truth. He stood apart from the world of his time. Nathaniel was pouring out his heart to God, earnestly seeking Him, had been expecting the Christ, was on his tiptoes of expectation, under the fig tree. That's why "we have found the Messiah" was like a bell call for him. We see all the disciples leaving everything to follow Jesus. They were all ready for new life. They all felt out of place somehow in their old lives and old joys.
And yet what Jesus presented to them was SO new and radical they couldn't understand it. Three years later and they were still living their old lives WITH Jesus...competing over who would be greatest, arguing over use of the moneys, frightened in a storm, shooing children away, anxious how to calm hungry crowds. They treated Jesus like they would any normal friend: "oh no be it far from you for bad things to happen to you!"; feeling exceedingly sorry when he says he's about to die; confused and afraid to ask "what in the ___ are you talking about?!"
I think many of our churches really ARE like those disciples. The Holy Spirit has been working among us showing us that the state of life on planet Earth is "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked" (Rev. 3:17). The conscience has been pricked to the odor of evil everywhere, in institutions, on the news, and the self-exaltation even in our own hearts and the hearts of friends. We are on our tippy toes awaiting the coming again of Jesus, the Messiah. We've said "yes" to Jesus and walk with Him through prayer and Bible study and meeting together. And yet,do we REALLY understand what happened at the cross? Is that our WHOLE focus? When Jesus is saying, "Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men" (Luke 9:44) are we instead caught up in denominational politics - "who deserves to carry that church role or not?" (Luke 9:46) ....and doctrinal policing - "is she with us because she has a little different view of ___?" (Luke 9:49,50) Are we bold to ask together in prayer, "What are You talking about, Lord?" rather than promote a Spirit of fear of each other (John 12:42-43).
What if we stood at the bottom of the cross together gazing up? For hours. What if we didn't just SAY things like "washed in the blood of the Lamb" but we prayerfully asked "Lord, what does it really MEAN to be washed in Your blood?" "how do You DO that?" "I need to grasp the immensity of Your Love and Sacrifice, Lord." "I need to put away childish things, Lord, and be there with You dying under the burden of my sins, to know You as intimately even as You know me." What if Christ and Him crucified was our WHOLE focus? We are of all men most miserable to have pricked consciences - discerning from our walk with Jesus that there really is something wrong going on in our world - and yet to not fully grasp the pivotal, death-defying, rock-shattering, calendar-changing, cosmos-rocking, new life-birthing victory of Calvary.
1 Corinthians 13:2-3 reminds us that we could understand all mysteries and possess all knowledge, and yet without love, love fully received from Jesus and love fully given back to Jesus, our gifts and evangelistic crusades are NOTHING. Are we so busy interpreting prophecies that we are missing what Jesus is saying to us RIGHT NOW, over and over? "Look to ME and be saved" (Is. 45:22). "And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men to Me" (John 12:32). Can we join with Paul in saying "I am determined to know NOTHING, except Jesus Christ and Him crucified!" (1 Cor. 2:2),....come on, we have to dig DEEP for the springs of life-giving water bubbling up to eternity! Or are we so busy defending and arguing over a list of 28 that Jesus's voice is falling on deaf ears and our gaze has drifted away from His? Are we still living our old lives with Jesus, or are we letting Him wash us thoroughly at the foot of the cross, fitting us for eternal life in His Kingdom?
Matthew 21:33-46. God the Father and his Son knew well the character of mankind—we have a track record. In this parable, Jesus alludes to Daniel 2:34, applying it to the religious who are in charge of the Lord's vineyard. God knew that religion and the state (the mix of iron and clay) would join together to kill his Son when called to account for the fruit of his vineyard.
It is easy to say, "Those bad people," but the question I have to ask myself is "What part have I played in the continuation of all of this?" Has my life given the Lord his due? Am I working to return the fruits of his vineyard to the Lord or to myself? When the Lord reveals to me what I am, do I fall on the Rock and break? Or do I justify myself and continue with business as usual?
It is easier to point to the “false concepts” of others, than to deal with those of self. But the real issue is from where will my justification come? God or myself. Am I a hinderance or a help to God's cause?
God calls us to be his ambassadors (apostles) to this world. Is it our primary goal to answer this call?