We are taught to place our thoughts, and significance NOT in the world, but keep ourselves in the heart, and mind of *GOD*, and what is OF HIM! We are reminded that our LORD'S thoughts, and ways are not as ours, and while we wish to place HIM in close relation by our standards to ourselves, HE IS FAR GREATER, and WAY ELEVATED OVER what is worldly, yes, even us...
CHRIST had been travelling all over the area, TEACHING, performing miracles, curing, and showing HIS TRUTH to the masses, though as the time is shorter for HIS MISSION to be fulfilled, HE increases HIS instructions, and lessons to the Disciples, for they were those who were to carry on in HIS NAME...
Little by little HE began to enlighten them to what HE came to suffer, though they had a tough time taking it in; because of the way they were previously taught about THE MESSIAH, they could NOT understand that HE should suffer, for it was beneath HIM in HIS MAJESTY! No, they could not quite grasp what HE had come to do, though several times HE spoke of THE PASSION, in which case, TRUTH would SHINE clearly for them AFTER HE had FULFILLED HIS WILL...
The enemy, since his outcast from HEAVEN to the Earth, has NEVER relented in clouding the mind, the senses, reason, or TRUTH; there is no exception for anyone, not even our LORD, but THROUGH CHRIST JESUS we learn more of what to expect, and how to diminish the wicked influence, and effects common to this world, via the enemy, as we vie to REMAIN IN THE LORD! Let us never grow weary in our growth, and let us PRAY for DIVINE intervention continuously...
31+++And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32+++And He was stating the matter plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.
33+++But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”
Christ reveals his mind to his people gradually. From that time, when the apostles had made the full confession of Christ, that he was the Son of God, he began to show them of his sufferings. He spake this to set right the mistakes of his disciples about the outward pomp and power of his kingdom. Those that follow Christ, must not expect great or high things in this world. Peter would have Christ to dread suffering as much as he did; but we mistake, if we measure Christ's love and patience by our own. We do not read of any thing said or done by any of his disciples, at any time, that Christ resented so much as this. Whoever takes us from that which is good, and would make us fear to do too much for God, speaks Satan's language. Whatever appears to be a temptation to sin, must be resisted with abhorrence, and not be parleyed with. Those that decline suffering for Christ, savour more of the things of man than of the things of God.
These things are written, that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. These miracles of our Lord assure us that he was not conquered, but a Conqueror. Now the disciples are convinced that Jesus is the Christ; they may bear to hear of his sufferings, of which Christ here begins to give them notice. He sees that amiss in what we say and do, of which we ourselves are not aware, and knows what manner of spirit we are of, when we ourselves do not. The wisdom of man is folly, when it pretends to limit the Divine counsels. Peter did not rightly understand the nature of Christ's kingdom.
Christ's being led into the wilderness gave an advantage to the tempter; for there he was alone, none were with him by whose prayers and advice he might be helped in the hour of temptation. He who knew his own strength might give Satan advantage; but we may not, who know our own weakness. Being in all things made like unto his brethren, Jesus would, like the other children of God, live in dependence upon the Divine Providence and promise.
The word of God is our sword, and faith in that word is our shield. God has many ways of providing for his people, and therefore is at all times to be depended upon in the way of duty.
Christ will not worship Satan; nor, when he has the kingdoms of the world delivered to him by his Father, will he suffer any remains of the worship of the devil to continue in them. Satan also tempted Jesus to be his own murderer, by unfitting confidence in his Father's protection, such as he had no warrant for.
Let not any abuse of Scripture by Satan or by men abate our esteem, or cause us to abandon its use; but let us study it still, seek to know it, and seek our defense from it in all kinds of assaults. Let this word dwell richly in us, for it is our life.
Our victorious Redeemer conquered, not for himself only, but for us also. The devil ended all the temptation. Christ let him try all his force, and defeated him. Satan saw it was to no purpose to attack Christ, who had nothing in him for his fiery darts to fasten upon. And if we resist the devil, he will flee from us. Yet he departed but till the season when he was again to be let loose upon Jesus, not as a tempter, to draw him to sin, and so to strike at his head, at which he now aimed and was wholly defeated in; but as a persecutor, to bring Christ to suffer, and so to bruise his heel, which it was told him, he should have to do, and would do, though it would be the breaking of his own head, Ge 3:15. Though Satan depart for a season, we shall never be out of his reach till removed from this present evil world.
No comments:
Post a Comment