He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. Mark 8:31-32 (TNIV)
It is not pleasant to think that bad things must happen. Some people would eliminate those not-so-favorable things completely if they could. Who needs the pain? Who would suffer if they didn´t have to? Isn´t it antiquated to focus on the negative?
For sure it is not nice to dwell on the less positive circumstances. But it is not for the children to say what should or should not be. A parent knows that the temporary discomfort his or her child may experience may be necessary in that child´s education. God knows in the same way just how things should be even if we can only see the pain.
Here Jesus was trying to help us prepare for what would soon come. They were not happy thoughts. But these things needed to happen. It was part of the plan. There was pain and a sacrifice that needed to be suffered. But it was somehow necessary in God´s great plan. Should we cry and pout as little children? Should we stand in the face of our Father and demand why it must be so? We cannot stand in His council. We would not understand if He tried to explain it to us. Some things we just need to accept. He is working for our best interest. He knows how to bring us safely to Him in the end.
Peter did it for us. He began to reprimand the Lord. He took Jesus and started telling Him not to talk like that. Why was Jesus being so negative? He shouldn´t talk about bad things to come! Everything will be peaches and cream. All will be happiness and roses.
To our childlike attitude Jesus has strong words. He says; “Get behind me, Satan! You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” (Verse 33)
We see the world. We see the pain. We see what we want to see. We look for the candy and the fun times. We look for comfort and success. God looks for souls. He wants hearts that are willing to sacrifice as He did to be bonded with Him. He looks for serious faith. He looks for love that goes beyond the laughter and smooth sailing. He looks for trust.
It is time to stop watering down the words of Jesus. It is now time for us to stand up to what Jesus teaches. It is time for us to grow up. Let us hear the words Jesus uses to warn us of difficult times or trying times to come. Let us follow His lead. He is trying to prepare us. What still lies ahead for Christians today may not be the smoothest of sailing. It would be nice to say that no bad thing will come against us. But Jesus and prophet have tried to prepare us so that we do not fall away. Brace ourselves because we still may find opposition and deception.
Dear Jesus, like little children we do not understand. We cannot see why we need to suffer the tears. But You are our guide. You can take us by the hand and lead us forward into understanding. It will be Your strength that we make it through to the Father´s side. So let us not pout. Rather let us edge closer to You for help to endure. Let us set our hopes and determination on our goal. Let us fill our eyes with You alone. Then, whatever must be suffered, we will not suffer alone. We will follow You whether it means carrying a heavy cross or even a painful and lonely death. All for the glory of loving You!
Amen
Searching For Christ 
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