But, once Peter had finally put into words what they all believed, something changed. Instead of making plans for setting up the kingdom, Jesus had begun to tell them that the Son of Man was going to be rejected and killed. They could not comprehend that He was going to be crushed for their sins, that the suffering He chose to endure would result in their peace. He knew, however, that they would be healed by His wounds. Because they were His friends, He tried to prepare them. He also told them that He would rise from the dead in three days, but they didn’t understand, and they were afraid to ask Him what He meant.
This time when they had passed through Galilee Jesus avoided the crowds. He was now focused on preparing His disciples for what they would encounter in Jerusalem. When they came into the house in Capernaum, He asked what they had been arguing about along the way. There was silence. While Jesus had been telling them about the rejection and suffering that was awaiting Him, they had been arguing about who would be the greatest in the coming kingdom. These were the men He had chosen, and He knew and understood them. Instead of rebuking them, Jesus sat down and told them that if anyone wanted to be first he had to be last and a servant of all. The one who was speaking to them was the Righteous Servant who would justify many.
The disciples were seeking status now that they had identified themselves as those who were chosen by the Messiah. Jesus took a child and put him in their midst. He then wrapped the child in His arms and said to His disciples, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me” (Mark 9:37). The disciples had anticipated a Messiah who would tear the heavens open and come down. Someone who would make His name known to His enemies so that all the nations would tremble at His presence. They looked with wonder and confusion as He sat embracing a child and telling them about the suffering and rejection that awaited Him in Jerusalem. They had recognized Jesus as the Messiah, but had not understood that He, as the Messiah, was also the suffering servant spoken of in Isaiah 53.
In their presence was the Messiah. They had seen His compassion. And now, as He began explaining the way of the Kingdom, perhaps the words of Isaiah 55:8,9 came to their minds, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.” He taught them that to be great in the Kingdom was to be a servant; that to receive a child in His name was to receive Him. Many years later Peter would reflect on the suffering of the Messiah and say, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed ” (1 Peter 2:24).
This time when they had passed through Galilee Jesus avoided the crowds. He was now focused on preparing His disciples for what they would encounter in Jerusalem. When they came into the house in Capernaum, He asked what they had been arguing about along the way. There was silence. While Jesus had been telling them about the rejection and suffering that was awaiting Him, they had been arguing about who would be the greatest in the coming kingdom. These were the men He had chosen, and He knew and understood them. Instead of rebuking them, Jesus sat down and told them that if anyone wanted to be first he had to be last and a servant of all. The one who was speaking to them was the Righteous Servant who would justify many.
The disciples were seeking status now that they had identified themselves as those who were chosen by the Messiah. Jesus took a child and put him in their midst. He then wrapped the child in His arms and said to His disciples, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me” (Mark 9:37). The disciples had anticipated a Messiah who would tear the heavens open and come down. Someone who would make His name known to His enemies so that all the nations would tremble at His presence. They looked with wonder and confusion as He sat embracing a child and telling them about the suffering and rejection that awaited Him in Jerusalem. They had recognized Jesus as the Messiah, but had not understood that He, as the Messiah, was also the suffering servant spoken of in Isaiah 53.
In their presence was the Messiah. They had seen His compassion. And now, as He began explaining the way of the Kingdom, perhaps the words of Isaiah 55:8,9 came to their minds, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.” He taught them that to be great in the Kingdom was to be a servant; that to receive a child in His name was to receive Him. Many years later Peter would reflect on the suffering of the Messiah and say, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed ” (1 Peter 2:24).
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