Monday 9th June
Read Luke 9:21-22
“Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22 And he said, ‘The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.’” (NIVUK)
It is one thing to know that Jesus is God’s Messiah, His anointed One. It is entirely another to understand what that means.
Perhaps the reason Jesus warned His disciples to tell no one at that time is because He knew they did not understand what that meant themselves. They thought it meant He would lead them to victory and they would rule with Him over God’s people, establish true temple worship, and liberate them from bondage to Rome.
Jesus immediately begins teaching them the nature of God’s Messiah. Suffering, rejection and death is what awaits Him. Perhaps the shock of these words, recorded in many places, is why they couldn’t hear the last prediction – that on the third day He would rise again.
Following Jesus, as we will read this week, also means suffering, rejection and death for us. Yet so often we think that it means victory and wonderful worship and joyful experience with God. Jesus wants them to have great expectations but also right expectations. Understanding how both are true is where wisdom lies.
