May the mumbling commence!
Who is Jesus? It is a question that Jesus asked his disciples. They gave some popular answers – answers they may have thought were right as well. Read their interaction from Matthew chapter sixteen:
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"
Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." (Verses 13-23)
Both John the Baptist and Jesus were compared to Elijah – or one of the other prophets. The people expected certain things from prophets of God; and, in many ways, they were not disappointed. There were miracles and speaking truth to those in power…
But Jesus asked those closest to him who he was. Peter answered the Christ, the Son of the living God. Peter knew that Jesus was much more than a prophet in the line of Elijah or Jeremiah or any of the other prophets from of old. Jesus did not deny this confession but warned his disciples to let no one else know of his true identity.
Then the passage takes an unexpected turn. Jesus began to talk about his upcoming suffering and death and resurrection. These things were what marked Jesus as more than a prophet. It was the pattern that God set through not only the prophetic Scriptures but also through the life and death of John the Baptist.
Peter and the rest of the Jewish nation did not expect a suffering Messiah. They expected a Messiah who would reign with the power of God and who would reestablish the kingdom of David and Solomon. It is no wonder that Peter told Jesus that this suffering would never happen.
These expectations were merely human. The suffering truth was (and is) of God. Read a couple of passages from Matthew’s version of the transfiguration of Jesus in chapter seventeen:
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (Verses 1-4)
The disciples asked him, "Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?"
Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist. (Verses 10-13)
There is a new pattern. Both John the Baptist and Jesus suffered and died for other peoples’ benefit. The Jewish people had a difficult time accepting this new pattern. Some Jews do not accept it even today.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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