(Third in a series entitled:
"Journeying With Jesus to Jerusalem")
As Jesus was coming down the 9,232 ft. Mt. Hermon, where He had been
Transformed, of which I wrote last week, Jesus gave Peter, James and John
and injunction of secrecy. (Matthew 17:9)
Don't tell anyone what you have seen until
the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.
Can you imagine how difficult that was. Have you ever been given exciting
information and told not to tell anyone until the event occurred? If so, you
can understand the feeling of the three disciples.
Jesus began re-teaching what "Christ" meant.
No sooner had Jesus come down from that amazing, glorious experience,
than he was confronted with a delicate situation, (Read Matthew 17:14-23).
A man brought an epileptic, "moon struck" son, "attributed to evil spirits,"
for Jesus to heal him. In Jesus' absence the disciples tried healing
the boy and failed.
We can almost hear the sigh of relief, as Jesus appeared.
The man fell at Jesus' feet: "Sir have pity on my son!"
Even though the disciples had, in the past, been able to cast out demons,
here they publicly failed. The father did not give up...
"Jesus, have pity on my son!"
We learn that Jesus was ready to face the cross, yet he was
confronted with a common issue. We can face crisis moments
with honor and dignity, but allow routine demands of every
day irritate and annoy us.
How did Jesus do this? He didn't compartmentalize his life.
He came to the world to save the world. Yet he could give
himself entirely to one person. It is easy saying:
"let us love our neighbors." It's another thing to
love a neighbor who is irritating us.
Hear the Greif of Jesus: How long must I be with you
before you understand?
He had Infinite Patience. Jesus on the mountain faced the
tremendous task before him. He decided to stake his life
and give it to save the world. Now he faced the reality
that his chosen disciples were beaten and ineffective.
He must have thought, "will they be ready for the task
I am giving them?" He may have felt despair.
How did Jesus meet that despair? "Bring the boy to me."
"I will help the boy. Let me handle the present task and
not despair about the future."
Jesus didn't remain appalled or paralyzed at the slowness
of his disciples to apply what they had learned;
he delt with the immediate situation.
Jesus was Re-Teaching his disciples and giving us lessons
that we can apply to challenging situations.
1. Jesus stated the condition: Central to Life is Faith.
To the one who believes all things are possible. (Mt. 17:20)
Originally the father stated: If you can...(Mk. 9:23)
Suddenly, his faith blazed again. When we become
discouraged, let us look to Jesus, who never
disappoints us. "Removing Mountains," on the foot of
Mt. Hermon, was a common Jewish phrase.
"Up-root or pulverize of mountains." Jesus:
"If you have enough faith, all difficulties can be solved."
Even the hardest tasks can be accomplished.” Faith in God!
It is not how much faith
we have; it is in whom we have faith.
An electric outlet can power a night light or large appliance.
The key is
being plugged into the source of power.
Remaining close to God's power is critical.
2. Without maintaining Contact with God we lose Vitality and Living power
Humility, brings glory to God. The disciples had been equipped with power and authority from Jesus, but had not nurtured the power with prayer, thus the power had vanished.
Whatever Gifts and Talents God gives will be enriched when we use them, in Faith, that God will empower us in their use. God will use us in "ministering" to others. (Deo Gloria: J.S. Bach, composer and organist, always signed his works with To God Be the Glory!
This was a milestone. Jesus came down the Mountain and faced real life. Now he began his journey to Jerusalem and his ultimate purpose.
There was still Re-Teaching that needed to occur. Returning to Galilee, Jesus once again tells his disciples The Son of Man is going to Jerusalem. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill Him, on the third day He will be raised to life. (Mathew 17:22-23. Compare it with Mathew 16:21. What is the difference?
There was a traitor. Jesus knew who it was, Judas.
Judas likely had no idea what he would face.
Jesus was giving a warning and possibly making an appeal.
Jesus wanted his followers to know, there were no surprises and
what was going to happen, had a purpose.
The disciples didn't understand. All missed: "Rising Again."
They were beginning to understand that Jesus was facing tragedy
when he would arrive in Jerusalem. They were filled with grief.
The disciples still needed Re-Teaching, Read Matthew 18:1-6.
Jesus accepts the desire of being the greatest and teaches
what it really takes for one to be great. Read again Matthew 18:4.
Jesus took their question seriously and delt with it.
Mark 9:35: Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and taught them what
greatness was, which was in stark contrast to the greatness around
them and us.
Three Observations:
1. The disciples were arguing among themselves.
The contrast is one of three references where Jesus predicts his death.
The closer Jesus got to his approaching death, the more frequently
he warned his disciples lest there be a violent shock to their faith.
How many times did Jesus tell his disciples about going to Jerusalem?
Answer: Three times. Jesus told his disciples that he was headed to
Jerusalem, about his death and resurrection:
Matthew 16:21, 17:22 and 20:18.
Each time more detailed information was given. This time Traitor.
Jesus was leaving the safety of the northern country,
taking he first step towards Jerusalem.
Returning from Caesaria Philippi to Capernaum, Galilee, home base,
Jesus passed through the region for the last time. Ministry in Galilee
ended. Jesus didn't want anyone to know where they were,
because he was teaching his disciples.
There were times Jesus limited his public ministry in order to train
his disciples in depth. He knew the importance of equipping them
to carry on when he returned to Heaven. He could have left them
a series of propositions, but Jesus knew that was not enough.
His goal was to leave a band of persons on whom the propositions
where written. He wanted to make sure that these disciples understood,
however dimly, who he was and why he came to earth.
2. The disciples didn't understand, let alone
comprehend, the significance of Jesus' death.
But they (the disciples) did not understand what he
meant and were afraid to ask him. (Mark 9:32)
(Afraid of knowing more?)
Are we any different? Do we accept parts of the Bible/Christianity
which appeal to us and reject those that we don't like?
"Nothing, so well, shows how far the disciples were from realizing
the real meaning of Jesus' Messiahship than this incident."*
It is heart breaking thinking of Jesus Dying.
"Jesus seemed morbidly preoccupied with death."
It was the disciples who were wrongly preoccupied--constantly
thinking about the kingdom they hoped Jesus would establish
and their roles in it.
Despite Jesus' re-teaching his disciples -- Mark 8:31-32,
failed to hear or grasp: "rising from the dead."
a.) They were still thinking about Jesus' Kingdom in earthly terms.
b.) They saw themselves as Chief Ministers of State.
c.) To receive glory meant lording it over others.
If Jesus died, the Kingdom as they imagined, could not come.
Consequently, they preferred not asking him about what he had said.
They were arguing among themselves, and Jesus asks:
What are you arguing about? They remained quiet because
they had been arguing about who was the greatest. Silence or Shame?
Arguing in secret. The disciples were caught up in their own
personal success and were embarrassed to answer Jesus' question,
at least not openly.
If Jesus were present ... It is not if but is present.
Do we hear and see what we are to say and do?
It is painful comparing our motives with Christ's.
The disciples argued among themselves...
3. Jesus instructed his disciples as a Rabbi.
a, Sitting down was a sign of authority and teaching.
It is where the term (Chair) in a University comes from.
It takes time to learn Deep Spiritual Truths.
Growth does not occur instantly, regardless of the quality
of experience or instruction. If the disciples needed
to set aside time from work, periodically,
in order to learn from the Master, how much more do we
need alternating work/activities and learning.
The 40 days of Lent are a good time to slow down and
reflect on Jesus' life and why he was headed to Jerusalem.
b. Taking a child Jesus uses a visual illustration. (See above photo)
Jesus taught to welcome children. This was a new approach
in a society where children were treated as second-class
citizens. It is important to respect children and teach them
about Jesus. This is something that is taught in Sunday School,
and hopefully in our homes. Every day, with a child,
is an opportunity of talking about Jesus.
We all can learn from children: Their Qualities of
Humility, Trust, Dependence and Desire to Learn.
There is a Tradition: That one of children Jesus whom took into his arms
grew up to be Ignatius of Antioch, who became a great servant
of the Church and finally a martyr for Christ. The tradition springs from
Ignatius' surname Theophoros, which means: "God Carried or God-Borne.
The tradition grew because Jesus "carried him on his knee."*
Luke 9:48: One is the least among you, is the greatest.
Jesus taught that whoever welcomes a child, in my name, welcomes me.
Giving a cup of cold water is Jesus' name, to someone who thirsty
is the same as giving an offering to God, the Father.
My wife, Jeannie Stewart, who grew up in Colombia, S.A., tells of Missionary
Nurse who for many years rode her bicycle all over the region serving
the community. She had patience, fortitude and cheerfulness. She was
never too tiered, at night, for an urgent need of a nurse and mid-wife.
She was a true servant of God, as were my parents-in-law and other
missionaries. In conversation with the Stewart's we discussed how few
people knew what they did. They said:
"God knows and that is all that counts."+
Jesus cautions on harming, mistreating, mis-teaching children or
failure in caring for them. It would be better for them to have a
millstone tied around their neck and thrown into the sea.
Lasting greatness is measured by God's standards.
What do you use in determining greatness?
4. We learn what greatness means:
Asking not what do I get? but
Asking what can I give? How can I use what God has given me?
Greatness comes not in being first but being last.
Jesus does not abolish ambition. It is not wrong being industrious
or ambitious. When ambition pushes obedience and service aside,
it may become a sin. Pride or insecurity can cause us to overvalue
position and prestige.
Honor one another and sublimate (word of the day, means purifies)
ambition. Such motives can be destructive in God's kingdom.
Ambition to rule substituted for ambition to serve and advancement
of Christ's Kingdoms, not our own advancement.
Honor one another above yourselves. (Romans 12:10)
It is not how can I use the State and Society in furthering my own
prestige and ambition. Rather how can I use my personal gifts
and talents in serving the State and Society?
O. Henry, an American master of short stories tells of a little girl
whose mother was dead. Her father used to come home from work
and sit down and take off he jacket and open the his paper and light
his pipe, and put his feet on the mantlepiece. The little girl came in
and ask him to play with her for she was lonely. He told her to go
out to the street and play. She played on the streets. The inevitable
happened--she took to the streets. The years passed on and she died.
Then O. Henry's vision extended to Heaven. The girl's soul arrived
in Heaven. Peter saw her and said to Jesus: "Master, here is a girl
who was a bad lot. I suppose we send her straight to hell?"
"No," said Jesus gently said, "let her in." And then his eyes grew
stern, "But look for the man who refused to play with this little girl
and who sent her out to the streets to play and send him to Hell!"
God is not hard on the sinner, but God will be stern to the person
who makes it easier for another to sin, and whose conduct, either
thoughtless or deliberate, puts a stumbling-block in the path of
the weaker brother or sister.*
One more story illustrating Jesus' re-teaching his disciples.
11th Century, Duke Robert of Burgundy, one of the great warriors
and knightly figures, was about to go off on a campaign.
He had his baby son, who was his heir; before he departed,
he made his barons and nobles swear fealty, loyalty, to the
little baby, in event of anything happening to him.
The men came with their waving plumes and clanking armor
and knelt before the child. One of them smiled. Duke Robert
asked why he was smiling. He said, "The child is so little."
"Yes," said Duke Robert. "he is little-- but he'll grow."
Indeed he did grow, for that baby became:
William the Conqueror of England.
* William Barclay, The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 2, p. 193
p. 199-200
+ Millie Hilly, United Presbyterian Missionary, Sinu, Colombia
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