Mark 9:30-32 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.
How could Jesus say that He was going to be betrayed into the hands of men? How could mere men kill him, who had power over sicknesses, demons, and nature itself? How could He who raised the dead be victimized by mere humans with their limited abilities? How could this coming king, the Messiah, be disposed of by finite beings? Even more important how could Jesus' wonderful ministry be understood in the context of his declaration of betrayal and death. They did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. No wonder they were afraid to ask, for the reality of Jesus' miraculous deeds juxtaposed with this message of death seemed to be a non sequitur. How could such a destructive, diabolical deed of death at the hands of men bring about a Jewish kingdom of prominence or more important the eternal kingdom Jesus promised? And what about this rising after three days? What did that mean? This idea was on their minds. Earlier when Jesus healed a blind man, He began to teach them and told them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. (Mark 8:31) Peter was so upset he rebuked Jesus. As men of the senses, this kind of teaching confused them, dashing their hopes of a blessing and visitation from God through Jesus. If Jesus was not divine, if He could not bring about lasting changes to this world and to the Jewish people, then all hope was lost. The Jewish people would remain under the hated Roman rule. They would still be caught in the hopeless condition of sin and death. If Jesus was not who He said He was, then where was the cure for their circumstance; where was righteousness? These confused and disappointed men would not be ready to hear Jesus say when He stood before Pilate, My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place. (Jon 18:36)
Paul says if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Outside of God's grace and mercy, the just consequence of the fall of mankind is a cancerous sin that always leads to eternal death. Jesus paid the price--the penalty of death--to free us from sin by shedding his blood as a sacrifice for sin. However, He also had to rise again, victorious over sin and death, to bring eternal life to every one of us who was dead in his or her sins. When Christ arose from that grave, all of us who have placed our faith and hope in him arose victorious with him. Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, understood the reason for Jesus' death and resurrection very clearly on the day the Spirit fell on all believers. Once Peter had been confused about Jesus' death and resurrection; but full of the Spirit's enlightenment, He knew the mission of Jesus Christ. Full of power, Peter related this good news, “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. (Acts 2:22-24) And, God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, "The Lord said to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.'" Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:32-39)
Yes, the disciples misunderstood Jesus' message of dying and the resurrection. They did not know Jesus' death would cleanse the temple within each of us, so the Spirit could inhabit our innermost beings with his resurrection power and life. They could not wrap their minds around the spiritual realities of Christ's message until after the Spirit made these truths real. When Jesus sent them out, they gave their lives willingly to carry this wonderful message of redemption: God is with us through his Spirit, and He will never leave us. This message changed their lives and turned the world upside down. No longer would believers hurt and kill their enemies; they would love them, bless them, pray for them. They knew they served a God who sent the rain on the just and unjust. They also knew their Lord said, Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48) In Christ, by the Spirit, they were established as perfect in God's eyes; for his Son is perfect, a Lamb without spot of blemish. No longer would they live for themselves, knowing Jesus performed a new work in them and gave them pliable hearts. They no longer sought a physical kingdom to rule in this world. No, they believed for an eternal home that would never vanish, one not be won by force, but a pure gift from the hands of God. They were no longer strangers to God, but forever known as adopted sons and daughters in the household of God with new names written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Their vision of life no longer tethered to earth, they looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:10) They knew they were like the Levites of old. Their inheritance was God himself. No physical land for them; they inherited the very presence of God, his Spirit. Never to be abandoned or forsaken, God himself dwelled with them. Finally, at home: everlasting peace became their inheritance through Christ their Lord. Every tear, every fear, and all confusion and anxiety wiped away by the hand of God. Praise God! He is risen. He is risen, indeed! The redeemed will glorify the Lamb of God throughout eternity. Amen!
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