The Resurrection
Matthew 17:21-23 When
they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be
betrayed into the hands of men. 23 They will kill him, and on the third day he
will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.
THE first time Jesus said this, Peter rebuked Jesus (Matt
16:22), refusing to believe Jesus would suffer and die. But this time “the disciples were filled with grief”.
What had happened between the first time—refusing to submit to God’s plan—and
the second time—accepting the awful truth of God’s plan?
The
Transfiguration had happened. Peter witnessed the Glory of the Lord. He saw the
Light of the World. He heard the voice of the Father say, “This is my Son whom I love. With him I am well please. Listen to him!”
(Matt 17:5)
With absolutely no
barrier between themselves and the Holy God, Peter, James and John experienced God’s
incomparable presence. Just as surely as Moses came down from Mt. Sinai with
absolute confidence in God’s power to rule, the three disciples knew with the
utmost certainty they must listen to Jesus, to believe every word he said.
Thus, Jesus repeated his destiny, and they all
grieved. Now they know for sure his words would absolutely come to pass. Yes,
they grieved because they focused on Jesus’ death. They had yet to understand, “he
will be raised to life”.
We all mourn the
passing of loved ones, don’t we? We hate death and grieve the incomparable loss
of people we love. I simply want to leave you with this: focus on “he will be
raised to life”.
LIFE Link: “I am the
resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.”
(John 11:25)
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