Hello again, on this gorgeous Spring morning.
And since I checked conditions on the mountain, I’m thinking to see if I can break away to participate in some of the gorgeous snow-scape up there with my skis attached. In view of that general plan, Tazzy is kind of bummed because I’m not cooperating with our more regular exercise excursion. Oh well—he’ll get over it.
I have piles of work to do—and the grass is growing like crazy. But all that will still be here when I return—almost like I didn’t even go anywhere.
May your day be blessed—although I don’t necessarily recommend you copy my tongue-in-cheek reasoning above.
Love to all, Ray.
Contained within this passage is what I hope we can all recognize as the most urgent question of all time—“But who do you say that I am?” (8:29, TPT) Of course this was spoken by Jesus to His disciples—so they are the target meaning of “you.” But beyond that, I believe it is quite appropriate for the “you” to also mean YOU—as well as ME. That’s because WHO we really and truly believe this Jesus IS determines everything else concerning our worldview, lifestyle, and destiny.
Just prior to this pointed personal question was a general one—“Who do the people say I am?” (v. 27, TPT). If anyone chooses to make their personal answer on the basis of public opinion, TRUTH will always be obscured. After all, what people think about an issue is not really very important. At the end of the day (and at the end of our days) that which really matters is ABSOLUTE TRUTH—or WHAT GOD THINKS. And here in this sensational setting where Jesus is glorified on the mountain in the presence of His 3 disciples, ABSOLUTE TRUTH is established in no uncertain terms—because the Sovereign of the Universe interrupts the scene by speaking loud and clear—‘This is my most dearly loved Son—always listen to him!”
An overview of Biblical revelation equips me with a fundamental belief—that is, insofar as the spiritual realm is concerned, there are only two kingdoms—God’s (representing ABSOLUTE TRUTH) and Satan’s (representing absolute deception). That can only mean that the realm of man intermingles with both kingdom realms. This dual influence is highlighted in this passage after Jesus clearly describes what He is soon to face in Jerusalem (8:31-33) and, in ignorant response, Peter takes Jesus aside to impose on Him his own human thinking. Jesus cuts straight to the core and identifies the real source of Peter’s rebuke by rebuking Peter with these shocking words—“Get out of my sight, Satan! For your heart is not set on God’s plan but man’s” (8:24, TPT). Wow! So, man’s opinions that oppose God’s plans and purposes are seen here to be of diabolical origin.
If we will choose to align ourselves with God and His purposes, eager to “always listen to Him,” we must take very seriously the terms and conditions Jesus sets forth for being His follower in verses 34-38 of chapter 8.