Mark 8:26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.
Weird, right? Our reality can never exceed our sight. He can see that these other men are just normal, no bigger, smarter or greater than he is. But that doesn't mean he is ready to take them on. He still needs to be trained and equipped.
27 And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?
They see that these other people are no better than them. Fine. But now we need to see that Jesus is the Christ. Jesus is the anointed one.
28 And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets. 29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.
Step 1 I realize that these guys are no stronger than I am. That doesn't mean I will win. It means it is an even fight. Step 2 I see that Jesus is the Messiah. He is the mighty God, the all powerful one. He is your secret weapon.
30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.
However, He is also Lord. The day will come when He tells them to tell men about Him, but now is not that day. If you cannot obey the Lord, be trained by Him, be discipled, and follow His leading then you are still not ready to take on the powers that be. That is step 3 -- bow the knee, Jesus is Lord.
31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
This is step 4, if no death no life. You have to have the fellowship of His sufferings if you are going to experience the outstanding resurrection. Think of the heavyweight fighter who must train and go through years of training and suffering before he can win the championship.
Weird, right? Our reality can never exceed our sight. He can see that these other men are just normal, no bigger, smarter or greater than he is. But that doesn't mean he is ready to take them on. He still needs to be trained and equipped.
27 And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?
They see that these other people are no better than them. Fine. But now we need to see that Jesus is the Christ. Jesus is the anointed one.
28 And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets. 29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.
Step 1 I realize that these guys are no stronger than I am. That doesn't mean I will win. It means it is an even fight. Step 2 I see that Jesus is the Messiah. He is the mighty God, the all powerful one. He is your secret weapon.
30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.
However, He is also Lord. The day will come when He tells them to tell men about Him, but now is not that day. If you cannot obey the Lord, be trained by Him, be discipled, and follow His leading then you are still not ready to take on the powers that be. That is step 3 -- bow the knee, Jesus is Lord.
31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
This is step 4, if no death no life. You have to have the fellowship of His sufferings if you are going to experience the outstanding resurrection. Think of the heavyweight fighter who must train and go through years of training and suffering before he can win the championship.