If find it interesting how often in his ministry, especially during these final few days leading up to his crucifixion, that Jesus reminded himself and those who were following him that he had a mission to fulfill and he needed to stay on task.
With many needy people surrounding him and a group of followers and disciples who were not always as centered and helpful as they could have been, sticking to the mission was often difficult and challenging. We read many times in Scripture of those closest to Jesus suggesting He do good things – things that seemed to be intelligent responses to the circumstances – but were things that would deflect Him from the mission that God had called him to.
For example, we read in John 2:1-4 this story. “On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, ‘They have no more wine.’ ‘Woman, why do you involve me?’ Jesus replied. ‘My hour has not yet come.’”
Upon first reading of this story I was struck at how disrespectful Jesus seems to be toward his mother as he discounts what she has to say. As I meditated on the story it occurred to me that the lesson it contains is that not everyone is to be listened to. As much as he loved his mother and as much as he respected his mother (After all , he was Jewish.) when she suggested (demanded) he do something that was not a part of the mission God had called him to complete, he was willing to set her suggestion aside. If what she wanted him to do was off task, he refused to do it. I have a feeling that Mary probably glared at him when he responded to her request.
Next we will look at a pointed story of Peter missing the point. We read this in Matthew 16:21-23. “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ‘Never, Lord!’ he said. ‘This shall never happen to you!’ Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.’”
Again, in this story, Peter’s response doesn’t seem so bad. It is a response most of us might have had. Peter loved Jesus and the thought of him being mistreated and killed was repulsive to him. So, of course, Peter rose to Jesus’ defense. Sounds like the good and right thing to do. Unfortunately it was a response that was not born out of a clear understanding of Jesus’s mission and calling from God. His response, one that doesn’t seem so bad to us, gets him call “Satan!” and a stumbling block to the One to whom Peter had sworn his allegiance. Wow! Perhaps understanding the mission and vision that God has put forth is important and essential in being a vital part of what God is calling us to do.
The final story I want to share is about insisting on pressing forward our agenda in the face of God’s agenda. We read about it in Matthew 20:17-22. “Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!’ Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. ‘What is it you want?’ he asked. She said, ‘Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.’”
Here we go! Jesus is talking about life and death and salvation and eternal life and James and John’s mother wants to talk about her sons being in a place of honor in Jesus’s little band. Talk about not getting it. For those of us in the church, it is like having a mission to reach the people in our community who do not yet know God with His message of love, healing and forgiveness and then spending an entire board meeting discussing (arguing about) what type and color of carpet to put in the fellowship hall. When our eyes are on and our hearts are invested in the mission and vision God has called the church to, such discussions are more than a waste of valuable time and energy. They drag us off task.
I don’t know about you, but when I meet Jesus face to face, I would rather not be called Satan. Instead, I want to hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant”
Copyright © 2012, William T. McConnell, All Rights Reserved
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