At CTV we believe that God speaks to us through the Bible. We hear from God better when we read and interact with his written word together. Below you will find the Bible reading for each week day, along with some initial comments from one of our facilitators. May God meet and shape us through this conversation! Visit us online @ ChurchInTheVineyard.org ~ Pastor Chip
Agendas. We all have them. That long list of things I must accomplish. In today’s reading, Jesus has three encounters with a person(s) whose agenda is different than his. Sadly this keeps them from seeing Christ clearly. First, the religious leaders, the Pharisees and Sadducees, demand Jesus perform miracles to prove his authority. Although they have seen him perform many, their agenda dictates a specific type of miracle. They want him to perform one in the sky. Jesus refuses. He knows their agenda does not include Jesus as Messiah. Second, Jesus warns his disciples about the ‘leaven (evil)’ of the religious leaders. Jesus focuses on deep matters of faith; but they miss His message. They are preoccupied with their agenda: what to serve the masses for lunch. Jesus grows frustrated. Again and again, he has provided bread for them via miraculous displays. He says, “Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread? You have so little faith!” He challenges their physical agenda (the need to eat bread) with his spiritual agenda (the need to be filled with the Bread of Heaven). Third, in Caesarea Philippi, Jesus specifically asks his disciples if they knew who he is. They offer a variety of answers: John the Baptist, and Elijah. Only Peter answers correctly: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Later, Peter’s ‘faith-vision,’ is obscured, as he adopts an agenda for Jesus, which is not God’s. Peter is looking for a powerful, political Messiah. As Jesus tells Peter and the other disciples that he must travel to Jerusalem, suffer, and be put to death, Peter rebukes him, saying: “this can’t be.” Jesus’ agenda is clear, as he responds to Peter: “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. As, I read Matthew 16, I ask, what is my agenda? Like the religious leaders, the disciples and Peter, does it keep me from seeing Jesus clearly? Please join me today in asking Jesus to wash us afresh of our agendas, and instead immerse us in His!
Agendas. We all have them. That long list of things I must accomplish. In today’s reading, Jesus has three encounters with a person(s) whose agenda is different than his. Sadly this keeps them from seeing Christ clearly.
ReplyDeleteFirst, the religious leaders, the Pharisees and Sadducees, demand Jesus perform miracles to prove his authority. Although they have seen him perform many, their agenda dictates a specific type of miracle. They want him to perform one in the sky. Jesus refuses. He knows their agenda does not include Jesus as Messiah.
Second, Jesus warns his disciples about the ‘leaven (evil)’ of the religious leaders. Jesus focuses on deep matters of faith; but they miss His message. They are preoccupied with their agenda: what to serve the masses for lunch. Jesus grows frustrated. Again and again, he has provided bread for them via miraculous displays. He says, “Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread? You have so little faith!” He challenges their physical agenda (the need to eat bread) with his spiritual agenda (the need to be filled with the Bread of Heaven).
Third, in Caesarea Philippi, Jesus specifically asks his disciples if they knew who he is. They offer a variety of answers: John the Baptist, and Elijah. Only Peter answers correctly: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Later, Peter’s ‘faith-vision,’ is obscured, as he adopts an agenda for Jesus, which is not God’s. Peter is looking for a powerful, political Messiah. As Jesus tells Peter and the other disciples that he must travel to Jerusalem, suffer, and be put to death, Peter rebukes him, saying: “this can’t be.” Jesus’ agenda is clear, as he responds to Peter: “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
As, I read Matthew 16, I ask, what is my agenda? Like the religious leaders, the disciples and Peter, does it keep me from seeing Jesus clearly? Please join me today in asking Jesus to wash us afresh of our agendas, and instead immerse us in His!