[Day 171]
Matthew 16.21-23
From then on Jesus began to point out to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests and scribes, be killed and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, “Oh no, Lord! This will never happen to You!” But He turned and told Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns, but man’s”
It is easy to give people false hope. We want to be nice. We want the happy ending to be there. We want fluffy clouds, pats on backs, no nasty surprises, no bogeymen.
But the reality is that, well, it’s not always the true reality. Jesus points out that His death is imminent. He starts talking and teaching about His death and resurrection. But Peter wants none of it. He wants to be nice. But Jesus’ reaction is instant and severe. What Peter wants is a false hope, a false happiness. What Jesus realises is that true happy ending will happen, but only after the agony of death – and nothing, not even His friend’s nice false hope, will derail Him.
Anyone listening to this morning’s Today programme on radio 4 could not help but have been moved by the story of Bruce and Jan Bovill. Jan was diagnosed with dementia over ten years ago and today was her funeral. Her widow, Bruce, said, “You can’t win the war with dementia. Dementia is always going to win, but if you keep faith with yourself and the person then you can win a few battles.” That is how the world reacts to disease and death. We can’t win the war, but at least we can put faith in ourselves.
However, that hope is false. It is nice, perhaps, but false none the less. Jesus knew that the ultimate in happy endings would happen, that He would be raised from the dead, and by doing so, would destroy the power of death once and for all. He did win the war over disease and death. And we can too. We don’t put our faith in ourselves – the best we can hope for then is to win the odd skirmish, but remain defeated. No, we put our faith in the risen Lord Jesus and Him alone. And through Him we can be assured of victory every single time. “Grave where is your victory? Death where is your sting?”(1 Corinthians 15.55).
So next time someone asks you for a nice fluffy answer don’t be afraid to speak out the truth of the reality of Jesus and don’t hesitate to offer the alternative ultimate happy ending.
What is God saying?
I believe that God is saying:
Glorify God in all that you do
