.
To all my readers, I want to sincerely thank you for following my blog. You have both challenged and encouraged me. This has been my first attempt at a blog and I have enjoyed it. However, I am beginning to think that my posts might be more interesting if the subject matter was not always my own preference. So, basically, I am asking if you guys have anything in particular you would like me to write on. What topics or scripture passages are you interested in that perhaps I have not tackled? Please let me know and maybe the dynamic of this whole blog might take a different direction. I look forward to seeing your suggestions.
Your friend,
Matt
Some details...
- Hey
- My name is Matthew Robert Kean. I'm a Canadian (from Newfoundland specifically) who now lives in Australia. I married a beautiful young lass named Fiona and we serve as officers in The Salvation Army. The Lord has been so very good to us and we are forever indebted to His grace. In comparison to knowing Him, all else pales.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
The Cross Demands More!
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. (Matt. 14:28-29)
Faith is something that Jesus insists on, and throughout the gospels Peter seems to display more of it than others. In this story from Matthew's gospel, all the disciples are in a boat and rough weather comes on. Suddenly they see a man walking on the water and they all become terribly afraid. They think their Saviour is a ghost. Of course, Jesus immediately clarifies that He is indeed not a ghost and there is no need for them to fear; the man they saw was their God. Here, it is worth noting that of all the disciples that were present in the boat, only one speaks up: Peter. “Lord", he says, "If it is really you, tell me to come to you and I will.” Jesus speaks to Him as sure as a trusted friend and says, "Come." At that Peter jumps out of the boat and he experiences a great miracle as a result.
Peter believed in Jesus. He might not have understood why he believed (maybe all the miracles Jesus performed convinced him), he might not have formed his own personal theology, but he knew without a doubt that he could trust Jesus. The man that stood in front of him was dependable! He was his friend, he cared for him, he respected him. Jesus was someone Peter had no problems trusting... but this is not discipleship!
In John 6:60-71, there’s another great picture of how Peter’s understanding of Jesus was different (perhaps more advanced) than his peers. Until this point, Jesus had about 70 'disciples' or followers, but he starts to teach some things that were hard to embrace. He begins to up the ante on the cost of being a believer. This is what he says: “If you do not eat my body and drink my blood, you will not have life in you.” Now, this was a difficult statement to hear and because it was so offensive, all except twelve people stopped following him. After they had left, Jesus turns to the twelve and says, “Will you also go away?” And Peter replies, “Lord, where else are we going to go? Only you have the words of eternal life.”
Peter not only trusted Jesus as a good friend, but he believed in Jesus’ divine power and authority. He actually had an understanding of God’s great purpose for Jesus. He wasn’t following Jesus blindly like some others because he offered a few wise words. He realized that somehow Jesus was his salvation, his connection to God, even his ETERNAL LIFE. Yet, even this is not real discipleship!
Remember, just before Jesus was crucified Peter denied Him thrice. He vowed that he would never do such a horrible thing, but exactly as Jesus foretold, Peter indeed broke his promise (Luke 22:61). All of a sudden, Peter wasn’t being asked if he was a friend of the great prophet, or a student of the great teacher, or a defender of the great king... now he was being accused of associating with the filthy criminal that was dragged by the hair of the head in shackles to be condemned. Jesus required that Peter be made the garbage of the earth, the mockery of all men, the lowest of the low... just as He was. After this point of brokenness, where he went out and wept bitterly for denying his Lord, Peter finally became a true disciple. He gladly carried the ridicule of his Saviour into death. To take the place of Christ when he is being regarded as filth... that is real discipleship!
Jesus, strengthen me to truly be your disciple.
Faith is something that Jesus insists on, and throughout the gospels Peter seems to display more of it than others. In this story from Matthew's gospel, all the disciples are in a boat and rough weather comes on. Suddenly they see a man walking on the water and they all become terribly afraid. They think their Saviour is a ghost. Of course, Jesus immediately clarifies that He is indeed not a ghost and there is no need for them to fear; the man they saw was their God. Here, it is worth noting that of all the disciples that were present in the boat, only one speaks up: Peter. “Lord", he says, "If it is really you, tell me to come to you and I will.” Jesus speaks to Him as sure as a trusted friend and says, "Come." At that Peter jumps out of the boat and he experiences a great miracle as a result.
Peter believed in Jesus. He might not have understood why he believed (maybe all the miracles Jesus performed convinced him), he might not have formed his own personal theology, but he knew without a doubt that he could trust Jesus. The man that stood in front of him was dependable! He was his friend, he cared for him, he respected him. Jesus was someone Peter had no problems trusting... but this is not discipleship!
In John 6:60-71, there’s another great picture of how Peter’s understanding of Jesus was different (perhaps more advanced) than his peers. Until this point, Jesus had about 70 'disciples' or followers, but he starts to teach some things that were hard to embrace. He begins to up the ante on the cost of being a believer. This is what he says: “If you do not eat my body and drink my blood, you will not have life in you.” Now, this was a difficult statement to hear and because it was so offensive, all except twelve people stopped following him. After they had left, Jesus turns to the twelve and says, “Will you also go away?” And Peter replies, “Lord, where else are we going to go? Only you have the words of eternal life.”
Peter not only trusted Jesus as a good friend, but he believed in Jesus’ divine power and authority. He actually had an understanding of God’s great purpose for Jesus. He wasn’t following Jesus blindly like some others because he offered a few wise words. He realized that somehow Jesus was his salvation, his connection to God, even his ETERNAL LIFE. Yet, even this is not real discipleship!
Remember, just before Jesus was crucified Peter denied Him thrice. He vowed that he would never do such a horrible thing, but exactly as Jesus foretold, Peter indeed broke his promise (Luke 22:61). All of a sudden, Peter wasn’t being asked if he was a friend of the great prophet, or a student of the great teacher, or a defender of the great king... now he was being accused of associating with the filthy criminal that was dragged by the hair of the head in shackles to be condemned. Jesus required that Peter be made the garbage of the earth, the mockery of all men, the lowest of the low... just as He was. After this point of brokenness, where he went out and wept bitterly for denying his Lord, Peter finally became a true disciple. He gladly carried the ridicule of his Saviour into death. To take the place of Christ when he is being regarded as filth... that is real discipleship!
Jesus, strengthen me to truly be your disciple.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)