Wednesday, 30 November 2016

Devotional Thursday 1/12/16 – John 18:10 Peter has a sword

18:27 Posted by Matthew Beaney No comments

A man trying to protect God! Will we choose to trust God? Let’s only take action by faith and trust rather than out of fear, anger or pride.
To meditate/pray upon
John 18:10Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)’
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.”’
Peter does not trust in Jesus’ control of the situation.
In the heat of the moment he forgets all that Jesus has said currently (the cup is reference to the cross) and previously about His death and so chooses to try and control things himself.
Peter had failed to listen and learn from Jesus; he had been rebuked by Jesus on a previous occasion when Peter had tried to keep Jesus from going to the cross, saying,
“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.”’
Even seemingly good intentions can actually be demonic in origin when they distort the gospel and the truth of scripture. Many ‘good’ people seek to protect the image of Jesus by saying that everyone goes to heaven regardless of their faith; all sexual preferences are fine – why would a loving God mind! You don’t need to seek to be holy, give generously, honour marriage, discipline our children… Whatever we do, we must not undermine the gospel and the clear teaching of scripture in order to protect Jesus!
A man trying to protect God! Will we choose to trust God? Let’s only take action by faith and trust rather than out of fear, anger or pride.

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