Corona Devo 1480

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.  ~Matthew 16:21  

~~~

It doesn't have to be complicated, but we do have to accept it and understand it: Easter.  

What Jesus suffered for us.  What He endured, allowed, and accepted.

It doesn't have to be complicated, but we do have to accept it and understand it.  

Jesus (first) tried to explain it to His disciples: those that were closest to Him.  These men knew (had  memorized most of) the Old Testament Scriptures previously foretelling what our Savior would suffer. 

(But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.  ~Isaiah 53:5)

And now, in their presence, Jesus was explaining to them that this was (now) about to happen.

Jesus did not make it complicated, but they were unwilling to accept it.  They simply couldn't understand it.  But then, what (and why) Jesus suffered (for us) IS beyond our understanding.  

The disciples had come to know Jesus, to love Him, and to want him in their lives.  The message that Jesus was delivering was simple, but unwanted.  They were not able to understand and comprehend what Jesus was about to do...and Peter (for one) was not willing to accept it.

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”   ~Matthew 16:22

Peter was many things, and passion was at the heart of most of them.  If he went...he was going all in, and He was "all in" for Jesus.  He was definitely not ready for His Lord to leave, let alone die.

The news that Jesus was delivering was not complicated, but nor was it negotiable.  Jesus (alone) knew this, and Jesus (alone) would carry it out.  He also knew that no one (for Him or against Him) could impede the process of what must occur.  

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.”  ~Matthew 16:23

Peter was not ready to accept it, and he did not understand it, but Jesus made it clear (and uncomplicated) that he would need to.  Anything less was not of-Christ, but of-Satan.  

What Christ did for you and me doesn't have to be complicated, but we do have to accept it and understand it.  

This is the first message of Easter.  Accepting the Truth.  Understanding the Sacrifice.

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.  ~Matthew 16:21  

It's not complicated, but it is life-changing.

The Truth and (Eternity-altering) Sacrifice of our Savior lays before us in Scripture: will we accept it?

Only through the mysterious wisdom of God can we understand it.  

Do we?

~~~

The disciples had come to know Jesus, to love Him, and to want him in their lives.  

Have we?


Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

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