Background: At the time of the scripture, Jesus is getting close to the end of his 3 years of ministry on earth. During this time he has performed many miracles with his disciples, and built a very close relationship with them. Yet his disciples did not know Jesus was the son of God. Some thought he was a prophet like Moses or Elijah, some thought he’s a great rabbi. On his way back to Jerusalem Jesus started disclosing his identity to his dearest disciples …
Scripture: Mark 8:27-33
27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”
28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”
29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”
30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Devotion Questions
- During Jesus’ 3 years of ministry on earth, many people followed Jesus, but few knew he was the Messiah. Even among His 12 disciples, only Peter realized Jesus was the Messiah in the above scripture. Today do we truly realize the Lord we are following is the almighty God? In our heart do we have faith that the Jesus Christ we follow is bigger than any challenge and any storm we may face in our life?
- Peter tried to persuade Jesus from the painful crucifixion, but Jesus scolded him “Satan” because any suggestion to go against Heavenly Father’s will is evil to Jesus. Today do we care more about the concerns of God? Or do we merely care about human concerns? In our lives what are our human concerns? What are God’s will for us? Take a minute to reflect.
- Would you like to follow Jesus and start caring more about what concerns God? Pray to Jesus “Dear Jesus, I want to thank you for walking down that painful road towards the cross, because of that I am saved today. I would like to follow you, I pray that you can reveal God’s wishes to me more. Especially over the next 2 weeks during the Lent period, I pray that you guide my heart as I spend time with you in devotion. In your name I pray. Amen.”