Recognizing the Messiah
1. And the Pharisees and Sadducees coming, tempting, asked Him to show them a sign from heaven.
2. And He answering said to them, “When it is evening, you say, [There will be] serenity, for the heaven is red;
3. And in the morning, Today [will be] a winter storm, for the heaven is red, being gloomy. Hypocrites! you indeed know how to discern the face of the heaven, but the signs of the time you cannot [discern].
4. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks a sign, and there shall no sign be given it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And leaving them He went away.
In the previous episode, Jesus fed four thousand people with seven loaves and a few fish. That miracle had taken place on a mountaintop in the land of the gentiles. Now, as this next episode begins, Jesus has returned to the land of Israel. The setting is on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee in the region of Magdala. It is here that the religious leaders confront Jesus again. This time they ask Him for “a sign from heaven” (16:1). They are either unaware of the miracles that Jesus has been performing, or they are unconvinced.
This pictures something that can take place in each of us. We either forget or are unaware of the miraculous ways that God changes our state, lifting us out of sadness and despair, even without changing our outer circumstances. And yet, we, too, can remain unaware or unconvinced of the Lord’s miraculous ability to renew our minds and revive our souls.
Aware that the religious leaders are still seeking to discredit Him, Jesus says, “When evening comes, you say, ‘The weather will be serene, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, you say, ‘Today there will be stormy weather, for the sky is red and gloomy.’ Hypocrites. You indeed know how to interpret the face of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times” (16:2-3).
By these words, Jesus suggests that these religious leaders are able to accurately forecast the weather, but are unable to understand spiritual reality. Foreseen by the prophets, and foretold in their scriptures, the Messiah had come and was now standing in their very midst, but they could not see it. This long-awaited event, far more significant than any weather forecast, is now taking place before their very eyes. And yet, as Jesus said in the previous chapter, they are “blind leaders of the blind” (15:14). In other words, they refuse to see what they do not want to see. In this case, their self-serving desire to remain in power prevents them from realizing that Jesus, who is standing before them, is the fulfillment of ancient prophecy.
The situation is not unlike our own. Absorbed in materialistic concerns about our future, we study weather forecasts, political trends, and stock market predictions, unaware of the many miracles taking place in the present moment. In this regard, we are like the religious leaders who are adept at predicting the weather but are unable to see Jesus as the promised Messiah. Their inability to see past their self-righteousness has blinded them to the divine truth that stands before them. We, too, are sometimes blind to the miraculous ways the Lord is leading us from moment to moment, giving us what to think and what to feel while inspiring noble actions. In the words of sacred scripture, this secret leading is called “our daily bread.”
These more interior signs of God’s working are not what the religious leaders are seeking. They want external signs, signs of great power, signs that Jesus has truly been sent from heaven. And yet, Jesus has already performed numerous miracles. The religious leaders, however, were quick to minimize, discount, and explain away those miracles. For example, when Jesus cast out demons, the religious leaders claimed that His power to do so was from the devil (see 9:34 and 12:24). In other words, because the religious leaders were already determined to destroy Jesus, there is nothing more He can do for them. No sign will convince them that Jesus is indeed the Messiah.
Moreover, it is contrary to divine order to persuade a person by force. While external signs and miracles can temporarily compel belief, God compels no one. Each of us is kept in freedom so that we may freely choose to reject or accept Jesus. And we accept Him when we live according to His teachings, believing that He alone can give us the power to do so. If we do this, internal miracles will surely take place. A heart of stone can become a heart of flesh. As it is written in the Hebrew scriptures, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26). 1
In the process we become increasingly connected to the Lord. This process is called regeneration. It is the conscious laying down of our old life, so that we can be reborn to new life. There is no other way, and there is no external “sign” that can prove this inner reality for us. As Jesus says, “A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign. But no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah” (16:4). 2
As we have mentioned previously, the “sign of the prophet Jonah” is our individual experience of regeneration as we strive to live according to the teachings of our religion (see 12:39). To the extent that we do this, we begin to notice subtle but significant changes in our character — changes that can only be experienced by those who strive to live their religion. 3
As we grow from infancy, to childhood, to adulthood, the gradual changes in our physical appearance are only observable over time. Meanwhile, the many changes that are taking place in our inner, spiritual character are less visible. These changes in character pertain to changes in our understanding and changes in our affections as we grow wiser and more loving. As long as we continue to learn and persevere in applying what we learn to life, our spiritual character can continue to grow throughout all eternity. 4
Along the way, there are wonderful signs that progress is taking place. Some of these might include a heightened desire to learn truth and apply it to one’s life, an increased sensitivity to the needs of others, a forgiving attitude, a patient disposition, a growing ease at admitting mistakes, a greater depth of contentment, a softened heart, a growing ability to see the goodness in others, frequent expressions of gratitude, and an increasing ability to accept outcomes whether or not they are in our favor. These, and so many more, are the “signs of the prophet Jonah” (16:4).
In the final analysis, religion is not something merely to be believed — it must be lived. If we wait to have its validity proven in any other way, for example, by waiting for external miracles, we will wait in vain. If the religious leaders had truly practiced their religion, living by the spirit of God’s law and not just the letter of the law, they would have had all the signs they needed. Through living a deeply spiritual life, the religious leaders would have evolved to the point where they would have recognized Jesus as the Messiah.
But this was not the case. They would not — and therefore could not — see beyond their own prejudices and preconceptions. As a result, there was very little that Jesus could do for them. So, “He left them and departed” (16:4). 5
A practical application
For the most part, the Lord’s work of regeneration goes on within us secretly, beyond our conscious awareness. Even so, we are granted glimpses of the gains we have made along the way. When faced with disappointment, delay, loss, or failure, how long does it take you to recover? As a practical application, notice how you respond when things do not happen as quickly as you might like, or when you are interrupted, or when your plans are upset. First, notice and resist the old patterns of complaint, criticism, and blame. Then, choose to respond in new ways — that is, in ways that reflect higher thoughts and more benevolent affections. As you continue to practice this spiritual discipline, trusting that the Lord is with you, notice how your patience continues to grow, and how quickly you are able to rise above upsetting circumstances. These tiny resurrections are the “signs of the prophet Jonah” taking place in you. 6
More Than Enough
5. And when His disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
6. And Jesus said to them, “See ye and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”
7. And they reasoned within themselves, saying, “[It is] because we have not taken bread.”
8. And Jesus, knowing, said to them, “Why do you reason within yourselves, [O you] of little faith, because you have not taken bread?
9. Do you not yet consider, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets you took?
10. Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets you took?
After His departure from the religious leaders, Jesus and His disciples cross the sea and travel to a remote area near Caesarea Phillipi, about twenty-five miles north of the Sea of Galilee. As they arrive at this new location, the disciples realize that they have forgotten to take bread. In response, Jesus says, “Take heed and beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (16:6). Confused by Jesus’ words, the disciples are thinking, “This is because we have forgotten to take bread” (16:7). Knowing their thoughts, Jesus says, “O, you of little faith, why are you thinking that you have no bread?” (16:8).
Jesus then reminds them of the two previous miracles involving bread. As Jesus says, “Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?” (16:9-10).
Jesus’ point is a simple one. Instead of being men of “little faith,” they should be men of great faith. That is, they should be men who remember all that Jesus has done for them, all that Jesus can do for them, and all that Jesus will do for them. If they could do this, they would not be worrying about a shortage of bread.
More deeply, physical bread corresponds to spiritual nourishment, especially the love that ceaselessly flows in from God. Therefore, as long as we are living according to the Lord’s teachings, we will never run out of bread — that is, we can never run out of God’s love and wisdom. That’s because the supply is infinitely more than we can use, as represented by the left-over fragments in the baskets. 7
This is also what is meant in the Lord’s Prayer when we say, “Give us this day our daily bread” (6:11). In the spiritual sense, these words are a humble plea that the Lord might fill us with what to think and what to feel in every moment, even now, and throughout eternity. 8
A practical application
When the disciples realized that they had forgotten to bring bread, Jesus used this as an opportunity to teach a deeper lesson about reliance on Him. In reminding the disciples of the two preceding miracles during which He provided enough bread to feed thousands of people, Jesus was reassuring them that they have nothing to worry about as long as He is present. The case is similar for each of us. There are times when it might feel as though we have run out of love and compassion. Perhaps some difficult situation has stretched us to the limit, and we cannot show any more love. This is the time to remember that God’s love is always available in abundance. He gives us what to think and what to feel every moment. As a practical application, then, be aware of those times when it seems that you have run out of patience, run out of tolerance, and run out of compassion. You might be telling yourself something like, “I can’t do this anymore” or “This is really getting on my nerves” or “I have reached my limit. There’s nothing left.” Do not succumb to these negative thoughts. Instead, remember that the Lord is present to supply as much love and wisdom as you need. Pray for His love to enter your heart, knowing that He is capable of supplying all that you need and more.
The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees
11. How do you not consider that [it was] not concerning bread [that] I said to you, you should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?”
12. Then they understood that He did not say they should beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
It is at this point that Jesus tells the disciples that He is not speaking about physical bread. As Jesus says, “How is it that you fail to understand that I was not talking to you about bread, but to beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?” (16:11). It is then that they understand the deeper meaning of Jesus’ words. As it written, “Then they understood that He was not telling them to guard against the leaven used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (16:12).
When Jesus warns His disciples to beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, He is referring to the false teachings and religious practices that were prevalent at that time. For example, people were taught to believe that their sins could only be forgiven through temple sacrifices. This encompassed a wide range of offerings including the sacrifice of bulls, oxen, goats, sheep, and doves. The most famous example is the story of the scapegoat upon whom the sins of the people were placed before it was driven off into the wilderness. This event, known as the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, was considered the holiest event of the year (see Leviticus 16:8-10).
Jesus, however, came to teach that true sacrifice is about giving up negative attitudes, leaving behind false beliefs, letting go of addictive desires, and abandoning destructive behaviors. In God’s coming kingdom, these would be the forms of true sacrifice. In that kingdom sins could only be forgiven by identifying them, acknowledging them, praying for the power to turn away from them, and starting a new life. The prophet Micah referred to this when he said, “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). 9
The Pharisees and Sadducees also taught that revenge and retaliation had their proper place in human affairs. As long as the amount and severity of the retribution did not exceed the original offense, people had a right to retaliate. As it is written in the Hebrew scriptures, “A man who injures his neighbor is to be injured in the same manner: a broken bone for a broken bone, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Just as he injured the other person, the same must be inflicted on him” (Leviticus 24:20).
Jesus, however, came to teach a very different message. As He said when He delivered the Sermon on the Mount, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for eye, a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also…. Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (5:38-39; 44).
As we explained in chapter five, “turning the cheek” is something we do internally when our beliefs are being attacked. While these attacks can come through other people, they can also come through unseen spiritual forces that endeavor to destroy our faith in God and undermine our trust in the power of His truth. Therefore, whenever we turn the cheek internally, we remain steadfast in what we know to be true.
At such times, we know that no words spoken, whispered, or insinuated can possibly hurt us or destroy our faith. As long as we don’t let evil draw us into the fight, we are under God’s protection. As long as we remain in the Lord’s goodness and truth, evil can do us no spiritual harm. Therefore, we need not resist it. 10
A third false teaching, still prevalent today, is the idea that if we are obedient to God’s commands, He will bless our lives with material success, whether it be physical health, great possessions, or victory over our enemies. Sometimes referred to as the “prosperity gospel,” this idea is based on a strictly literal interpretation of the Bible. As it is written in the Hebrew scriptures, “If you walk in My statutes and observe my commandments and do them, I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its crops, and the trees their fruit…. You shall eat bread to the full and dwell safely in the land…. You shall pursue your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you” (Leviticus 26:3-4; 5-8).
When taken literally, teachings like this serve to support the idea that riches and good health are signs of God’s blessing and approval, while poverty and sickness are signs of God’s cursing and condemnation. But Jesus came to teach a different message. As He said in His Sermon on the Mount, “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and He sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (5:45).
In other words, God loves all equally and with equal measure. His love, represented by the sun, is available to everyone at all times, regardless of whether they are good or evil. And His truth is equally available to all, even as the rain falls on the just and the unjust. If we do not receive God’s love and truth, it is because we have turned away from God, not because God has turned away from us. If we choose to live a life contrary to His will — that is, a life that is unable to receive what God continually desires to give us — we cannot receive the true blessings of heaven. These blessings are not about wealth, victory over natural enemies, or physical prosperity. Rather, they are about the riches of spiritual truth, victory over spiritual enemies, and the peace that comes when we trust in God.
These are just a few of the false teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees. We could also mention their false teachings about God’s wrath, their concern for the letter of the law rather than its spirit, the idea that they were a chosen people while all others were held in contempt, and their insistence that Jesus was a dangerous radical rather than the Messiah Himself. All these, and many more, were among the false teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Beyond their false teachings, Jesus also had much to say about the arrogant, contemptuous attitudes of the religious leaders. When they complained that Jesus’ disciples did not wash their hands before eating, Jesus called them hypocrites who praise God with their lips while their heart is far from Him (see 15:8). Jesus then added, “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth. This is what defiles a person” (15:11).
These timeless warnings are not just about the religious leaders, nor are they just for Jesus’ disciples. They are for everyone. This is because the religious leaders represent attitudes and behaviors that we all can fall into. Whenever we feel ourselves slipping into contempt for others, feeling superior in some way, or believing that others should think the way we do and behave in the ways that we regard as righteous, we are also indulging in “the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” This “leaven” which Jesus tells us to “beware of” can secretly fill us with confidence in self rather than confidence in God, inflate us with feelings of pride, and delude us into thinking that we have risen above others.
In essence, then, Jesus was not speaking to His disciples about physical bread. Rather, He was speaking about the misleading teachings and arrogant attitudes of the Pharisees and Sadducees. If the disciples were to follow the teachings and attitudes of the Pharisees and Sadducees, all of which are “leavened” with arrogance and contempt, they would be sadly misled. 11
A practical application
Jesus’ warning about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees is not a warning about physical bread. Rather, it’s a warning about false beliefs. This includes false doctrines about the nature of God, misleading teachings about the meaning of material prosperity, and mistaken ideas about how sins are forgiven. More deeply, we also need to consider the hellish influences that flow into our minds to distort the way we see things. For example, these hellish influences might endeavor to keep us dwelling on a single negative detail rather than take in the big picture. They might bring to remembrance a mistake we made in the past and make it seem as though one error has defined our whole life. They might seize upon one argument, or one word misspoken, and blow it out of proportion, turning it from a minor error into a major catastrophe. Like leaven, a bad memory, a false idea, a worry, or a fear can spread throughout our mind. It can become an all-consuming obsession that corrupts the whole loaf. These corrupting influences can spawn justifications and rationalizations that keep us locked in anger, or contempt, or self-pity. As a practical application, then, be aware of this kind of leaven. Notice how a single thought, if allowed to enter, can corrupt the whole loaf — that is, fill your whole mind with false ideas and negative emotions. As an antidote, take to heart Jesus’ warning, “Beware the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”
Peter’s Confession of Faith
13. And Jesus, coming into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, besought His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
14. And they said, “Some [say] John the Baptist; and some Elijah; and others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”
15. He says to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16. And Simon Peter answering said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17. And Jesus answering said to him, “Happy art thou, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood has not revealed [it] to thee, but My Father who is in the heavens.
18. And I also say unto thee that thou art Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of the heavens, and whatever thou shalt bind on the earth shall be bound in the heavens; and whatever thou shalt loose on the earth shall be loosed in the heavens.”
20. Then He charged His disciples that they should say to no one that He is Jesus the Christ.
In the previous episode, Jesus warned His disciples to beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. We said that this leaven represents the false teachings, practices, and attitudes of the religious leaders. It should be noted, however, that leaven can be useful. This is because it initiates a fermentation process through which impurities are separated and cast off. Just as bread rises through this process, we, too, can rise to higher levels. As Jesus said earlier in this gospel, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal until it was all leavened” (13:33).
At that time, we pointed out that the leavening process corresponds to what happens within us during times of spiritual temptation. The leaven which the woman took and hid in three measures of meal represents the purification of our affections, thoughts, and actions through the process of spiritual fermentation. Since there is no regeneration without temptation, this fermentation process is a vital stage in our spiritual development. 12
However, in order to triumph in the combats of temptation, we need to know that these combats are coming, that they cannot be avoided, and that there are spiritual truths for dealing with them. Of all the truths that are available for successfully moving through these times of spiritual trial, one truth, above all, is necessary. This next episode is about this foundational truth. 13
As this episode begins, Jesus and His disciples are in the foothills of Mt. Hermon, in the region of Caesarea Philippi. It is there that Jesus says to His disciples, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” (16:13). Reporting what they have heard others say, they reply, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets” (16:14). This is, of course, hearsay — the opinions of others, the gossip and rumors that were going around at the time. And so, Jesus says, “But who do you say that I am?” (16:15).
Without a moment’s hesitation, Peter says, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (16:16).
Through these words, Peter is acknowledging that Jesus is, indeed, the long-awaited Messiah, the promised one spoken of by the prophets. As it is written in the Hebrew scriptures, “The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed…. It shall crush all other kingdoms, and it will itself endure forever” (Daniel 2:44). In the literal sense, these words refer to the coming of a great and mighty king who will lead his people to victory over all natural enemies. This long-awaited event was referred to as the “coming of the Messiah.”
The title “Messiah” is a Hebrew term which means “anointed.” In general, it refers to being blessed by God with a special gift or calling, as when it is said that a person is “anointed” to preach, or heal, or lead. In biblical times, kings were anointed with oil at their coronation to symbolize that their inauguration is not from men but from God. In Greek, the term for the “anointed one” is Christos [χριστός], meaning “the Christ.” Therefore, when Peter says, “You are the Christ,” it refers to Jesus as the promised Messiah, the “anointed One,” who will be the ruler of all nations and all kingdoms — the King of kings.
When Peter says that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus offers a strong confirmation of Peter’s acknowledgment. Jesus says, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven” (16:17). Because Peter has answered well, Jesus says, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (16:18).
In essence, Jesus is saying that the recognition of His divinity is the cornerstone upon which all other truths will rest. It is “the rock” upon which everything else of faith will be built. For Peter, and for each of us, this is the fundamental teaching to keep in mind as we go through our own combats of temptation. It is to have a living faith in the divinity of Jesus Christ. 14
When Jesus concluded the Sermon on the Mount, He referred to this great truth as well, but was less specific about what it meant. It was the story about a man who built his house upon the rock. As Jesus said at that time, “The rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock” (7:25).
Now, as Jesus prepares His disciples for temptation combats, He reveals more information about the nature of the rock that the disciples will need to stand on as they prepare to defend themselves against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. This rock is the acknowledgment that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” So powerful is this truth that “the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (16:18).
It should be noted, however, that although Peter refers to Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, he does not say that Jesus is God Himself. For the time being, this is enough. Jesus is telling Peter that this initial understanding will open the door to even deeper truths, for it is the key to the kingdom of heaven. As Jesus says, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (16:19).
While this passage has often been understood to mean that Peter will literally be able to open and close the gates of heaven, there is a deeper, more universal meaning. It’s not about Peter standing at what some call “the pearly gates” deciding whether or not to admit us to heaven. Rather, it’s about the spiritual truths that are given to us in the Word of the Lord. Whenever these truths are taken into the mind, loved, and lived, they become “keys” that close the door to hell — allowing nothing evil or false to enter our mind.
At the same time, these keys can also open the door to heaven, allowing all that is good and true to flow in. Whatever is damaging to our spirit will be “bound”; and whatever is life-promoting for our spirit will be “loosed.” And the “key of keys,” the rock of truth upon which all other truths stand, is the confession that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 15
A practical application
This is the first time that Jesus has revealed Himself to His disciples as “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” While Jesus has not made this statement Himself, He confirms Peter’s confession by saying to him, “Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father in heaven.” In other words, there are some things that surpass the kind of human reasoning that is based merely on the evidence of the senses. These are the things that can only be revealed to us “by our Father in heaven.” This refers to the kind of revelation that transcends the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. As a practical application, then, consider the difference between seeing Jesus as a mere man, as do the Pharisees and Sadducees, and as “the Christ, the Son of the living God,” as Peter does. Allow the idea of Jesus’ divinity to influence the way you read His words and view His actions. To the extent that you acknowledge Jesus’ divinity, His words will take on increased power in your life. As it is written in the Hebrew scriptures, “He sent forth His Word and healed them, and delivered them from destruction” (Psalms 107:20). Also, “Your words became a joy to me, and the delight of my heart” (Jeremiah 15:16).
The Way of the Cross
21. From then Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
22. And Peter, taking Him, began to rebuke Him, saying, “Pity Thyself Lord; this shall not be to Thee.”
23. But turning, He said to Peter, “Get thee behind Me, Satan; thou art an offense to Me, because thou art not wise in the things that are of God, but those that are of men.”
24. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wills to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
25. For whoever wills to save his soul, shall lose it, but whoever shall lose his soul for My sake, shall find it.
26. For what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
27. For the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of His Father, with His angels; and then shall He render to everyone according to his doing.
28. Amen I say to you, There are some standing here, who shall not taste of death, until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
Jesus has been steadily preparing His disciples for the inevitable temptations they will undergo. In this next episode, He begins to speak openly about His own temptations and the suffering that He Himself is about to endure. As it is written, “From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things … and be killed … and raised again the third day” (16:21).
Peter does not take it well. Although He is the first of the disciples to acknowledge Jesus’ divinity, he cannot bear the thought that Jesus must suffer and die. Therefore, Peter cries out, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall never happen to You” (16:22).
Like the other disciples, Peter cherishes the hope that Jesus will soon become their great champion and lead them to victory over all their natural enemies. They have been looking forward to the day when Jesus will set Himself up as their rightful king, the long-awaited Messiah who will deliver His people and be the ruler of all nations. They may have been familiar with the prophecy recorded in Daniel. As it is written, “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like the son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven…. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His rule is eternal and everlasting, and his kingdom shall never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).
It is easy to imagine that Peter might be thinking in terms of earthly rather than heavenly rewards. It would be natural for him to have lofty expectations about this new and glorious kingdom, with Jesus as king. At the very least, it would be the end of Roman rule, and a new beginning for the people of Israel. There might even be a special place for Peter in the new kingdom.
But this is to misunderstand the true purpose of Jesus’ life on earth. The real goal of Jesus’ mission is to conquer and subdue spiritual enemies, not natural ones. After all, the gospel begins with the prophecy, “He will save His people from their sins” — not from their physical oppressors (see 1:21).
This is a new and different kind of salvation, quite different from what had been expected of a Messiah. This kind of salvation could only be accomplished through Jesus’ experiencing combats against every evil that could ever assail humanity. To deny the necessity of this process, to think that there is some other, easier way, is to deny the very purpose of the Lord’s advent. So, when Peter says to Jesus, “This shall not happen to you, Lord,” it is tantamount to a repudiation of this essential process. Therefore, Jesus says to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan. You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men” (16:23).
It is natural to prefer the easy, effortless way. But without spiritual trials and combats, there is no spiritual growth. This is sometimes referred to as, “The Way of the Cross.” For both Jesus and His followers, spiritual temptation would be inevitable. Therefore, Jesus says, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (16:24-26). 16
However unpleasant or unwelcome this news may be, this is precisely what the disciples need to hear at this point in their spiritual development. Jesus makes it abundantly clear to them that temptation must not be avoided. Peter, we should remember, has taken the first step in becoming truly Christian. He has confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. But if he is to make this confession of faith a living reality, he must, from now on, strive for heavenly rewards, not just earthly ones. He must even be willing to lay down his old will before receiving a new will. This is the deeper meaning of Jesus’ words, “Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (16:25). 17
Jesus then adds a great promise along with the assurance that His kingdom is coming soon. He says, “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste of death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom” (16:27-28).
To the disciples, who understand these words literally, Jesus seems to be saying that He is about to set up His physical kingdom, and that it will happen during their lifetime. In other words, before they die, or even “taste of death,” Jesus will establish His new kingdom. But Jesus is speaking about something much more interior. He is speaking about how the heavenly kingdom can be established in each of us, even now before we taste of physical death.
The establishment of that kingdom begins with a decision to make use of our God-given ability to raise our minds above the merely natural degree of our life so that we might understand the laws of spiritual reality. This ability, which is implanted in everyone from creation, enables us to open our spiritual eyes so that we may see and understand divine truth in our lifetime.
Whenever we make use of this ability, raising our understanding above material concerns, we come into a new understanding. We see all things in the bright light of higher truth. It is this more interior sight that Jesus is speaking about when He says, “There are some standing here who shall not taste of death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom” (16:28). 18
A practical application
Jesus’ promise that some people will not “taste of death” until they see Him coming in His kingdom seems to mean that He will very soon set up His earthly kingdom. In other words, this will take place within their lifetimes. Understood more deeply, it means that Jesus is setting up His kingdom right now, within each of us. As a practical application, then, make room for the establishment of that kingdom in your heart. Begin by learning the laws of that kingdom as taught in the Word. Then live according to those laws by allowing God’s will to be done in you and work through you. As an aid to helping the Lord establish His kingdom in you, meditate on the words He gave to His disciples when He taught them how to pray. Focus especially on the words, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done” (6:10).
Фусноте:
1. Arcana Coelestia 7920: “Miracles compel belief, and what is compelled does not remain, but is dissipated. The inward things of worship, which are faith and charity, must be implanted in freedom, for then they are appropriated, and what is so appropriated remains…. Miracles drive people to believe, and fix their ideas in what is external…. That miracles do not contribute anything to faith, may be sufficiently evident from the miracles wrought among the people of Israel in Egypt, and in the wilderness, in that those miracles had no effect at all upon them. Although that people had recently seen so many miracles in Egypt, and afterward the Red Sea divided, and the Egyptians sunk therein; the pillar of a cloud going before them by day, and the pillar of fire by night; the manna daily raining down from heaven, and although they saw Mount Sinai smoking, and heard Jehovah speaking thence, besides other miracles, nevertheless in the midst of such things they fell away from all faith, and from the worship of Jehovah to the worship of a calf, from which it is plain what is the effect of miracles.” See also Apocalypse Explained 1136:6: “People are not reformed by external means but by internal means. By external means are meant miracles and visions, fears and punishments. By internal means are meant truths and goods from the Word, from the doctrine of the church and looking to the Lord. These internal means enter by an internal way, and remove the evils and falsities that have their seat within. External means enter by an external way and do not remove evils and falsities but shut them in.”
2. Divine Providence 129: “No one is reformed by miracles and signs, because they compel.” See also Arcana Coelestia 6472: “The Lord does not compel a person to receive what flows in from Himself; but leads in freedom; and so far as a person allows, He leads through freedom to good.”
3. Arcana Coelestia 3212:3: “When people are being regenerated, they become completely different…. Therefore, once they have been regenerated, they are born again and created anew. Their face and speech remain the same, but not so their mind which is now open towards heaven, to love towards the Lord, and to charity towards the neighbor…. It is the mind that makes them into people who are different and new. This change of state cannot be discerned in their body, but it can be discerned in their spirit.”
4. Conjugial Love 185:1-3 “The changes that take place in people’s inward qualities are more perfectly continuous than those that take place in their outward ones. The reason is that their inner qualities, by which is meant those qualities that belong to their mind or spirit, are raised up on a higher level than the outward ones. And in things that are on a higher level, thousands of changes occur in the same moment that only one does in the outer elements. The changes that take place in the inner qualities are changes in the state of the will in respect to its affections, and changes in the state of the intellect in respect to its thoughts…. These changes of state are unceasing, continuing from infancy to the end of one’s life, and afterwards to eternity.”
5. Arcana Coelestia 1909:2: “People may see what kind of life they have if they will only search out their primary goals in life, and in respect to which all other goals are as nothing. If their primary goal is themselves and the world, let them know that their life is hellish; but if they have for their primary goal the good of the neighbor, the common good, the Lord’s kingdom, and especially the Lord Himself, let them know that their life is heavenly.” See also The The Doctrine of Life for the The The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Teachings 96: “Spiritual combat is not grievous, except for those who have relaxed all restraints upon their lusts, and who have deliberately indulged them…. For others, however, it is not grievous; let them resist evils in intention only once a week, or twice in a month, and they will perceive a change.” See also Divine Providence 174: “No one knows how the Lord is leading and teaching us inwardly, just as no one knows how the soul is working so that the eye can see, and the ear can hear … and countless other processes. These do not reach our notice and sensation. The same holds for the things that the Lord is doing in the inner substances and forms of our minds, which are infinitely more numerous. The Lord’s workings in this realm are imperceptible to us, but the many very real effects of these processes are perceptible.”
6. Arcana Coelestia 8478:2-3: “Those who have care for the morrow are not content with their lot. They do not trust in the Divine, but in themselves…. They grieve if they do not obtain the objects of their desire, and they feel anguish at the loss of them…. Very different is the case with those who trust in the Divine. These, notwithstanding they have care for the morrow, still have it not, because they do not think of the morrow with solicitude, still less with anxiety. Unruffled is their spirit whether they obtain the objects of their desire, or not; and they do not grieve over the loss of them, being content with their lot…. They know that for those who trust in the Divine all things advance toward a happy state to eternity, and that whatever befalls them in time is still conducive thereto.”
7. Arcana Coelestia 4211: “As in the supreme sense ‘bread’ signifies the Lord, it therefore signifies everything holy which is from Him, that is, everything good and true. And because there is nothing else good, which is good, except that which is of love and charity, ‘bread’ signifies love and charity. Nor did the sacrifices of old signify anything else, for which reason they were called by the one word ‘bread.’” See also Arcana Coelestia 2165: “That ‘bread’ signifies what is celestial, is because ‘bread’ means all food in general, and thus in the internal sense it signifies all celestial food.” See also Arcana Coelestia 2838: “Heavenly food is nothing else than love and charity together with the goods and truths of faith. This food is given by the Lord in the heavens to the angels every moment, and thus perpetually and to eternity. This also is what is meant in the Lord’s Prayer by ‘Give us this day our daily bread,’ that is, every instant to eternity.”
8. Arcana Coelestia 2493:The angels say that the Lord gives them every moment what to think, and this with blessedness and happiness; and that they are thus free from cares and anxieties. Also, that this was meant in the internal sense by the manna being received daily from heaven, and by the daily bread in the Lord’s Prayer.” See also Arcana Coelestia 2838: “Heavenly food is nothing else than love and charity together with the goods and truths of faith. This food is given by the Lord in the heavens to the angels every moment, and thus perpetually and to eternity. This also is what is meant in the Lord’s Prayer by ‘Give us this day our daily bread,’ that is, every instant to eternity.”
9. Arcana Coelestia 8393: “Sins are continually being forgiven by the Lord, for He is mercy itself; but sins adhere to people, however much they may suppose that they have been forgiven, nor are they removed from anyone except through a life according to the commands of faith. So far as people live according to these commands, so far their sins are removed; and so far as sins are removed, so far they have been forgiven. For by the Lord people are withheld from evil, and are held in good; and they are so far able to be withheld from evil in the other life, as in the life of the body they have resisted evil; and they are so far able to be held in good then, as in the life of the body they have done what is good from affection. This shows what the forgiveness of sins is, and whence it is. Anyone who believes that sins are forgiven in any other way, is much mistaken.”
10. Apocalypse Explained 556: “The precept not to resist evil, signifies, that it is not to be resisted with violence, nor retaliated, for the angels do not fight with the evil, much less do they return evil for evil, but they permit them to do it, because they are defended by the Lord, and hence no evil from hell can possibly hurt them. The words, ‘Whoever shall strike you on thy right cheek turn to him the other also,’ signify if anyone wishes to do harm to the perception and understanding of interior truth, it may be allowed to the extent of the effort. This is because ‘the cheek’ signifies the perception and understanding of interior truth, the ‘right cheek’ signifies the affection for it and consequent perception of it, and the ‘left cheek’ signifies the understanding of it…. This is what angels do when they are with the evil, for the evil can take away nothing of good and truth from angels, but they can from those who on that account burn with enmity, hatred, and revenge, for these evils avert and repel protection by the Lord…. This is the spiritual sense of these words, in which are stored up the hidden things that have now been said, which are especially for the angels who perceive the Word only according to its spiritual sense. These words are also for people in the world who are in good, when the evil are trying to lead them astray.”
11. Arcana Coelestia 7906: “The words, ‘No leaven shall be found in your houses’ signify that nothing whatever of falsity shall come near to good. This is evident from the signification of ‘leaven,’ as being falsity, and from the signification of ‘house,’ as being good. That leaven signifies falsity is clear…. [For example] when Jesus said, ‘Beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees,’ the disciples understood that He had not said that they should beware of the leaven used in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Here ‘leaven’ plainly stands for false teaching.”
12. Arcana Coelestia 7906:2-3: “The purification of truth from falsity with people cannot possibly exist without fermentation so called, that is, without the combat of falsity with truth and of truth with falsity…. In this sense it is to be understood what the Lord teaches about leaven in Matthew: ‘The kingdom of the heavens is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, until the whole was leavened’…. Such combats as are signified by fermentations arise with a person in the state previous to newness of life.”
13. Arcana Coelestia 8403: “People uninformed about human regeneration suppose that people can be regenerated without temptation, and some that they have been regenerated after they have undergone a single temptation. But let it be known that people cannot be regenerated without temptation, and that they suffer very many temptations, one following after another. The reason for this is that regeneration takes place to the end that the life of the old self may die, and a new, heavenly life may be instilled. From this one may recognize that conflict is altogether inevitable; for the life of the old self stands its ground and refuses to be snuffed out, and the life of the new self cannot enter except where the life of the old has been snuffed out. From this it is evident that fierce conflict takes place between mutually hostile sides, since each is fighting for its life.”
14. True Christian Religion 342: “The first principle of faith is the acknowledgement that Jesus is the Son of God. This was the first principle of faith which the Lord revealed and announced when He came into the world.”
15. True Christian Religion 342:3: “Everyone who wishes to be truly a Christian and to be saved by Christ, ought to believe that Jesus is the Son of the living God.”
16. Arcana Coelestia 10239:3: “All regeneration is effected by means of temptations.” See also Arcana Coelestia 8351:1-2: “It should be recognized that no faith, nor thus any charity, can ever be instilled … except by means of temptations. In temptations a person is involved in conflict against falsity and evil. Falsity and evil flow into the external from the hells, while goodness and truth flow in from the Lord by way of the internal. As a result, there arises a conflict of the internal with the external which is called temptation. And in the measure that the external is brought into a state of obedience to the internal, faith and charity are instilled; for the external or natural level of a person is a receptacle of truth and good from the internal…. So it is that temptation is necessary, in order that a person may undergo regeneration, which is brought about through the instillation of faith and charity, and thereby through the formation of a new will and a new understanding.”
17. Arcana Coelestia 10122:2: “The will formed by the Lord, also called the new will, receives good, while the understanding formed by the Lord, also called the new understanding, receives truth. But the will properly a person's own, also called the old will, receives evil, and the understanding properly a person's own, also called the old understanding, receives falsity. People possess the old will and understanding through being born from their parents, but they come to have the new will and understanding through being born from the Lord, which happens when they are being regenerated. For when being regenerated a person is conceived anew and is born anew.” See also True Christian Religion 659: “All the evils to which people are prone by birth are inscribed on the will of their natural self, and these, so far as they draw upon them, flow into their thoughts. Similarly, goods and truths from above from the Lord also flow into their thoughts, and are there poised like weights in the scales of a balance. If people then adopt evil, it is received by the old will, and added to its store; but if they adopt good and truth, the Lord then forms a new will and a new understanding above the old. There the Lord successively implants new goods by means of truths, and by means of these subdues the evils that are beneath, removes them and reduces all things to order. From this it is evident that thought has a purifying and purging effect upon hereditary evils. If, therefore, evils which are objects of thought only, were imputed to people, reformation and regeneration would not be possible.”
18. Arcana Coelestia 10099:3: “The ancients knew that when people are withdrawn from the sensuous things that belong to the body, they are withdrawn or raised into the light of their spirit, thus into the light of heaven.” Conjugial Love 498: “If people were without the power to raise their understanding above the will’s love, they would not be human beings, but rather beasts, for the beast does not enjoy that power. Consequently, they would not be able to make any choices, or from choice to do what is good and right, and so could not be reformed, or led to heaven, or live to eternity.” See also The The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Teachings 303: “In the Word the term ‘Son of Man’ signifies the divine truth, and the term the ‘Father’ signifies the divine good.”
