"What's the big deal,
Jesus? The people have been expecting a Messiah. You fit the mashiach bill, so let's shout it from
the top of Mount Hermon. What do you think?!?"
Jesus thinks not so
fast. Consider what Jesus knew people expected versus what Jesus knew God
expected.
Here's a combined summary
of what the people expected:
* From the line of King
David will descend the Messiah.
* As a charismatic, political
leader, he will be well-versed in Jewish law and observant of its commandments.
* He will win battles for
Israel; will be a great judge, restore the religious court system of Israel,
and establish a government in Israel that the world will follow.
* The Temple will be
rebuilt and its worship shall be re-established.
* The Messiah will bring
the Jewish people back to Israel, and there will be political and spiritual
redemption.
Other basic ideas were in
the mix of Messiahship thought.
Elijah would come "as the forerunner and herald
of the Messiah. He was to heal the breaches and bring order into the chaos to
prepare the way for the Messiah." [i]
That brings back one of
the answers to Jesus' question, "Who do people say I am?" "…Elijah."
In addition, ancient
Jewish religious works stated such things as:
* Nations would come
together to fight against the Messiah. "It shall be that when all nations
hear his (the Messiah's) voice, every man shall leave his own land and the
warfare they have one against the other, and an innumerable multitude shall be
gathered together desiring to fight against him." (4 Ezra 13:33-35)
* Those who fought against
the Messiah would be destroyed. "And it shall come to pass in those days
that none shall be saved, either by gold or by silver, and none shall be able
to escape." (Enoch 52:7)
* The fate of the Gentiles
would be utter destruction, and Israel would rejoice. "And he will appear
to punish the Gentiles, and he will destroy all their idols. Then, thou, O
Israel, shalt be happy. And thou shalt mount upon the necks and the wing of the
eagle (i.e., Rome, the eagle, is to be destroyed) and they shalt be ended and
God will exalt thee. …And thou shalt look from on high and see thine enemies in
Gehenna, and thou shalt recognize them and rejoice." (Assumption of Moses
10:8-10)
Nationalism. Vengeance. Violence.
Blood. Destruction. Conquest.
Do you think there would
be room for a cross? A cross for a Messiah?
No wonder Jesus said
"Ssshhhh. Don't tell anyone." Jesus had to teach his disciples what
Messiahship really meant.
Now, I don't want to end
this post on what may come across as a downer, so here are two things to share.
First, remember in the last post that I included MATTHEW 16:17-19? The disciple, Peter -- whose given name was Simon -- is a focal
point. Jesus said at this moment of enlightenment in Banias, "I tell you,
you are Peter." Peter in Greek -- petros
-- and the Latin -- petra -- means
"rock." And upon this rock, "I will build my church."
Here is when the
"where" meets the "why." Why did Jesus pick this place for
the eyes of Peter to be opened -- "You are the Messiah"?
As previously mentioned,
Caesarea Philippi was in the foothills of Mount Hermon. "Mount Hermon is
the largest mountain in the whole area towering 2,814 meters above sea level.
To get an idea of how high that is consider that the Temple Mount in Jerusalem
is about 741 meters above sea level. In Arabic, Mount Hermon is called Jabal ash Shaykh which means Mountain of the Chief." [ii]
What better place than
here to proclaim Jesus would build his church! What better place than here to
state who is the true Chief! Here amidst the sacred precinct well-known for
pagan activity and worship of Baal and Pan, among other gods. The most
degenerate place possible. Jesus was placing a stake in this territory (upon
this rock) to state who the true God is.
Second, and in closing
this post, let us reflect upon Isaiah 52:7, which also provides insight into
the Messiah -- in a much more hopeful way.
'How beautiful upon the
mountain are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good
news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."' [iii]
Here is to peace and goodness
that indeed lasts forever.
NEXT
You’re going to what?!?;
sometimes the best intentions = temptation
No comments:
Post a Comment