1st Sunday in Lent
Scripture: St. Mark 1:9-15
As Jesus and his disciples come down off the mountain, He tells His disciple not to tell anyone what had happened
on the mountaintop.
He knew in His heart that they did not really understand
what had transpired while they were up on the mountain. They did not yet understand that He must suffer and die. They were steeped in Jewish history. E lijah had to come three days before the Messiah would
appear.
On day one, Elijah would stand on the mountaintop of Israel and
lament that the Israelites doubted the Lord's peace. On the second day, he would settle all doubtful points of ritual and ceremonial practices. He would cleanse the nation of Israel using words that all Jews would understand. He would be stating that Elijah had already come and that Elijah was mistreated, beaten, and put to death.
He was speaking of John the Baptist as Elijah. The Jews would treat him badly and kill him. Now, if the Jews treated the forerunner of the Messiah
likewise, they would kill the Messiah.
Why did this happen after years of looking for the coming of
the Messiah. It was all because they wanted it their way. They refused to see it God’s way. This is something that Peter and the others did not want to
happen.
Jesus said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!”
When men and women seek to shut the still small voice of God
out of there lives and hearts, the word of God will not be seen, heard or felt.
Jesus came to offer us a blessing here on earth and eternal
life in the heavenly kingdom.
His heavenly Father did not keep His precious Son from the
pitfalls of physical life. By enduring them He won the victory and grants us that same victory.
"If" is a little word with a big meaning.
Praise be the name of the Lord, Jesus the Christ, who paid the price for your sin and mine, giving us eternal life in the fullness of the heavenly
kingdom.
Praise to the Lord!!!! Amen!
