Jesus had just dropped the bomb. At Caesarea Philippi, the Lord informed His star-struck disciples that He, the Messiah, would soon die and rise again. Amazingly, that didn’t hit them as good news.
To these men—who only understood the Messiah in terms of providing the good life of God’s kingdom—news of Jesus’ death came as a sucker punch to their dreams. It’s no wonder Peter blurted, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You” (Matt. 16:22).
Jesus’ reply should cause us all to pause and ponder:
If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. —Matthew 16:24
In wake of their confusion, Jesus took these disappointed disciples to a nearby mountain for a good dose of hope. They needed it.
As we struggle with our own disappointments, we can use that same hope today. We need it too.
Jesus took Peter, James, and John to a high mountain—likely Mount Hermon—and there revealed His glory—the glory they would see one day in the kingdom they wanted to begin immediately.
But Jesus had told them a cross came first. It would come first for Him—and it would come first for them.
Following Jesus requires a denial of the will.
This death to self can only happen as we renew our minds or, to use Jesus’ words, as we set our minds on God’s interests rather than man’s.
The Transfiguration of Jesus gives hope for the future—when today we carry crosses.
Jesus endured His cross “for the joy set before Him” (Heb. 12:2). Just like Christ, we always have to have a joy set before us. Daily. Continuously. Constantly. Otherwise we will live bitter, discontented and frustrated lives (see Matt. 5:12; Rom. 12:12; 1 Pet. 1:3-9).
Mount Hermon’s greatest moment looks ahead to yours. The Kingdom will come indeed—Jesus showed the disciples that—but first they had a cross to bear.
So do we.
Tell me what you think: How does the hope of God’s kingdom help you bear your cross today? To leave a comment, just click here.
This post is adapted from Wayne’s book, Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus: A Journey Through the Lands and Lessons of Christ.
• Enjoy an engaging, inspiring, and humorous travelogue that mingles the life-changing truths of Jesus with a walking tour of the Holy Land.
• Experience the Holy Land through the sights, sounds, and tastes of this personal travelogue, and discover how these sacred places influenced the lessons Jesus taught.
You will discover lessons Jesus has for your life.