Either You Do or You Don't

The disciples were hungry and had not eaten as they only had one loaf of bread between them. Jesus reminded them of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod. The Pharisees and King Herod who had John the Baptist beheaded even though they knew John was a good man and guilty of no sin. Even though the disciples knew Jesus had fed five thousand with five loaves of bread and had twelve fragments left over and fed four thousand with seven loaves and had seven fragments left over; walked with Jesus, saw the many miracles Jesus performed, and then complained that they only had one loaf of bread to share among the twelve--Jesus said to the disciples do you still not understand?

Jesus began to share with the disciples that He was going to die but first be rejected by the scribes and the chief priests, be killed, and rise from the dead after the third day. Peter began to criticize Jesus, telling him to get himself together. Jesus rebuked Peter, and said Satan, thou savour the things of man (Matthew 16:23) and not of God. Get away from me. Earlier in the week, when Jesus asked Peter who do you say that I am, Peter answered thou are the Christ, son of the living God. Then Jesus told Peter that before the cock crows you will deny knowing me three times.

One night or late evening, the disciples were out on their boat. They saw what looked like a man walking on water towards the boat (Matthew 14:22-33). They were startled because they were not really sure what it was. Then Jesus bid Peter to come out to meet him. Peter walked out on the water to meet Jesus and then the wind started blowing really hard and Peter became frightened. Peter was the rock that Jesus said I will build my church upon and then when the Roman soldiers captured Jesus and Peter was questioned about being a follower or friend of Jesus--Peter said I do not know the man. When things got tough, when the pressure was on, Peter lost faith or did not know Jesus. When Jesus' very life was at stake, Peter, a close and constant companion, denied that he knew Him.

If the Lord did not think that you could endure hardness like a good soldier (2 Timothy 2:3) He would not have allowed the enemy to isolate you. The isolation is for God's purpose. God controls everything. Satan has no power. You see how Peter whom Jesus declared was the rock on whom Jesus was to build His church got out of control, got beside himself, and thought himself equal with God; Jesus had to rebuke him and remind Peter that he was out of order. You're out of control, you're thinking more highly of yourself than you ought to. Peter thought that he was the head honcho; deluding himself, thinking, I'll humor Jesus. I'll go along to get along. But Jesus saw right through that facade.

The Lord chose the foolish things of this world to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27) Jesus spoke to the disciples often in parables to discern their comprehension of the Living Word of God--the Christ. Jesus was the Word who dwelt among the disciples and yet they often did not believe that Jesus was the son of God when confronted with situations beyond their control or too big to wrap their head around.

If you believe in Jesus but have not given your life to Christ, accept Him into your heart today.  Christ Jesus, please come into my heart.  Lord Jesus become my personal Lord and Savior.