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| Caesarea Philippi |
First, we see compassionate Jesus feeding a crowd of four thousand hungry people with a few loaves and fishes. Again. If this sounds familiar, its because Jesus performed a similar feeding miracle only a couple chapters earlier. Did all this happen in the same week or month or year? We don't know the exact timing, but we can assume that the disciples were present at both feedings. Somehow they still don't understand Jesus' compassion power and its implications for those who are vulnerable. Afterward, he travels on by boat. Pharisees, the skeptical religious leaders, question Jesus' ministry. They demand a sign. (What do you call two miraculous feedings of thousands of people?) Jesus is frustrated with them. He expects them to understand, to accept, to welcome him. Instead he encounters resistance and ignorance. The spiritual blindness of the disciples and the Pharisees (who just don't seem to see Jesus clearly) is embodied in a botched healing of a blind man. It takes two attempts for Jesus to restore sight to the blind man. Jesus spits in the man's eyes and all he sees are walking trees. A second attempt clears his vision.
High invitation/High challenge learning cultures create frustration. Frustration is necessary for learning. Frustration reveals an emotional investment that is required to learn a new thing that challenges. As a teacher, Jesus is emotionally invested in the learning community. His teaching is demonstrative and he demonstrates more than once. And he reflects with the disciples about the meaning of the action he takes. He knows that consistency and practice are necessary for learning. And he is personally invested in them, spending time with them in the boat, going to engage in conversation with both Pharisees and disciples.
Jesus is invested in his followers. He is invested in the well being of the crowds, too. He is committed to those who are hungry.
The pivotal part of this chapter, however, comes in their journey to Caesarea Philippi. In the mountains, north east of Capernaum, this little village was Roman. A temple to the god pan is found there. The Jordan River finds its beginnings there, flowing out of the Golan Heights and Mount Hermon. They travel there, not to do ministry, but to reflect on the life of Jesus to this point. The first half of the gospel has been like going up a mountain, climbing, ascending. His reputation grows, his powers to heal expand, his ministry multiples. His reaching the summit.
He asks a central question for disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" His reputation among others suggests that he is a prophet, a holy man, a representative of God. Peter responds, "You are the Messiah (Christ, anointed one, long-promised King). This revelation is subversive. To announce Jesus' Messiahship is to pledge allegiance to a rebellion against Caesar and Rome: In a Roman town named after Caesar! Peter is bold in his response about Jesus.
Jesus began to teach them that the son of man must suffer and die and be raised. And Peter rebukes him. And Jesus rebukes Peter saying, "Get behind me Satan. Your mind is on human ways not God's ways." Peter goes from bold rebel aligned with King Jesus to Satanic opponent in a matter of minutes. Why? The threat of suffering and death enters into the story.
Jesus will surrender to the powers and political will of those who thrive on revenge, hate, and violence as means of control. He will not save himself. He will not use his power to protect himself. What we now realize, is that Jesus' movement is not a campaign to get elected to public office. he does not do what he does for personal gain, recognition, or power. He does not act out of self-interest. He acts out of compassion for the vulnerable and out of devotion to God.
Finally, Jesus wants his disciples to know him and trust him. He wants us to know him and trust him. He wants to open our eyes to see his compassion at work. He wants us to join him. In the crowds. In the boat. In the mountains. In the valleys. Among the opposition and among the needy.
Where do you see Jesus? What do you think of him? What about his life is worth imitating? What about his life challenges you? Maybe it is the idea that someone so great, so powerful, so close to God should suffer and die. Before the age of 40. How could this be God's doing? God's plan? God's will? How is Jesus' death accomplishing anything good? Stay tuned...the story continues. The descent begins. Down he goes. Will you go, too?
