Shattered Dream, And Dashed Hopes

Good Morning!! Jesus' disciples had such high expectations that Jesus would be the next political leader to Israel. They had witnessed his power in feeding 5,000 men plus women and children with two loaves and five fishes, they felt the waves beneath their tiny boat subside at his command, they had watched him breathe life into a lifeless child, open the eyes of a man blind from birth, create new skin from rotting flesh on the limbs of lepers, and command a lame man to take up his pallet and walk. They had seen him walk on water, outwit the Pharisees, and win the lost. If ever there was a group of people who lost their dream, it was those disciples,...along with the women that ministered to, and with them (Luke 24:20). Even though Jesus forewarned the disciples of his death and resurrection, they fled when the soldiers came to arrest him, and hid when they hung him on a cross to die.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.—Romans 8:28 (NIV)
In their narrow scope of hopes for a political leader to save the Jews, they missed the bigger picture of God’s plan for a Savior to free mankind from the bondage of sin. While Peter realized Jesus’ identity ("You are the Christ."), he did not understand His destiny. Peter was shocked when Jesus explained that He had to go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed and on the third day rise from the dead.  He even took Jesus aside and said, "Never, Lord.  This shall never happen to you!" (Mark 8:33). Much like Peter’s dream, suffering is never part of our plans.

It is amazing that one minute Peter could be a building block, and the next a stumbling block,...but that’s the trap we all fall into, when we have our minds set on the world instead of on the things of God.

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Father God, there are things about life that we simply don’t understand, but we do know this; You are good and You are kind. We thank You that nothing happens in our lives that is a surprise to You. You have a greater plan than our small vision can imagine, or comprehend. We pray for You to reveal that larger plan for our lives, to us. Help us to pay attention to Your promptings,...and obey Your bidding. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

"Our weakness, is where God can prove Himself to be our source of sufficiency."