The firm assurance

Rev. Tetteh-Annor Larbi | May 31, 2023 | Matthew 16:21

KEY VERSE:

"…He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." Matthew 16:21 (NIV)

MESSAGE:

In our text for today, right after Jesus’s revelation as the coming Messiah, we see Jesus presenting His life’s plan to His disciples. The plan for his life had four key elements that are worth noting: betrayal, suffering, death, and assurance of resurrection. Jesus knew that as part of the plan for going to Jerusalem, He was going to be betrayed, He will suffer, and they will eventually kill him. But He also had a firm assurance that on the third day, He was going to be raised back to life and the Glory that came with that.

Can you imagine knowing the course of the rest of your life as Jesus did, and knowing that the elements of betrayal, suffering and being killed were part of the plan? Also, imagine knowing who will betray you, even how they will betray you, and knowing that all these sufferings hinged on you going to Jerusalem. Let’s be honest here, would you have gone ahead to Jerusalem knowing what you know? Sincerely, I wouldn’t.

So you see, the fourth element in the foreknowledge of the plan was key, and knowing what Jesus knew, I might reconsider going to Jerusalem. This knowledge propelled Jesus to still go on to Jerusalem; the Assurance of the resurrection from the dead after three days. The prophet Isaiah wrote prophetically about Jesus and said “Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.” Isaiah 50:7 (NIV). He knew there was death for Him in Jerusalem, yet because of the firm assurance He had received from the Father, He was ready to obey even unto death.

FEET AND HANDS OF THE MESSAGE:

There is a firm assurance for us as believers, as we walk the Christian life with its pain and hardships. It is a non-compromising life which may predispose many Christians to suffer for their stance on real-life issues. Can you find some examples of these life situations?

Like Jesus, we must set our faces on the glory that will come after this momentary suffering in this body. As Romans 8:18 says; the suffering of this present time is not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us. We must endure the hardship and suffering for our life here on earth while keeping in view the glory and enjoyment that is for eternity.

PRAYER:

Thank you Heavenly Father, for the assurance we have in your word, of Christ in us and the Glory that is to come. Help us live our lives with this knowledge, anticipating the second coming. For your dear name’s sake. Amen

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!