By Dr.Kerry Knight, minister Emerald Beach Church of Christ
“From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples
That He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things
From the elders and chief priests and scribes, and
Be killed, and be raised the third day” (Matthew 16:21).
Jesus felt and expressed many emotions just as we do. He had a sense of humor. Examples abound. One is found in Mark 10:25 when He used the metaphor of “a camel going through the eye of a needle.” In Matthew 7:3 He speaks of a “speck” in a brother’s eye, while a “log” is in the accuser’s eye. We picture Jesus holding and carrying little children in his arms from Mark 10:16. He certainly understood the meaning of Ecclesiastes 3:4 that there is a time to laugh and a time to cry.
In Matthew 16:16-17, Jesus had felt the extreme joy of witnessing the confession of Simon when he said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The Lord’s heart must have swelled with pride and deep satisfaction over Simon’s recognition of who He really was. It was a moment of joy and also a moment of the deepest satisfaction. His disciples were finally coming to recognize Him and His mission. He was now heading to Jerusalem as spring was approaching. It should have been a time to appreciate new birth, birds singing, beautiful skies offering hope after the winter had passed. And it was.
It was then that He reminded them of why He was journeying to Jerusalem. He was going there to save the world from their sins. His heart was filled with so many emotions. It is recorded in Hebrews 12:2: “…who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Jesus was heading to Jerusalem to save us. And God, His Father, was waiting to receive Him home.
Dr.Kerry Knight, minister Emerald Beach Church of Christ
