Holy Focus

 This week's verses are Luke 9:18-22:

 Once when Jesus was praying by himself, and his disciples were nearby, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They answered, “John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others that one of the prophets of long ago has risen.” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” But he forcefully commanded them not to tell this to anyone, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

 Imagine yourself as one of the disciples having this conversation with Jesus. You've finally begun to realize that Jesus is actually the Messiah. But then he makes you promise not to tell anyone so that he can suffer and be killed. What??

If you want to know how people imagined the Messiah would come, look at the events of Palm Sunday: Huge crowds, people cheering everywhere, like the parades that welcomed the liberators who drove the Nazis out of Europe. People thought the Messiah would kick out the Romans and establish a Jewish ethno-state that would reign forever. They wanted to see Moses parting the seas with fire from heaven annihilating the foreigners who had oppressed them. Instead, Jesus told them "I have to suffer, be rejected, and be killed, and then come back from the dead."

It had to be shocking. Number one, why would anyone not want to promote their ministry? Wouldn't you be able to reach more people that way? Don't you deserve a bit of fame if you have that divine connection? But here Jesus said to be quiet.

Number two,  how could divine favor be compatible with suffering? Everything they had been taught about the Messiah foretold earthly victory and success. Social justice and shock and awe. Everything they had been taught about righteousness said that bad things didn't happen to good people. Good people live long comfortable lives and are loved by everyone. They become rich, marry people with great plastic surgery, and have private jets. But Jesus says he must suffer terribly, get rejected by everyone who matters, and be killed. And what was this crazy talk about coming back from the dead?

From a religious perspective, everything Jesus tells his disciples is upside down and backwards. But this is the path his plan had to take so that we could have eternal life. So often, God's plan seems upside down and backwards to us too. "Why did he have to die?" "Why did such a good person have to suffer?" "I thought for sure things would turn out like we hoped."

The mystery of this path is one of the things we celebrate in Easter. Jesus, who could have had it all, who deserved it all, instead gave up everything to save us. It doesn't make sense. That's why it's a mystery. He knew the whole path to saving us, from the beginning, and he navigated it expertly.

When we read these verses and look past the strangeness of them, we can see Jesus' holy focus.

Is there something God is calling you to, that you need to have that same dedication for? Maybe you find yourself at a similar crossroads as the disciples found themselves in. Maybe one path leads to a prosperous career and a comfortable life, and the other leads to the cross. Maybe one path leads to admiration, while the other leads to being rejected and despised. Could you make the difficult choice without the holy focus Jesus had?

Meditate on these verses this week and see how they speak to you. Imagine yourself in the disciples shoes, or in having to knowingly follow the path Jesus followed. What you learn may change how you see Easter and will deepen your love for Jesus.