The disciples learn this. They come to an exciting realization about Jesus, a revelation which they will eventually be called to share with the world. But it is not yet time.
Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.”
He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.
The time will come for them to proclaim exactly this. Before Jesus ascends to the Father he promises:
But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (cf. Act. 1:8).
There is, in fact, an appointed time for nearly everything. But we are like the children in the marketplace who will not dance to the pipe or mourn to the dirge (Cf. Luk. 7:31-32). We are try to fast when the bridegroom is with us but feast is he is distant (cf. Mar. 2:19).
It is a tricky thing to figure out. It is not for us to know the times and seasons (cf. Act. 1:7). But he does place the timeless in our hearts. He does give us the Holy Spirit to guide us. We never discover "the work which God has done" in such a way that we can predict what he'll do next. We may not even discover why he is doing a certain thing at the present time. But Jesus does want to pour out "the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better" (cf. Eph. 1:17). It is the difference between figuring him out and knowing him better. We are called to the later.
The Holy Spirit gives us knowledge and wisdom. He gives it to us when we need it. When we are called to give testimony to Jesus it is the Spirit himself who speaks in us. Because of that we don't need to prepare what we are to say ahead of time.
Man may never discover, from beginning to end, the work which God has done. But that is because the Spirit blows where it wills. The times and seasons aren't predictable according to almanacs or actuarial tables. But these things, what "no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived ... God has revealed to us by his Spirit" (cf. 1 Cor. 2:9-10). Only the Spirit searches even the deep things of God.
Let us listen, then. The invitation to mourn, weep, scatter, tear down, kill, uproot, to lose, to hate, and to war is only temporary. It is a passing shadow. The invitation to joy, to laughter, and to dancing endures forever.
Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
my mercy and my fortress,
my stronghold, my deliverer,
My shield, in whom I trust.
No comments:
Post a Comment