Breaking the Word

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father…

 Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Messiah. From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, "God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." (Mt 16:13-23)

Revelation is always from God. Man can realize only certain aspects about things and persons. People recognize that Jesus is one of the prophets or John the Baptist etc. Yes they have realized only certain aspects of Jesus and his ministry. Revelation is total and complete. Revelation contains all aspects of the Jesus and his ministry. That is why Peter says you are the messiah.

Revelation also presents certain goals of life. Human understanding cannot accept this. When Jesus said about his journey to Jerusalem and his suffering etc., Peter could not accept it. He could not visualize his messiah in suffering. Probably Peter was like anyone else who waited for a political messiah.

For a messiah or Godly person human understanding and human explanation are ‘obstacles’ and they reveal Satan. Satan is the person whose thinking is not as God but as human being. Human beings are good but they can end up as Satan or recognize the Messiah depending on their thinking. Is it God’s thinking? 

Then Jesus went from that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, "Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon." But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, "Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us."  He said in reply, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  But the woman came and did him homage, saying, "Lord, help me." He said in reply, "It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters." Then Jesus said to her in reply, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed from that hour. (Mt 15:21-28)

Jesus is in a foreign land. He is with a Canaanite woman who does not worship YAHWEH. So, the land is different, society is different, the culture is different and the religion also is different. And the natural consequence is discrimination. This story beautifully sums up the situation of discrimination.

The first stage of discrimination is ‘ignoring’. She is coming behind Jesus and he seems not to take any note of her shouting. He ignores her. The second stage is ‘dividing’. She does not belong to us. (I was sent only to the lost sheep…). And the third stage is ‘insulting’. (It is not right to take the food… to the dogs…). Yes, the discrimination proceeds in three stages: 1) ignoring 2) dividing 3) insulting.

Faith overcomes all these. Faith seems to be the first action to overcome this discrimination. Faith reveals the relationship that exists between a person and God and that in return will remove discrimination and build up relationship with the people. This will remove the differences in culture, society, and land.