Northern Style
IN HIS FOOTSTEPS 7
Who do you say I am?




A HARMONISING OF THE GOSPELS
IN ONE CONTINUAL NARRATIVE

First published in March 1993 as 12 individual A5 booklets
These are still available in the original form upon request.

As we continue with these studies on walking in the footsteps of `the Man Christ Jesus', we shall not only see the hostility towards the Lord Jesus grow in intensity, but we shall also begin to see the judgement of God upon that particular generation of the Jewish nation because of the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit committed earlier by the leaders. In addition the people were beginning to get restless, for they were not seeing the establishment of a political kingdom of Israel through the Messiah. So they began to reject Him - even after the miraculous signs of deliverance and healing that Jesus had performed amongst them! With this developing rejection by the people there would come an intensification of the hostility of the Pharisees, and because of the earlier death of John the Baptist the guilt working in Herod Antipas would ensure that the Tetrarchy of Galilee and Perea was no longer a safe haven for Him. But still the time had not come for Jesus to journey to Jerusalem for the climax of His ministry, and so, secure in His relationship with His Father, this growing rejection would not deter Him from His task of teaching and training His disciples, and we now find Him using wisdom by withdrawing into the safer area of the Tetrarchy of Herod Philip.

In order to keep within the contextual and historical setting of the Gospels we need to read the Gospel narratives with these events clearly fixed in our minds, so that we might understand the spiritual message that is revealed for us as disciples of Jesus today. We have said many times in this series of studies that, whilst it is correct and proper to read the Gospel narratives for personal meditation and direction under the leading of the Holy Spirit, it is nevertheless imperative, when seeking a parallel understanding of these central messages, to understand the contextual setting of them lest we `take a text out of context and so make it a pretext' and be led into error over matters of doctrine and eschatology (that is, matters concerning the end-times). We need always to keep central in our thinking the fact that the ministry of Jesus revealed that the New Covenant is firmly rooted in the Old Covenants made with the nation of Israel: (Jeremiah 31:33)

" This is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord: `I will put My law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people'. "

It was the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus that fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Mosaic Law, as Paul reminds us: (Ephesians 2:12-13)

" Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the Covenants of the Promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the Blood of Christ. "

Now that we Gentile believers, the wild olive branches, are grafted into the olive tree, through the finished work of Jesus, the unconditional Covenants of God are open to Jew and Gentile believer alike. However, in understanding the Gospel message we need to remember that at that particular period these times had not yet come! The crucifixion and the resurrection, which would bring about the fulfillment of the New Covenant, were yet to come in the months that lay ahead.

At this point of walking in His footsteps we see Jesus training and teaching His disciples for a time He knew would come when He would no longer be with them physically. His ministry did not just spring from a detailed knowledge of His identity as the Son of God, or from a sound knowledge of the Scriptures - although both were now firmly in place. No, the work of Jesus came from an intimate knowledge of His Father, and from that knowledge came His understanding of His Sonship. If He was the Son, then He was also the Heir, the first of many sons and brothers. Jesus did not undertake His work with a step-by-step outworking of a programme of events based on His knowledge of Scripture. His work sprang from the intimate relationship of a Son to a Father, and under the Father's guiding revelation He walked obediently into the inheritance that was His as Son and Heir! That involved doing only what His Father did, that is, having a full understanding of His Father's will and purpose, and allowing His Father to lead Him step by step into His inheritance through His obedience . . . sometimes waiting in seeming idleness . . . at other times walking in the power of the Spirit, performing miracles and healings . . . at other times almost, it would appear, seeking a confrontation with the leaders, forcing the pace . . . and at other times withdrawing to the safety of the Tetrarchy of Herod Philip.

At this point in the Gospel narrative that, too, is the contextual parallel understanding we need today as disciples of Jesus. We need a developing awareness of God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . an intimate relationship with our Abba Father through the life of Jesus within us by the work of the Holy Spirit . . . a life-changing, intimate relationship that leads today's disciples of Jesus to say the same words as their Lord: `Father, not my will but Yours'! For that we need an understanding of the fulness of God's grace that is freely given so that we can walk as Jesus walked. Our life in Him comes not from our ministry, nor even from the power of the Holy Spirit in miracles and healings. No, it comes only from an intimate knowledge of God as Father, and from that relationship will come the knowledge that we too are sons, and if sons then heirs, with an inheritance available to us through Jesus our Lord! This was the training that Jesus was now urgently engaged in. Yes, it did entail miracles, healings and deliverances, but it would also develop into more profound teaching:

Matthew 16:14-16
" But what about you (Peter). Who do you say I am?'
`You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God' "


As we begin to introduce the Scriptures for this particular study, always keeping them within the contextual, historical settings, we will again see a change of emphasis. The intense training of the disciples continues, but where in the past much of the teaching and training had concentrated on the work of the Kingdom of God, the emphasis would now come on the nature and person of Jesus as the King of that Kingdom of God. In the years that lay ahead they would have to be quite certain where their authority came from. If indeed it came from the Messiah, the Anointed Son of God, when their training was complete they would have no hesitation in obeying the words of their Master when, "Jesus came to them and said, `All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations . . . and surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age'" (Matthew 28:18-20).

But first must come the training! Mark records: "The apostles gathered round Jesus and reported to Him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have the chance to eat, He said to them, `Come with Me by yourselvess to a quiet place and get some rest'" (6:30-31). Luke then tells us where that place of rest was: "When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then He took them with Him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida" (9:10). We know from Matthew, Mark and John that they used a boat to withdraw across the Lake of Galilee to a place called Bethsaida, which was located in the Tetrarchy of Herod Philip, away for a while from the hostility of the Pharisees and from the pressing crowds who were becoming increasingly restless for the restoration of the kingdom within Israel.

John now picks up the threads: "And a great throng of people followed Him because they saw the miraculous signs He had performed on the sick. Then Jesus went up on the hillside and sat down with His disciples. The Jewish Passover was near. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming towards Him, He said to Philip, `Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?' He asked this only to test him, for He already had in mind what He was going to do'" (6:2-6). All four Gospel writers have recorded the miracle of the feeding of the crowds with the five small barley loaves and two fishes, and many encouraging words have been expounded to the faithful over the years on this story. All correct and proper for personal encouragement, but within the context of the narrative we see here Jesus teaching His disciples of their coming work in the Kingdom of God when He would have physically left them. There would be a flock to feed, but the food would be God's provision - heavenly spiritual food that only He could provide. Their task would be to take what was given them from God and distribute it to the people, the people of the Kingdom of God - `making disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you'. But the crowds wanted more than fish and bread. They wanted a restored Kingdom . . . and they had seen the King: `After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, " `Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world'. Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and take Him by force, withdrew again into the hills by Himself' " (John 6:14-15).

As we have seen before, at the start of any major or significant move forward in His ministry Jesus always withdrew by Himself to seek the will of His Father through what was unfolding in the circumstances around Him. The temptation was again there before Him - a Kingdom fit for a King was His for the taking! But it held no attraction for Him. His inheritance would not come from the desires of a noisy crowd! The King of Israel would be crowned in Jerusalem, not Galilee, and that crown was assured because of whom His Father was! So "He withdrew again into the hills by Himself. When evening came, His disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them" (6:15-17). The disciples were now at the point in their training to catch a glimpse of the power and glory of the Man Christ Jesus, who would one day send them out in the power of the Spirit and in His name and authority. Matthew 14 records this event: "But the boat was already a considerable distance from the land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified. `It's a ghost,' they said, and cried out in fear'" (24-26).

We know this story so well - the good intention of Peter who jumped out of the boat to walk on the water towards his Master - intensive training indeed! Jesus encouraged him: "`Come', He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat and walked on the water to Jesus. But when he saw the waves, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, cried, `Lord, save me'" (14:29-30). In the coming years Peter and the disciples would need to remember these things. Other waters would threaten to overwhelm them. They would need their own deep personal revelation of the authority the Man Christ Jesus gave them. They would cry out many times, "`Lord save me'. Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. `You of little faith,' He said, `why did you doubt?' Then when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshipped Him, saying, `Truly, You are the Son of God'" (14:30-33).

Landing at Gennesaret, just above Tiberias, they were once again in the Tetrarchy of Herod Antipas. "`And when the men of that place recognised Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought their sick to Him and begged Him to let the sick just touch the edge of His cloak, and all who touched Him were healed'" (14:35-36). But people who come looking for signs and wonders will never have their fill, and soon the cries of the crowds would change into a clamour for more than Jesus was willing to give. The crowds wanted a king over a restored kingdom of Israel, with all the political power and stature that that would entail, but the Kingdom that Jesus came to offer did not come up to their expectations, and through the rejection of Jesus as Messiah by the leaders of the nation, and their blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, the judgement of God was already at work amongst that particular generation of the nation of Israel! Indiviuals, by personal faith in Him would still be caught into the spiritual Kingdom of God, but the hearts of the multitudes could not understand the message of the Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus was preaching.

John now reveals this in his narrative: "The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake (at Bethsaida) realised that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with His disciples, but that they had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. Once the crowd realised that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. When they found Him on the other side of the lake, they asked Him, `Rabbi, when did You get here?' Jesus answered, `I tell you the truth, you are looking for Me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval'" (6:22-27_. Jesus knew the hearts of the people. Although they were interested in the food He provided, they could not see, and they had no desire for the Giver of the food. But because of the earlier rejection by the leaders of Israel Jesus was not prepared to speak openly. He still spoke in parables to the crowd: "`Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life'. Still not understanding they asked Jesus. `What must we do to do the works God requires?' Jesus answered, `The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent'".

The judgement, because of the earlier rejection, was already at work. Almost unbelievably they now asked: "`What miraculous sign then will You give that we may see it and believe You'. What will You do? Our forefathers ate manna in the desert; as it is written, `He gave them bread from heaven to eat'" (30-31). With hearts so hardened, who amongst them could understand the answer Jesus gives? "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen Me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do My will but to do the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of all that He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day" (35-40). But their hard hearts could no longer receive the words of Jesus - these people were wanting more than He was able to give them. "At this the Jews began to grumble about Him because He had said, `I am the bread that came down from heaven'. They said, `Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can He now say, `I came down from heaven?' (This led to more words from Jesus - words they could no longer comprehend!) `I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If a man eats of this bread he will live for ever. This bread is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world'. Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, `How can this man give us His flesh to eat?' Jesus said to them, `I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day'" (51-54). Jesus spoke in parables to the crowds, for their hardness of heart had rejected Him - even though they had seen the miraculous power that had confirmed His Messiahship before their very eyes. And now, because they wanted more than He was prepared to give, they turned on Him and said, `Surely this is no more than the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know'. These words also had a disturbing effect on many of His disciples, who said, "`This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?' Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, `Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before'. The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life'" (60-63).

At this time Jesus stood watching all the work undertaken in Galilee on the verge of total collapse! The rejection was almost complete. The months of walking, talking, teaching, performing miracles of healing and deliverance were not what the people wanted! They wanted a king now . . . a restored kingdom now! They were not interested in food from heaven, let alone a man who called Himself the Bread from Heaven! But even at this point, when the collapse of His ministry seemed complete, He was not deterred: "For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him. He went on to say: `This is why I told you that no-one can come to Me unless the Father has enabled him'. From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him" (64-66). With His Galilean ministry now in apparent ruins, Jesus turned to the Twelve. "`You do not want to leave too, do you?' Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered Him, `Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God'" (67-69). It would be all too easy to say that Jesus had known that the Galilean ministry would fall apart and that the rejection had to be total. There was much pain in His words, `You do not want to leave Me too, do you'. (The pain was now to become even more intense.) Jesus replied, `Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil'. Intensive teaching indeed! And yet through these painful encounters the disciples deepened their belief and understanding of the Man Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the Anointed One. They would need this maturing revelation for what lay ahead!

As Jesus continued to teach in Capernaum, we shall turn to Mark's words in chapter 7 in order to see the intensity of the hostility that now openly threatened Him. The Pharisees, sensing the turning point in the attitude of the multitudes, were at the forefront of the hostility and, as to be expected, the hostility was over the same grounds as before - the teachings of man, as seen in the Mishnah taking authority over the written Scriptures. "The Pharisees and some of the Teachers of the Law who had come from Jerusalem gathered round Jesus and saw some of His disciples eating food with `unclean' - that is, ceremonially unwashed - hands. (The Pharisees and all the Jews - those of their sect - do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders - the Mishnaic teaching of the elders. When they come from the market-place they do not eat unless they first wash. And they observe many other traditions - Mishnaic teachings - such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.) So the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law asked Jesus, `Why don't Your disciples live according to the traditions of the elders - the Mishnaic teachings - instead of eating their food with `unclean hands'? He replied, `Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites: (Isaiah 29:13)

"These people honour Me with their lips, but their
hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain;
their teachings are but rules taught by men. "
(Mishnaic)


You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men'. And He said to them, `You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions'" (7:1-9).

We have mentioned before that Scripture records that Jesus only did what He saw His Father doing. Sometimes in the Gospel narrative there are times of seemingly senseless waiting; times of intense healings and deliverances . . times of withdrawing from danger . . times of refusing to perform miracles to satisfy the crowds . . times of seeming to force the pace. Here we see Jesus once more facing the Pharisees head on, the traditions of the elders being exposed as a travesty of the Law given to Moses. As the authority, social and religious standing of the Pharisees was entirely based on their interpretation of the written and oral Torah (through the Mishnaic teachings) the words of Jesus struck right at the heart of their existence - indeed forcing the pace of their opposition to Him to the point of `madness entering them', as one Gospel writer describes it. Jesus continued to strike home. His attack against their hypocrisy and the traditions of the elders: "For Moses said, `Honour your father and mother', and `Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death'. But you say (the Mishnah) that if a man says to his father or mother, `Whatever help you might otherwise have received from he is Corban' (that is, a gift devoted to God). then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. Thus you nullify the Word of God by your tradition that you have handed down, and you do many things like that'" (7:10-13).

We are familiar with the understanding of what Jesus was saying. The Mishnah taught that whatever the Pharisees owned was already given to God - once given verbally it did not have to be given materially and could be `kept in trust' by the Pharisees because it had already been given mentally! With this verbal and mental twisting of Scripture to their own advantage by the Teachers of the Law, the Jews were thus able to avoid clear Mosaic teaching such as `honour your father and mother' and so by the Mishnaic teaching of the elders nullify the Word of God. This was always the main point of clashings between Jesus, the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law, and just in case we shake our heads in self- righteousness over the stubborn, unrelenting hearts of those Jews, we would do well to look at the traditions of `the elders' (or whatever title is given) of the Church today, which often clearly nullifies the Word of God and keeps many people under the same heavy yoke of man-made traditions - still seeking even today to enter the Kingdom of God by man- made traditions. The words of Jesus are still pertinent today wherever this is found - `Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites'.

Jesus continued His stern words when He then "called the crowds to Him and said, `Listen to Me, eveyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a man can make him `unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him `unclean'." (7:14-16) Here we see Jesus still talking in parables to the multitude . . no longer able to speak clearly on the matters of the Kingdom of God . . although even now there would be some individuals who would respond. For those, Jesus had compassion and understanding - truly His yoke, His teaching, was easy and light compared to the yoke of the teachings of the Mishnah and the traditions of the elders.

Matthew illustrates the point: "Then the disciples came to Him and asked, `Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?' He (Jesus) replied, `Every plant that My Heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots (referring to the traditions and teachings of the Mishnah, which was not planted by God.) `Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit'" (15:12-14). Even at this point the disciples still had doubts in their minds, not yet fully renewed, and to some extent they were still under the influence of their past knowledge of a mixture of Scripture and traditions. Therefore they could not fully grasp the righteous teachings Jesus was revealing concerning the coming Kingdom of God, and it led to further teaching. Jesus continued, "`For out of the heart comes evil thoughts . . . These are what makes a man `unclean'" (15:19-20). It is little wonder that the disciples could not fully understand; that they were not able to attain to such righteousness - but they would come to the same understanding as everyone who has followed on and entered into the Kingdom of Heaven, as Paul recorded many years later:

"The life I live in the body I live now by faith in the son of God. "


The narrow gate into the Kingdom of Heaven was, and always will be, through acceptance of Jesus as Messiah and Lord.

Returning now to Mark we see Jesus withdrawing from Galilee - in fact withdrawing for a time from within the boundaries of the land of Israel! "Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet He could not keep His presence secret" (7:24). The `vicinity of Tyre' was in fact Gentile territory, and by withdrawing here for a while and `not wanting anyone to know it' Jesus could continue this intensive teaching of His disciples, for there was little time left before that final eventful journey to Jerusalem! The teaching of His disciples was to happen, in part, with the coming of a Gentile woman: "In fact, as soon as she heard about Him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed of an evil spirit came and fell at His feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter" (7:25-26). Matthew brings out the contextual message of the ministry of Jesus: "A Caananite woman from that vicinity (Tyre and Sidon) came to Him, crying out, `Lord, Son of David. have mercy on me. My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession'" (15:22). As the Son of David . . the Messiah of Israel . . He could not heal or deliver Gentiles at that point because of the rejection of His Messiahship by the leaders of Israel, but on the basis of her personal faith in Him as Lord, Jesus met her need and sowed seeds that would slowly develop in the minds of His disciples - that the work of the Man Christ Jesus would eventually extend beyond the nation of Israel! Truly, God in His grace and mercy worked, and still works, so often in men's negative and sometimes openly hostile attitudes and actions - surely a point to keep in mind when much of `charismatic Christianity' rejects suffering and pain (mental, emotional or physical) as `not of God', and so deny the strength of God that is revealed in our weakness. Such occurrences, however, were well known to Paul, and to countless numbers of disciples of Jesus who follow in His footsteps!

Returning now to Mark, we see Jesus, still keeping to the safety of Gentile territory and out of the Tetrarchy of Herod Antipas, continuing to teach His disciples: "Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went down through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis" (7:32). We recall that once before Jesus travelled in the Decapolis area, in `the region of the Gerasenes, and freed the man from the chains of demon possession'. We also know that through this deliverance the people who looked after the pigs `ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened' (Luke 8:34-35). Now we shall read in Mark's narrative that "some people brought a man to Him who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Him to place His hands on the man" (7:32). The healing Jesus now performed was still on the basis of personal faith - the people bringing the man who was deaf and hardly able to speak had to speak on his behalf because he was unable to `and they begged Him'. Again came the words of Jesus, "and He commanded them not to tell anyone" (7:36). Who could possibly keep quiet about such a miracle, and so the news spread and the crowds flocked to Him once again: "During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, `I have compassion for these people; they have already been with Me for three days and have nothing to eat'" (8:1-3). Jesus would contiune to teach His disciples, preparing them for the days that lay ahead when they would have to totally rely upon His provision for all their needs and the needs of those they ministered to in His name. We saw in an earlier study the feeding of the five thousand, and now He repeats the teaching with His provision for the four thousand people gathered to Him in Gentile territory.

Mark now records Him moving out briefly from the safety of the Decapolis, for getting into a boat with His disciples He went to the region of Dalmanutha (down the west coast of the Sea of Galilee). Here we find the Pharisees - and according to Matthew's gospel narrative, the Saddcees also - still pressing the attack. "The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test Him they asked for a sign from heaven" (8:11). Many of the simple words written in Scripture reveal much of the heart of God - far more so than the long-winded expressions of men! Mark merely records that Jesus `sighed deeply'. What anguish there must have been in the heart of Jesus with His knowledge of what lay ahead of Him! He said, "Why does this generation (the generation which rejected Him and blasphemed the Holy Spirit, and therefore unable to repent) ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it'. Then He left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side" (8:12-13).

We read that Jesus now landed in the Tetrarchy of Herod Philip and began the slow journey to Bethsaida. Here in Herod Philip's Tetrarchy no hostility towards Him had been encountered, and Jesus was able to continue His intensive training and teaching of the Twelve. Later He would travel up to Caesarea Philippi in the region of Mount Hermon, but at this point, following on from the recent attack by the Pharisees and Sadducees at Dalmanutha, He gives His disciples a stern warning - again taking the simple fact that they had forgotten to take bread for their journey and following on from feeding the crowds in the Decapolis region. Matthew records the words: "When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. `Be careful,' Jesus said to them. `Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.' They discussed this among themselves and said, `It is because we didn't bring any bread.' Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, `You of little faith. Why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand and how many basketfuls you gathered? How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.' Then they understood that He was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees'" (16:5-12).

Jesus understood that the reason for this time apart with His disciples was for the intensive teaching that was needed to cleanse and renew their minds from the unscriptural teaching and practices that had grown around the Word of God. They understood in part! They were in the process of learning that He alone would make the total provision that was necessary for their soon-to-come ministry - they must not become entangled again with the dangerous yeast of the Mishnaic teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees which blinded and dulled their understanding of God's purposes. In looking for a parallel truth for today's disciples little further comment is required, except perhaps to say that we too need at times to be apart with the Lord Jesus so that He can help us to discard the same yeast of error and unbelief that always seeks to attach itself to the purity of the Word of God.

Turning back now the Mark's narrative we see again the clear pattern of teaching being given to the Twelve: "They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him" (8:22). Mark goes on to tell us how Jesus used this opportunity to not only show compassion for the blind man and the personal faith of those who helped him to find Jesus, but also to teach His disciples on the on-going revelation they were receiving. The blind man's healing took place in progressive stages. At first the man could only see partially, `people like trees walking'. But after Jesus had placed His hands on him again `his sight was restored and he saw everything clearly' (8:25). Again the message was clear: `You see what I am telling you only partially, but when the fulness of what I am doing comes, you will see clearly.' It was also a prophetic message for the nation of Israel - that as a people they could now see only partially, but the time will come when the nation of Israel will see their Messiah clearly, `and so all Israel will be healed (saved)'! That time would come long after His death, resurrection and ascension, through the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of countless numbers of disciples among the Jews and Gentiles alike!

Again the words of Jesus to the man were, `(Go home) Don't go to the village' (8:26). His present work was the training of the Twelve. His compassion for such people as the blind man was allowed on the basis of their personal faith and no longer to demonstrate His calling as Messiah of Israel. As with the feeding of the four thousand, Jesus would use the miraculous healing of the blind man to continue His instruction to tjhe Twelve, and now as we move into Matthew's narrative we see this outworking: "When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, `Who do people say the Son of Man is?' They replied, `Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' `But what about you?' He asked, `Who do you say I am?' Simon Peter answered, `You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.' Jesus replied, `Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by My Father in heaven'" (16:13-17).

The miracles and teaching of Jesus had given the Twelve partial sight through the revelation of God - but it was a gradual understanding. And just as Jesus had asked the blind man, after His first touch upon His eyes, `What do you see?' so He now asked His disciples, `What about you? Who do you say I am?'. Just as the miraculous power of God had opened the eyes of the blind man, so the revelation of God the Father had given the disciples this much sight . . `You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.' Jesus replied, `Blessed are you, Simon . . . And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock (on this understanding, partial though it still is) I will build My Church (I will give you full sight of My purposes, nothing will overcome it, not even the Gates of Hades. When full sight comes, your eyes and the eyes of those who will follow on will be opened wide and you will see clearly.) I will give you the keys of the Kingdom (full understanding, so that through you and those who follow on the full message of what I have come to do as Messiah and Lord to Jews and Gentiles alike will be spoken. With this full understanding, with your eyes fully opened and healed, you will do what I am doing, that is, only the work I see My Father doing). Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven (because it is the work of My Father in heaven. The keys of the Kingdom of Heaven are the understanding and working the works that My Father is doing. Now you see only partially, but when I finish My work, through the work of the Holy Spirit, just like the blind man, your eyes will be opened and you will see clearly). Then He warned His disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah". (Matthw 16:13- 20 Paraphrase). The teaching of the Twelve would now reach a new level. The gradual opening of their eyes would continue,and we shall see that their understanding . . their spiritual sight . . was still only partial. They would still see, so to speak, `men like trees walking'.

Jesus, ever patient, continues in His task, even though at times He could be sharp and chastening. Matthew reveals this: "From that time on Jesus began to explain to His disciples that 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" (16;21). Peter, with his partial sight, and no doubt revelling in his newly half-opened spiritual eyes, "took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. `Never, Lord!' he said. `This shall never happen to You!'" How often, with our partial knowledge of the work of God, do we seek to hinder God's work! Peter is no different to any of us who follow on. With our sometimes half-opened eyes we are ready to turn the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven - and have forgotten that we need the full revelation, through the work of the Holy Spirit, of what the Father is doing! "Jesus turned and said to Peter, `Out of My sight, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me, you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men'" (16:23) Jesus then warned them again of using their natural understanding. Their partial spiritual eyesight saw only the Messiah, (the Christ) the Son of the living God, setting out for Jerusalem, taking the Kingdom of God and installing Himself as King! The long-awaited Kingdom was at hand - partial sight indeed! The work of Jesus was not yet complete, and they could only see `men as trees walking'! Jesus then said to His disciples, "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save His life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it'" (16:24-25). For those disciples who would follow on the clear message was the same: The path laid out before them was to do the work of the Father, denying the ways of men so that in their weakness they might stand through His mighty power.

They were now about to have a foretaste of the mighty power of God, which would help them towards gaining their full spiritual eyesight. Even after this event they would still only understand partially, but the time would come, and come more fully, at a soon-to-come Feast of the Ingathering (the Feast of Pentecost) when they would see clearly! We shall turn to Luke's narrative to read about this event: "About eight days after Jesus said this, He took Peter, John and James with Him and went up onto a mountain to pray" (9:28). As they were still in the Tetrarchy of Herod Philip this would probably mean Mount Hermon in the north - at least it was in the region of Mount Hermon. What was to happen there would forever stay in the disciples' minds, and we can almost hear the intensity of their feelings in the writings of Peter and John that would follow later. "As He (Jesus) was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendour, talking with Jesus. They spoke about His departure, which He was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem" (9:29-31). Now, like the blind man's healing, would come a deeper understanding of the words and the purpose of Jesus! The Divine Glory . . the Shechinah . . the manifestation of the Presence of God . . broke through the physical flesh of Jesus. No longer could the frail flesh contain His Divine Majesty, and for a brief moment they saw Him as He truly was . . the Son of God . . God the Son . . glorified in their presence. Luke records that they were sleeping, but this was no ordinary sleep. We read much earlier (Genesis 15) that when God made His Covenant with Abram He put him into a deep sleep. Here on the mountain "Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw His Glory". (This was no gradual appearance . . they were sleepy) "but when their eyes were opened they saw His Glory and the two men standing with Him." Still drawing on the past miracle of the blind man - their eyes were able to see their glorified Lord and they received more insight! They saw Moses, the man of God who brought the Law down the mountain to the people of Israel; they saw Elijah, the prophet of God, pointing forward to the Atonement Who was standing there before them. The fulfillment of the faithful work of these two men stood as a witness for Peter and his companions to see.

Peter's words and actions expressed exactly what it meant. Year after year He had joined the annual Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, as commanded by the Law - a Feast of the Final Harvest lasting seven days, with a final eighth day of great feasting and joy. The Jews were told to build booths (tabernacles) to demonstrate how God had dwelt among them during their long wanderings in the desert before they entered the Promised Land. Every year they faithfully kept this Feast of the Final harvest in hope and anticipation of the Messiah who would one day come and tabernacle amongst them as their King in the restored Kingdom of Israel! Peter's words and actions were totally correct: "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters - one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (9:33) He thought that at last he had come to full understanding - `this is the Messiah, the Kingdom has now come. God is going to tabernacle amongst us now in the restored Kingdom'! But the following verse of Scripture (`he did not know what he was saying') only revealed that, like the blind man he could still see only partially - he did not know what he was saying! Full sight was yet to come, built on what Peter and his companions had seen and heard for, "While he was speaking. a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, `This is My Son whom I have chosen; listen to Him'. When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no- one at that time what they had seen." (9:34-36) `This is My Son whom I have chosen; listen to Him!' There was more to come before the full revelation of the work Jesus had come to do would open their blind eyes. That full revelation came when the power of the Holy Spirit came upon them and their eyes were fully opened - and then they went and turned the world upside down! How eager we are today to turn the world upside down before we have been alone with Jesus and allowed the Holy Spirit to open our eyes so that we might see Him in His full Glory!

And so with these triumphant verses of Scripture ringing out we shall bring this seventh study of walking in His footsteps to a close. The climax was fast approaching. There on the mountain Peter and his companions saw that no longer could the human flesh of Jesus contain the Divine Glory that was His . . and the voice of His Father revealed that in Him is fulfilled the Law and the Prophets.

The Law said:
" The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet
like me from among your own brothers. You must
listen to Him. "

Deuteronomy 18:15


The Prophets said:
"Here is My Servant, whom I uphold.
My Chosen One in Whom I delight. "

Isaiah 42:1


The promised Kingdom had indeed come! The Messiah, the King of Israel, was indeed among them! The words of Scripture, the Law and the Prophets were fulfilled! But, as yet, the blind eyes of the disciples were only partially healed!

The blind eyes of the nation of Israel were also only partially healed for only a faithful few saw the revealed Messiahship of Jesus! The time for the full restoration of Israel is still yet to come - but it is sure and certain, for the Covenants of God are totally `Yes' and `Amen' in the man Christ Jesus!

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