A Hindrance to God

As Easter approaches I am contemplating the many things that Jesus would suffer and the cross that he would die upon. This is what I see and feel.

Images of torn, ripped up flesh and blood splattered and spilled out. The sounds of noise and chaos pouring out of the people who are chanting to have Jesus killed. There are wailing cries with tears of sorrow and sadness from the few who really care.

Hate is so thick it almost suffocates. Evil hovers and begs for more. The sick perverted minds of onlookers draw closer to see the horror of the destruction and torment of the man named Jesus.

And then there’s Jesus. Quiet. Tender. Innocent. Pain etched across his face. Body ravaged and mutilated from his beating. Love in his eyes begging them to see how much.

I am overwhelmed. Tears form in my eyes and I want to scream STOP! I want to make it end. I want to make it better. I want to grab Jesus and protect him. I want to clean up the blood and fix his wounds. I want to rescue Jesus. I love him. I can’t stand the thought of him suffering that way. I want to do something.

Then I understand Peter.

Jesus tells his disciples, “he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priest and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” Matthew 16:21.

Peter’s response is very similar to mine. Peter tells Jesus, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” He is passionate, he is telling Jesus he doesn’t want this to take place. Peter would change the story if he could. He would stop Christ’s suffering, and ultimately his death.

Oh, how the flesh does get in the way. How often our emotions are allowed to control our choices. What seems good, noble, and right can be so very bad, dishonorable and wrong.

Here is Jesus’ response to Peter. “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on things of man.”

Ouch! That hurt even me. The “but Jesus” wants to surface on my mouth and tell him how much I love him and want to protect and rescue him. How it’s not fair and I don’t want to see him get something he doesn’t deserve.

The reality is, I too would be a hindrance.

You see, anytime you are not setting your mind on the things of God you are a hindrance to his kingdom. When you are focusing on your will and not God’s you are hindering his work. Even when you think you are doing a good thing, helpful thing, and kind thing, if it is in opposition to what God is doing it’s the wrong thing.

Jesus asked the Father to “let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39.

Jesus had the flesh to contend with just like you and me. He was fully man. He made a request to the Father understanding what he must suffer. But then he submitted to the Father and the will of God.

I wonder how many times we interfere with what God is doing? It makes me question whether or not there have been times when I jumped in and “fixed things” but messed up what God had planned. Asserting my will and not stopping to seek the Lord and ask him what his will is.

We need to be about our Father’s business like Jesus was. Our life should not be a hindrance to God. We should be thinking about the things that last. Heaven-focused and glory-bound.

So now I stop and reflect on the suffering of Christ and his death on the cross with the same emotions but I refrain from wanting to interfere. I am honest with my emotions but I submit to God and say I wouldn’t want to be a hindrance Lord. I understand the greater picture for salvation and that is your will.

“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done” Matthew 6:10