Mountaintop experiences are great, but we always must come down.
Over the last two blogs I have outlined two mountaintop experiences of Peter. The confession at Caesarea Philippi was momentous in the life of Peter. Six days later Peter, James and John were witnesses to Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountaintop.
These two experiences shaped Peter’s walk with Jesus. Mountaintop experiences always do. They also transformed Jesus’ ministry. He began to focus almost exclusively on His upcoming sacrifice on the cross. To prepare the disciples, He taught them many valuable lessons.
One other note about the mountaintop. Coming down from a great spiritual experience is one of the most dangerous points in the lives of the disciple. Believers come down from the mountaintop and relax.
At just those moments the enemy attacks. Whether through outside attacks or indifference the attacks come.
Jesus anticipates the attacks coming against Him and against His disciples. He seeks to prepare them for the trials ahead.
This week’s blog records two encounters with Jesus that continue Peter’s journey as a disciple.
The first is recorded in Mark 8:9-13
Mark 8:9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.
11 And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”
12 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? 13 But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”
As described by Mark, this encounter occurs directly as they descended the Mount of Transfiguration. Jesus’ first words are a common theme throughout His ministry. Often after performing a miracle or revealing a truth Jesus pledged His audience to silence. They often did just the opposite of His instructions.
On this occasion, we find the only time Jesus’ instructions came with a time frame. He tells them to maintain silence until after His resurrection. He knows that the kingdom of God is about Him and not about the experience He just had. Further, they would not be able to understand what had happened to them until later.
This time it seems that they followed His instructions. They were so caught up in trying to understand the rest of Jesus’ words that they did not speak of what they had experienced.
Jesus’ instructions about His resurrection brought confusion to the disciples. They could not grasp what rising from the dead meant. This would be an ongoing discussion with the disciples.
Peter had confessed Jesus as the Messiah, but did not understand what kind of Messiah He would be. Jesus understood that there would be no kingdom without a cross. He also knew that there would be no cross without a resurrection.
Jesus is trying to confront the disciple’s faulty Christology. They did not understand how Jesus could suffer and die. Faulty Christology inevitably leads to faulty discipleship.
The questions seem to center around their expectation that one like Elijah would come before the Messiah. How could Peter, who just confessed Jesus as Messiah not understand? Their inability to grasp the truth of Jesus identity is a but confounding.
Jesus assures Peter that Elijah had come. From our perspective we understand Jesus’ words to describe the life and ministry of John the Baptist. Jesus clarifies that they had done everything they wanted to John.
By extension Jesus is saying Elijah had come in the person of John. John suffered because of his ministry. Now Jesus faces arrest, trials, and abuse beyond definition.
The disciples obviously missed the depth of Jesus’ words. They stumbled on in their ministry. The shadow of the cross looms in Jesus’ mind. This is just another in the multiple times he tries to explain the truth to them.
What lessons do we take from this experience? We take heart in the truth that Jesus allowed their questions. We are on a journey of discipleship. We learn as we go. We do not yet understand.
We can take heart that Jesus does not chastise them for their lack of understanding. He does not recoil when they ask questions. If their motive is pure, He answers their questions.
He will do the same for you. James gives us a promise that if we lack wisdom we can ask, and He will give it to us abundantly. Ask Him today. He will help you understand.
Do you have a question? Ask. Struggles? Speak up. Having doubts? Talk to Him. He invites you to be real.
The second scene is found in Matthew 17:24-27.
24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”
25 “Yes, he does,” he replied.
When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”
26 “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake, and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”
Understanding the setting and timing of this scene is difficult. We cannot place the exact timing of the question that came to Peter. It is a remarkably interesting and surprising scene for five reasons.
First, notice that the first part of the story was not addressed to Jesus. A tax collector came to Peter with a question. The fact that a question was addressed to Simon reveals that those watching understand that Peter is taking a leadership role among the disciples.
The tax collector comes with a simple question. Does the Master pay the temple tax? This is not a reference to the myriad Roman taxes. The question is related to the two-drachma tax required of Jewish males. This tax supported the work of the temple.
The question was simple. Does Jesus pay the tax. Peter replied with a simple, “yes.”
As the story moves forward, we make a second surprising observation. Jesus was clearly listening to Peter’s discussion. Did he wonder how Peter would manage the pressure? Did Jesus smile at Peter’s answer?
Jesus continues the conversation with a question for Peter. Who is charged taxes by a sovereign. Does the king charge his family taxes or charge outsiders? The answer is obvious, and Peter gives it. King’s kids do not pay taxes. In every way the one who formed the universe could have chosen not to pay the temple tax.
The third surprising aspect in this story is the overarching principal Jesus teaches Peter. “So, we will not cause offense.” Simple words but profound applications. Jesus did not use his position to avoid the tax. He paid it to avoid offense.
Later Paul and others developed this principle. It guides our conduct as believers. Many things are lawful but are not right. Believers are commanded not to do anything that would cause fellow believers to stumble. Our agenda must always be to guard the wellbeing of those who walk with us. We must never offend others by our strength.
The fourth surprise in this passage comes as a command. Jesus tells Peter to go fishing. Jesus tells the fisher to catch a fish and open its mouth. He promises that Peter will find a four-drachma coin.
Can you imagine Peter grumbling as he walks towards the Sea. Catch a fish to pay the tax. Sure. It makes sense to me.
And finally, we observe the final surprise. The story ends without a spoken fulfillment. We do not read about the fish or the coin. Yet, we know Lord’s words were fulfilled.
Through this story we can learn the lesson that Jesus is able to provide for what we need as disciples. He is sovereign. The Jesus who can put a coin in a fish’s mouth can certainly meet your needs as you follow Him.
Trust Him and submit to Him. He is sovereign and will provide. In the interim if He says to fish, fish. If He says to wait, be patient. His plans will be fulfilled. Trust Him.
