Jesus Leads

A more accurate translation of today's text would be "Peter chewed him out." The NRSV says he rebuked him, but the Greek word is very harsh and strong. To be the messiah, as Peter earlier confessed Jesus to be, means that Jesus has to go to Jerusalem not to lead a revolt, but to undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and the chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. Peter wanted Jesus to go to Jerusalem and restore the Kingdom of David to make Judea and Galilee free from Roman rule and to rule as the King of all of Israel. What kind of leader what Jesus had been if he accomplished that task? That is. providing that the Roman legions didn't subdue his revolution and crucify him and all his followers. This very event happened when Jesus was about 8 when Judah the Galilean lead a revolt and Vargas, the Roman General stopped the revolt and crucified thousands of Galilean rebels. If Jesus had succeeded in such a revolution, there would not have been a Christian movement. His reign would have been limited to Israel alone; there would not have been a Resurrection. We would not be Christians today because there would not have been a Great Commission. His movement and actions would only be a part of Jewish history not world history. It is through the Great Commission that we understand that Jesus is mystically and spiritually present with us at all times. This affects the way we think of Church and how to run a church. There is a certain way of becoming a church by asking Jesus to lead us. There is a concept that Jesus and God are far away from us and that we must hold the Bible close and dear to us because that what was left us to connect with God. Because God is seen as being distant, leaders in the church become God's representatives for us, and finally the individual becomes important, so that lifestyles make the church. Such a church exists near us called Mars Hill, the name taken from the Book of Acts, where there is rock and roll music and the pastor preaches about meaningful life lessons. Church should be here where we are because Christ is present here with us We have to be spiritually aware of Christ's presence with us. Jesus Christ a leader for everyone.