"Heaven Forbid"

 "Heaven forbid", a phrase we've all probably heard a time or two.   Usually when we hear this, the person speaking wants to prevent something from happening that they think will be harmful, hurtful, or even tragic.  None of us want to see hurtful or tragic things happen, especially to those we love!

Matthew, Mark and Luke all tell of the time that Peter said to Jesus,  "heaven forbid. . . "  Peter was a devoted follower and friend of Jesus and he loved him very much.  He had just heard Jesus tell of the things that were about to happen to him.  Jesus told His disciples that He would suffer and many terrible things would happen at the hands of religious leaders.  Jesus told them "He would be killed, but on the third day He would be raised from the dead."    

This did not set well with Peter! He spoke up and said to Jesus; "Heaven forbid, Lord. This will never happen to you!"  

At that moment Jesus turned to Peter and said, "Get away from me, Satan!"  I wonder what expression was on Peter's face when Jesus reprimanded him!?!  

Jesus went on to say to Peter, "You are a dangerous trap to Me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God's."   Peter's exclamation wasn't out of disrespect, but one of sincere love and lack of understanding.   Jesus was Peter's friend and he didn't want to see harm come to Him, especially death!  Peter's quick reaction was probably fear based and the need to protect Jesus.  It's almost like Peter had the idea that He was Jesus' bodyguard, as if Jesus needed Peter to protect Him.  

But Peter didn't understand that had Jesus not suffered, died and then raised to life - he would have had to pay for his own sins. 

Like Jesus, we all have well-meaning friends and family who love us and only want the best for us. They don't want us to be in pain, to suffer, to be heartbroken or experience tragedy.   And, we feel the same about them!  We want to protect them, to shield them from hurt and hardship.  But like Peter, we don't see the BIG PICTURE that God sees, that God designs and allows.  

Satan wants nothing more than for followers of Christ to leave Jesus out of their daily and future plans, choices and decisions!              Jesus says, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. IF you hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it" 

The advice that our friends and family gives us can sound tempting - we don't want the painful situation either - and if there is a way out, please tell me!  But Jesus says - you MUST give up your own way.  Being a follower of Jesus Christ isn't the easy way out!  As Shadrach, and his friends discovered - sometimes it means standing in the fire! 

This is one reason why being in God's Word and having a personal relationship with Him, one where you are daily engaged with Him, is so important! 

It is GOD's voice we need to hear in our heads, not the voice of    "the world". 

Matthew16:21-28; Mark 8:38-9:1; Luke 9:1-27