STOP

 

                        

Several years ago when I saw the movie "The Passion of Christ"  the theater was full.  In the audience you could hear some people weeping and some even groaning. Such was the emotional impact of the scenes we were watching.  At one point the visual of the suffering of Jesus was so graphic that I felt like standing up and

shouting  STOP!!!!  I  wanted to stop the agony and pain being inflicted on him, and his crucifixion.  The Apostle Peter, after hearing Jesus speak of his coming suffering and death, wanted to stop any possibility of that happening .

Matt. 16:21-23

21. 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, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Peter tried to stop Jesus from his ultimate mission. Even in the garden of Gethsemane, during  the arrest of Jesus, Peter tried to prevent and stop those who were about to take Jesus to trial and impending torture and crucifixion. 

Peter  failed. His disappointment and depression was a natural result and led to his denial of even knowing Jesus. However, had Peter succeeded he would have thwarted the divine plan of God for the purpose of Christ's suffering and death, our redemption and reconciliation. 

A different view of stop. As redeemed, reconciled and forgiven sinners we must always be telling the Gospel  of Christ and never stop!

Sacrifice of Christ that makes forgiveness of our sin possible.

The prophecies of Christ suffering were fulfilled in every detail.

Offering the opportunity for sinners to repent and trust Christ as Lord and Savior.

Proclamation of the Gospel in carrying out the great commission of Christ.

1 Cor. 15:1 & 3-4 (NIV)

1 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,