Hungarian Church Press, 1949 (1. évfolyam, 4-13. szám)
1949-07-26 / 9. szám
THE SUFFERINGS OF J^SUS Part of a radio Gospel message given in the devotional hour of the Hungarian Free Churches by Dr.Francis Eiss, professor of Anathomy• Read: Matthew 16:21-26. The subject of my to-day's Gospel message isi Suffering of Jesus. In the portion just read, we learn of the first announcement of the forthcoming suffering of the Lord, and the way how man responded to that surprising announcement and how Jesus responded tp it. The background of the great and unexpected theme of the conversation between Jesus and Peter was that Jesus did not merely teach in wisdom, He did not merely perform miracles and heal the sick, but it also belonged to His programme, that just in Jerusalem, in the capital of the religious world of that time, before the leaders of Israel and the mass of the people He will have to suffer, moreover be killed. All that Jesus calmly declares, without any emotion just as.any other revelations of His, but Peter the man can in no wise grasp it. It did not help him, that he was a disciple, it was in vain, that he made his bold testimony but a little while ago.” "Thou art that Christ the Son of the living God." Now when hearing of suffering, the "man" gains the upper hand in him. The question was not that, he Peter would have to suffer, neither that Peter should help something in the suffering of Jesus, but it merely dealt of the fact, that Jesus will have to suffer. Yet it was Peter the man who became frightened at the news of suffering, moreover he even took courage to rebuke Jesu3, saying: "Be it far from Thee, Lord, this shall not be unto Thee." But the respond of Jesus is both surprising and severe, peter who some minutes ago so boldly professed Him, receives a hard rebuke, "Get behind me Satan, for thou savoreet not the things that bo of God, but those that be of man." That makes it plain to us, that any opposition of the suffering of Jesus and the endeavour to withhold Him from death, is after all from Satan. Just as it belonged to the programme of Jesus already at an age of 12» to display wisdom, and later at His public appearance the Sermon on the Mount, and all His miracles and healings,so it was an undispensablo part and crowing of His programme, His suffering in Jerusalem, His death and also Kis resurrection, Peter the man only gave ear and listened to the announceoment of suffering, and failed to realise that the programme of Jesus will not end with His suffering and death, but with His resurrection. No 9. -9-
