We had enjoyed the admiration of the crowds as Jesus healed many of their loved ones. Not only that, the people murmured among themselves in amazement at his teachings. However, we saw more and more religious leaders coming to observe Jesus’ ministry.

They nitpicked at everything He did, even criticized what we, His disciples, did. We picked grains of wheat as we walked by a field on the Sabbath; we didn’t fast like the Pharisees, we didn’t ceremonially wash our hands before we ate our food. On and on it went.

I thought about His call to me two years earlier. “Follow me,” He said that day as I sat at the collector’s booth. Weary of my sinful life, I did just that. I left my tax collecting table and followed Him. It was the most important day of my life.

I experienced His miracle of feeding over 5,000 eager listeners with only two fish and a handful of bread. I saw Him calm the frightening wind and waves with just a word.

One day, He sent us out two by two to teach the principles He had taught us. God used me to heal five people during those few days. It was thrilling!

However, along with the wonderful depth of His teaching, publicly and privately, He began giving us warnings about the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. He said,

“Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Matthew 16:6

We thought He was talking about the fact that we had forgotten to bring bread along with us. We finally realized He was talking about the teachings of the leaders. Like yeast, they’re teachings and influence would grow and permeate the crowds.

Then one day, He plainly said that He must go to Jerusalem… 

... and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chef priests, and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed, and on the third day be raised to life. Matthew 16:21

It hit us like a bolt. Typical Peter rebuked the Lord, implying that we would protect Him. Jesus rebuked him right back, saying,

“You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men. If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:23-24

Indeed, we grew to realize that we must deny self to follow Him. At least two more times, he said to us again,

“The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day, he will be raised to life.” Matthew 17:22-23

I find it difficult to explain how we internalized these words. Somehow we couldn’t quite take it all in. True, the religious leaders criticized, but that’s just the way they tended to be—very critical. We felt relatively safe in the Galilee area, but we began moving further away from our safety net. What  might be next ?

~ Joyce ~