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Amen dear sister! The chapter reveals that the disciples did not accept the truth that Christ must suffer and die. They did not want to give up their hope that He would sit upon an earthly throne. They did not want to follow in His path of suffering. As such, it was a mystery to them. Satan was blocking their understanding of what Christ had made plain.
Beyond the poverty and humiliation of the present, He pointed the disciples to His coming in glory, not in the splendor of an earthly throne, but with the glory of God and the hosts of heaven. And then, He said, "He shall reward every man according to his works." Then for their encouragement He gave the promise, "Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in His kingdom." But the disciples did not comprehend His words. The glory seemed far away. Their eyes were fixed upon the nearer view, the earthly life of poverty, humiliation, and suffering. Must their glowing expectations of the Messiah's kingdom be relinquished? Were they not to see their Lord exalted to the throne of David? Could it be that Christ was to live a humble, homeless wanderer, to be despised, rejected, and put to death? Sadness oppressed their hearts, for they loved their Master. Doubt also harassed their minds, for it seemed incomprehensible that the Son of God should be subjected to such cruel humiliation. They questioned why He should voluntarily go to Jerusalem to meet the treatment which He had told them He was there to receive. How could He resign Himself to such a fate, and leave them in greater darkness than that in which they were groping before He revealed Himself to them? {DA 417.3}
In the region of Caesarea Philippi, Christ was out of the reach of Herod and Caiaphas, the disciples reasoned. He had nothing to fear from the hatred of the Jews or from the power of the Romans. Why not work there, at a distance from the Pharisees? Why need He give Himself up to death? If He was to die, how was it that His kingdom was to be established so firmly that the gates of hell should not prevail against it? To the disciples this was indeed a mystery.
Satan had succeeded with Israel in perverting the gospel which is the everlasting covenant made before the foundation of the world was laid. Even the Words of Jesus were rejected by His disciples because of the false teachings of the leaders in Israel. Instead of seeing the sacrificial offerings as pointing to the grace of God to save humanity, they thought it bought them eternal life. They considered it was their sacrifice, not the sacrifice of God. The warm blood of the Lamb was given to break the heart of the sinner as it ran over the fingers of the sinner. But, the hearts were not surrendered because they did not see it was the blood of the Son of God. Even John the Baptist did not understand the Lamb had to suffer and die in order for the sins of the world to be forgiven. Such a deception!
Today, how do the chosen ones of God to whom the Truth has been entrusted understand the gospel message? Do we understand that the sufferings of Jesus is an example for us to follow?
God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning, and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co-workers with Him. Not Enoch, who was translated to heaven, not Elijah, who ascended in a chariot of fire, was greater or more honored than John the Baptist, who perished alone in the dungeon. “Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” Philippians 1:29. And of all the gifts that Heaven can bestow upon men, fellowship with Christ in His sufferings is the most weighty trust and the highest honor. Desire of Ages 224.