The stage was set.
All the actors and actresses had gathered for rehearsal. Each had memorized his or her part, and excitement was building. The cast was told that one of the best stage directors in the business would be directing their play. This director had been known to be able to work with very amateur talent and produce spectacular productions. For the sake of this story, we will call that director Oscar.
Oscar arrived at the theater precisely at 7 p.m. He walked in and took a look at the cast, the crew, and the orchestra. He had seen better. He had seen worse. He now knew the task before him. Turn this rag-tag bunch into a fabulous ensemble which would wow the crowds. And Oscar had six weeks to accomplish the task.
All of the cast was in awe when they heard Oscar would be directing them. They knew his reputation. They knew his ability. They knew what he had been able to do in numerous cities and towns. They knew how crowds flocked to see one of his casts perform. Each and every one of them knew that because of Oscar’s presence, he or she would be put in the spotlight even if only for a short while. Nothing could cause them less excitement. The entire cast was ready for rehearsals to start.
The first act moved along swimmingly. Everyone was on cue, listening to Oscar’s instructions. Seamlessly everything moved along as his directions were carried out precisely and to a tee by the actors and actresses. Act two began, and then a crucial scene played out. At a critical time, the star performer was called upon to utter a profound line. The actor belted out the line with gusto!
Oscar yelled out, "Stop! Wait right there! That’s not how the line needs to be spoken! It must be subtle. It must be uttered almost under one’s breath. Emphasize it with subtlety. Make the audience lean forward in their seats straining to hear it so they will grasp its importance."
The star actor shook his head. "No, that’s not the way it should go. The line should be shouted for all to hear. They will grasp it. They will catch it because they have no choice but to grasp it!"
A collective gasp went up throughout the crowd. How dare one of the cast challenge the director! Especially one so thorough and so accomplished as Oscar. Did this guy even realize who he was challenging? Did he even realize how stupid he looked in trying to impose his will upon the will of one as renowned as Oscar?
The title given to Oscar as director was given to him for a reason! Oscar directs. The performers act and put together the will of the director. And with such a powerful track record, why in the world would you challenge the director?
"I want to do it this way!" was all the actor would say.
The rest of the cast just shook their heads in bewilderment.
Long ago, in a region called Caesarea Philippi, another scene played itself out. This one with earth shattering implications. Jesus gathered his followers around him and asked, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
The disciples now had a chance to tell Jesus the things they had heard and the things they had been taught throughout their lives.
"Some say the Son of Man is John the Baptist!"
"Others say he is Elijah!"
"But I’ve heard some say he was Jeremiah!"
"And I’ve heard it was one of the prophets."
No consensus could be formed by the group. Each shared what they had heard, and the more they spoke, the more confused they became. They knew Jesus had a point. Perhaps He was about to reveal to them who the Son of Man really was.
But rather than tell them straight out, Jesus asked them a much more pointed question, "But who do you say that I am?"
There was one of those pregnant pauses. Silence. Everyone knew much depended upon how they answered this question. Was Jesus just a good teacher? Was He a prophet from God? Was He a simple carpenter who just happened to have the ability to heal and preach and teach? Who was Jesus really? The disciples knew their entire lives rested on the answer to this question.
Within Peter something began welling up. It was as if his thoughts were being driven by something outside of himself. His brain traveled down avenues connecting the dots: the blind were seeing, the deaf were hearing, demons were being cast out, good news was being proclaimed to the poor, great multitudes were fed with little food, water was walked on, wind and waves were calmed. There could only be one answer to the question. Only one thing brought it all together.
Peter spoke, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God."
The grin on Jesus’ face could not be concealed. Peter got it! "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
At that moment Peter’s stock soared, not only within himself but in the estimation of all the other disciples. Peter got the answer right. Jesus had commended him. Peter was the star pupil. All seemed well and good. Things were progressing along swimmingly.
But then Jesus threw the curve ball. Jesus began to teach some troubling things. "I will be going to Jerusalem, and I will undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes. I will be killed, and on the third day, I will rise again."
At first, the disciples thought Jesus must be joking with them, but he kept teaching these things. Kept repeating them. Kept insisting on their truth.
Finally, the star couldn’t take it anymore. Didn’t Jesus get it. He was the Messiah, and the Messiah was not supposed to die. The Messiah would lead them all to glory. The Messiah would restore the kingdom of Israel. Power from on high would rain down and destroy the enemies of Israel, and the kingdom would be restored to its rightful place. Jesus had that power. Peter knew it. Peter had seen it. This was what Jesus needed to be doing and thinking about. Forget this suffering and dying and rising garbage. Jesus needed to be set straight!
"God forbid it Lord!" Peter spoke. "This must never happen to you."
And Jesus replied in one of the harshest ways he could. Jesus held nothing back, "Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things!"
The Director had to put the star back in his proper place. For the star tried to exert his own will when in reality it was the will of the Director that truly counted. For the Director sees the entirety of the play; He sees the subtlety of lines; He sees how everything is supposed to fit together to reveal to the audience the whole story. And it is not wise to challenge the Director who knows what He is doing. Do you not agree? Do you not agree that the Director knows what is best for the overall performance? Do you not agree the Director knows how the actors and actresses should perform their parts and how the story should go?
And if we agree on this. If we agree the Director knows how things should play out, and if we agree we have asked Jesus to direct and guide our lives, how often do we challenge Him? How often do we try to exert our will and what we want to do instead of seeking to follow His will, His direction, and His guidance? Are we surrounded by others who shake their heads at us for our refusal to listen to Jesus? Are we confronted by His words that we too are setting our mind on earthly things instead of divine things?
As people who are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, we know we don’t have to do anything to earn our salvation. We can go about our merry way seeking to do whatever we want to do without fear that God will zap us. But what kind of performance will we show forth if we choose our own will? What will the world see of us if we follow our will instead of the will of the Director? Will it reflect well on the One we are called to serve and show forth? Whose will do you choose to follow? Amen.
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