We were new to the DC area and I was driving on the Hwy 66 toll road, heading out to Reston, VA, to meet a friend for lunch. We hadn’t yet purchased the EZ Pass for our vehicles yet, which would allow me to breeze through the toll booth in the fast lane. But because I was new to the area I didn’t realize that the long line of cars to my right were waiting for their turn to pay the toll. Once I realized my mistake, I slowed to a stop, put on my blinker and looked for a kind fellow traveler to let me over. No one would let me in. Most wouldn’t even make eye-contact with me, even though I was waving, begging with my hands clasped together and smiling my most winning smile. One guy looked at me with disgust and shot his middle finger at me! Here I was, a stranger in this new place, with Georgia license plates still on my car, obviously needing help, but no one chose to see me. Finally, completely defeated, I put my head on the steering wheel and began to cry. It was a waste of time to hope that someone would let me over. I was resigned to stay in that spot until rush hour ended. Suddenly, I heard a horn honking and a man said hurriedly, “If you’re coming, then let’s go!” He had been motioning me to move over in front of his car, but I wasn’t paying attention, and therefore couldn’t cooperate with his generous offer. His hurried words and gestures shocked me out of my despair and I merged into the toll lane in front of the kind stranger.
We weren’t designed by God to be independent individuals, fully equipped to do this life perfectly on our own. We must cooperate with one another, but more importantly, as believers, we must grow in our ability and willingness to cooperate with God’s Holy Spirit, the third and equal member of the Trinity. To cooperate means to work or act together with another or others toward a common end or purpose. It also means to acquiesce willingly. Cooperation is critical in every endeavor a person may attempt. In today’s reading, we see several examples of people who are choosing not to cooperate with the Spirit, unable to recognize or acquiesce willingly to the Spirit’s provision right in front of them.
Read Luke 9:1-22
“Guys, you’re ready.” Jesus called his Twelve apostles, commissioned them, empowered them and gave them spiritual authority over demons and healing of the sick. It’s important to note that the men weren’t little messiahs; they weren’t given authority to forgive sins, but Jesus’ impact over sickness, disease and oppression was about to multiply by 12!. They were to take nothing with them that might make them comfortable or feel secure or in control, providing for themselves on their journey. Instead, they were to trust God to provide for their needs through the people in each town they visit. Jesus was clear on what the apostles were to look for in each new town they entered. If the people in a specific town didn’t welcome them, they were not to stand on their head to get them to respond to the message of hope and healing they were offering. This would be a sign that the people from that place were unwilling to cooperate with the Spirit. “They aren’t rejecting you, but the Gospel,” Jesus explained, “so move on!”
Rumors are spreading throughout the Galilee and Judea about Jesus’ identity. These rumors are finding their way into Herod’s court and he is perplexed and intrigued by what he hears. Some were saying that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead, yet Herod knew that he had John beheaded. In fact, he’d given John’s head on a platter as a gift to Herodias’ daughter. Luke doesn’t spend any time recounting this tragic story, something you might see on a “Dateline” episode, but if you’re interested, you can read it in full from Matthew’s or Mark’s gospels .(Matt 14:1-12; Mk 6:14-29) Others who had Herod’s ear believed that Jesus was Elijah, who was to come before the Lord and prepare the way for the Messiah; or one of the ancient prophets, back from the dead.
The apostles must have heard the same rumors during their travels, because later, when they returned from their mission and Jesus asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” (v 18) they gave the same answers: John the Baptist, Elijah, one of the ancient prophets come back to life. But then Jesus asked, “But you, who do you say that I am?” (v 20) Without hesitating, Peter answered for the group, “You are God’s Messiah.” Peter is cooperating with the Spirit and is being given eyes to see! Jesus is the Messiah God promised to Adam and Eve in His curse upon the serpent, “I will put hostility between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Gen 3:15)
Before this Spirit-inspired revelation of Jesus’ true identity, the twelve apostles were excited to share with Jesus all they had done through His power on them. Jesus retreated with them to a town called Bethsaida, so He could encourage and refresh them, mind, body and spirit. But of course, the crowds found out and followed closely. Jesus did not send the growing crowd away, but instead welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God and healed those who needed healing. Jesus’ plan for respite was sidetracked by the very ones He came to live among and save. He wasn’t satisfied with filling their minds, bodies and spirits with the healing power of the Gospel. He filled their bellies with free bread and fish until all were satisfied, with leftovers besides.
Later, after hearing that the Spirit has revealed to Peter His true identity as Messiah, Jesus begins to share more details of the Messiah He would be. I imagine Jesus was so encouraged by Peter’s revelation. How comforting for Him to know that He wasn’t alone with this information. His guys knew too and were with Him in it! And yet, He would not be the Messiah they expected, that they had been taught all their lives to recognize, so Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about Him being Messiah. “Dear ones, this is going to get very bad before it gets better. Being Messiah involves certain suffering, even death, but also resurrection and life.” (from vv 21-22) Jesus knows this is a lot of information for his team. Will they continue to cooperate with the Spirit or will they fight and buck up against the truth? Yes and Yes!
“So I’m telling you this, and I insist on it in the Lord: you shouldn’t live your life like the Gentiles anymore. They base their lives on pointless thinking, and they are in the dark in their reasoning. They are disconnected from God’s life because of their ignorance and their closed hearts. They are people who lack all sense of right and wrong, and who have turned themselves over to doing whatever feels good and to practicing every sort of corruption along with greed.
But you didn’t learn that sort of thing from Christ.Since you really listened to him and you were taught how the truth is in Jesus,change the former way of life that was part of the person you once were, corrupted by deceitful desires.Instead, renew the thinking in your mind by the Spirit and clothe yourself with the new person created according to God’s image in justice and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:17-24, CEB (Common English Bible)
If like those who were interfacing with Jesus, we cling to our old ways, including our way of thinking, we will be unable to know the mind of the Spirit which is crucial to our cooperating with Him. Let’s cooperate with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to change our way of thinking!
Big Picture Questions for Today:
* When your life or specific situations/relationships don’t make sense to you, do you tend to fitfully struggle with God or cooperate with the Spirit and what He is doing?
* Jesus was not the Messiah that His followers assumed He would be. Are you satisfied with Jesus as the Messiah who was betrayed, rejected, and killed as the necessary sacrifice for your salvation or do you buck up against that truth?
Pray for faith to cooperate with the Spirit and follow where He leads, allowing your eyes and ears to be opened to all that God has for you.
