Why do we followers of Christ always try to correct Him? Is that we have become a little to familiar with Him and forget who we are dealing with? I don’t know for sure but I do know that it is not a new phenomenon.
But Rabbi……
The disciples of Jesus did it as they walked the roads of Israel with Him. Jesus, on one occasion, told them that it was time to return to Judea. Their response is not, “Yes, Lord. We will go wherever you want us to go.” No, they say, “But Rabbi, a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?” (John 11:8). Do they really know who they are talking to? It doesn’t appear so. Don’t they know that this is Jesus and He knows what is going on and that they need to trust Him? Maybe. But they don’t know it enough to stop questioning His judgment.
But Lord ……
Martha loves Jesus. Jesus loves Martha. They are close friends and Martha is a dedicated disciple of Jesus. She shows the proper respect for her friend and calls Him, Lord. Yet, when Jesus asks for the stone covering Lazarus’ tomb to be rolled away she says, “… “But, Lord, … by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”” (John 11:39). Despite her love for Jesus, her faith in Jesus and her intense desire for her brother, Lazarus, to be returned to her, her first thought when Jesus begins the process of taking care of Lazarus is to question His judgment. She is really saying, “I know that you are Lord and Christ and the Son of God, but have you really considered how bad the smell is going to be?” Seriously, Martha, you are going to question Jesus about the smell?
Jesus is patient with His disciples and with Martha and once again provides them good reason for them to get rid of phrases like, “but Rabbi” and “but Lord” out of their vocabulary. He fleshes out their understanding of what it means when you call Jesus Rabbi and Lord.
Are you and I a little like Martha? Are we questioning God? Are we second-guessing Him? We have got to learn a little more about trusting God. We have got to trust God with our family, our finances, and our work situations. We have go to turn it all over to Him. No more, “But, Lord blah blah blah..” If your prayer begins with, “But Lord”, then swallow it and start again.
How serious is this?
Jesus talks to His disciples and tells them, in detail, that he is going to be killed and be raised from the dead. He says to them that this MUST happen. Peter immediately reacts and not in a good way. “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” (Matthew 16:21-22).
Wait a minute. I’m not too far along this journey with Jesus as a disciple of His, I know that there are two words that should never go together and they are, “Never, Lord.”
This time Jesus will not hold back. It is time for some tough love. Peter has got to learn what it really means to be a disciple. “Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”” (Matthew 16:23). Jesus is tough on Peter but He knows that He can take it.
This is a vital lesson for Peter and for you and for me. If you acknowledge Jesus as Lord, then do what He tells you to do (Matthew 7:21-23). Stop talking back to God. Stop questioning Him and start trusting Him. Stop thinking that you know what is going on. Get in the habit of saying, “Yes Lord”.
http://georgelittlejourney.blogspot.com/
