The Open Secret

Jesus’s disciples were confused. They saw Jesus perform miracles yet Jesus wanted them to keep them secret.

Peter finally reveals the secret and openly declares that Jesus is the Messiah. But again, Jesus tells him to keep it a secret.

However, there is something he does not want kept secret: his impending suffering and death.

Peter disagrees. Jesus can’t be the Messiah and die!

Jesus rebukes Peter and accuses him of being the voice of Satan because he has become the voice of The Lie: You cannot trust God. You must take matters into your own hands. You cannot go to the cross and die.

Peter wants to keep that a secret, but that is exactly the secret Jesus wants revealed: At the cross is where The Lie is exposed and the secret of God’s love is revealed.

Jesus invites us to follow him and bear the cross for the sake of others. There the secret of God’s love is open for all to see.