Jesus knew that the road to success was struggle, that the only way up was down.

Plus strategy equals gratification. Jesus accepted the process and he knew that the

pain in his life right now did not negate the promise that was on his life.

Peter was only tough when Jesus was looking. Peter, Peter, whose status is only a

result of his relationship with Jesus is now warming himself by the fire of who

looks like the winner. Some of you sold Jesus and you got what you wanted but

you don't want what you got.

See faith is not proven in victories. Faith is proven in peril. There are some

things that God takes you through that you have to face it alone. Delay

gratification.

This is the first time that the disciples got to see him lose. All he ever did was win.

At 12 years old they brought him into the temple and he won. Up against the doctors

and the scholars. He won. He outsmarted all of them at 12. All he ever did was win.

When his mother told him they ran out of wine, he took water and turned it into wine and

the wine could not resist the word. For the word said turn to wine and the water obeyed.

And all they had ever seen him do was win. But this week he was acting straight.

It was not unusual to see him go apart to pray. He often went apart to pray. Even after he

fed the 5,000 he went into the mountains to pray and he came back walking on the water

and it was fine and it was good. But this was different. This was a different kind of prayer.

This was a stressful, agonizing, tormenting prayer. This was a prayer that made him want

company. Because when you have delayed gratification and you're suffering, you want friendship,

misery, and joy is company. But there are some places that God is taking you that you

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