Mark 10:32-34, 46-52, The Message
Back on the road, they set out for Jerusalem. Jesus had a head start on them, and they were following, puzzled and not just a little afraid.
He took the Twelve and began again to go over what to expect next. “Listen to me carefully. We’re on our way up to Jerusalem. When we get there, the Son of Man will be betrayed to the religious leaders and scholars. They will sentence him to death. Then they will hand him over to the Romans, who will mock and spit on him, give him the third degree, and kill him. After three days he will rise alive.”
You know,
I want to listen.
At least,
I say I do.
But when push
comes to shove,
I’m lousy at it.
I have things to do,
don’t you know.
People to see,
places to be.
But really now.
What person,
place,
activity
is more important
than
listening.
Listening carefully.
No one,
nowhere,
nothing
is more important.
Even when what I hear
is hard
and painful.
Like this news,
right here.
The end of the road
is in sight now.
It won’t be long.
It must have been so difficult for Jesus’ disciples to grasp the true meaning of what was about to happen. We’ve heard the story endless times, yet still, it evokes an “Oh, no, please don’t, Lord! We don’t want to see you suffer!” in us.
Yet, He had to.
And we are saved.
Blessings, Diana!
I take heart from those dense disciples! The whole concept is tough to grasp — thankfully, it is NOT impossible. And the wonder of it all is our new life in him.