SCRIPTURE: Mark 9:30-32
Were they embarrassed about their lack of understanding, or afraid about the meaning of Jesus’ words?
It’s plain to us today, we’ve heard this explained so many times, but this was ‘crazy’ to their minds.
Jesus is avoiding the crowds, and trying to get His message through to His disciples.
The problem was people (and the disciples) were waiting for a mighty, victorious messiah.
They had visions of Romans on crosses, of soldiers being defeated and sent packing, the heir of David reigning from his restored palace and the temple worship restored to it’s central importance.
It would be a time of wealth, of happiness, of no fear or oppression.
Even the disciples anticipated positions of power and importance in this restored kingdom.
So what is the deal with the messiah (‘son of man’) being betrayed and killed… and something about rising from death?
The only application I can think of here for today is that perhaps we also have wrong ideas about Jesus (for example, Jesus comes to save me and assure me of heaven, not to call me to follow Him)… and many Christians are afraid to ask, likely because they don’t want to know the answer.
Are we content in our ignorance, preferring the comfort of our mistaken beliefs to the harsh reality of Jesus’ truth?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, ignorance is not bliss, even if it provides momentary satisfaction. Today I am asking, ‘what do You really mean, and what does it mean for me?’