Mark 9:30-32

The core of Jesus' teaching with the disciples was quickly shifting. Whereas much time was spent on following him, for the third time in two chapters, Jesus foretells of his rejection, suffering, death, and resurrection. There's something to remember there... he keeps including the resurrection part. Based on Peter's rebuke in Mark 8, however, you'd think the disciples could only hear the first three things.

It's not surprising that this confused the disciples. The Messiah who was healing and feeding the masses, the One who was raising people from death and boldly going to the pits of society with His love... how could He be going to a miserable death? If He was going to be rejected by the Jewish ruling establishment, they had to know what it would lead to. Crucifixion was a pretty nasty form of punishment in those days, but it happened and they knew it. As popular as Jesus had become with the masses, I would have found His prediction to be pretty confusing as well, especially after I had accepted Him as the Son of God, the Messiah. Yet, the path of Jesus was, for the third time, clearly laid out for them.

I don't think I would have spoken up either. It wasn't too long before this that Peter had challenged Jesus on this matter. The result was Jesus looking at Peter and rebuking Satan! That had to sting, for the implication was that it wasn't even Peter that was saying those things, but something far more evil. God's Spirit led Him to believe in Jesus as Messiah, Son of God. Satan led Him to refuse to accept that Jesus' path included rejection, suffering, and death (and, by extension, resurrection).

As I read this, I have to ask myself the question... does the teaching still confuse and bewilder me today? Yes, I know it has actually happened. I believe that Jesus was rejected, suffered, and died. The funny thing is that I really tend to focus on that to the exclusion of the last part... that He rose again! If I am doing this, am I not just as confused as the disciples? Is it not evil leading me to underplay this part of the story?

Here's the Message: Jesus, God-in-the-flesh, dwelled with man. He lived a sinless life. He is the Lamb of God who was rejected, suffered, and died at the hands of men who were being guided by the forces of evil. Sin led to this. But love made Him willing. And it is love and the perfect justice of God that also rose Him back to life. It is love that will also bring Jesus back again make the world new.

That's what Jesus taught. That's what the Bible teaches. If I don't accept all of it, am I not even more confused than the disciples who had yet to witness the resurrected Jesus?

Father, open my eyes! Rule in me. Jesus, transform me, and raise me to life in You! Holy Spirit, open my mind and speak to my heart, reassuring me that Jesus died, but that He lives again and in me! Jesus, come soon... I can't wait to see You! Fling laboring harvesters into Your harvest field... begin with me!