Heading to Jerusalem

Good Morning! 

I took a look at the COVID-19 cases in Georgia this morning.  As of 6:28 yesterday afternoon, Georgia had 4,748 confirmed cases of COVID-19; with 1013 hospitalized and 154 deaths.  In White County, we have 3 confirmed cases and no deaths. We continue to pray for Georgians who are suffering from the illness and families that are mourning their loss.  Governor Kemp has stated that he will sign a “stay-in-place” order today that will go into effect Friday and last until April 13^th.  Let us join together to observe this time of separation with great hope for the future.

My mind returned, this morning, to the days before Passion Week.  You will remember from the Monday posting that Jesus had returned to Judea, to the village of Bethany to raise Lazarus. This morning we are going to look at several similar passages as Jesus tells His disciples about the coming week:

Matthew 20:17-19 English Standard Version (ESV)

17 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death 19 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

Mark 10:32-34 English Standard Version (ESV)

32 And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. 34 And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”

Luke 18:31-34 English Standard Version (ESV)

31 And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” 34 But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

This was the third time Jesus had told His disciples about what His destiny was … but, like most of us, it was hard for the disciples to conceive of this powerful individual being taken captive, crucified, and dying.  What was even more difficult was to grasp His resurrection. To be certain, they had just seen Him raise Lazarus … but how was He going to be raised? 

I believe Jesus understood His mission from His youth.  He knew the time had come for His mission to be completed.  He had revealed Himself throughout Israel … and been rejected by most of the population. Most of the religious hierarchy sought to kill Him … not willing to accept the fact that He was the Messiah. 

I wonder … if Jesus were to come among us today, would we recognize Him?  Would we stick to our traditional thoughts about Him … or be open to see Him as He truly is?  Would we be like the disciples … hearing but not truly understanding what He meant?  Jesus was very explicit with what was going to happen to Him. 

·         He would come to Jerusalem.

·         He would be delivered to the chief priests and scribes and be condemned to death.

·         He would be delivered over to the Gentiles (Romans) to be mocked, flogged, and crucified.

·         He would die.

·         He would rise again.

They heard Him … and, later, during the week, they would see these things come to pass – but they still could not believe.  Even when they came to the empty tomb, they struggled with the concepts.  It wasn’t until Jesus appeared to them in the Upper Room that they got it.

Do we get it?  Jesus is alive.  Jesus is aware of what we are experiencing even today.  And Jesus wants us to just believe Him.  Let’s do that today …

Agape’

Mr. Jim

  

Prayer:  Father, thank You for our Savior and our Lord, Christ Jesus. Thank You for the assurance that He is always near. Help us believe.  In Jesus’ Holy Name … Amen

Scripture for today: Matthew 20:17-19; Mark 10:32-34; Luke 18:31-34