Daily Devotions
Mark
2 Peter 3:14 "Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless." 2 Peter 3:14"
Day 232 – Mark 10
“Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.” 2 Peter 3:14
MOUNTING FEAR
Jesus had foretold His sufferings (Cf. Mark 8:31-38; 9:31). He had also warned them against the scribes and Pharisees (Cf. Mark 8:15). That there was hostility against Jesus was unmistakable. Why then did Jesus head towards Jerusalem then?
“Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem,
and Jesus was going before them, and they were amazed.
And as they followed they were afraid.”
MARK 10:32
OVERCOMING FEAR
Jesus knew His Disciples well. He felt their sense of fear. These fears were allowed to surface so that they could be addressed.
“Behold, we are going to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man
will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes;
and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him
to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him,
and spit on Him, and kill Him,
and the third day He will rise again.”
MARK 10:33-34
Jesus wanted His Disciples to learn how they could conquer their fear!
1. Be fully informed
The Disciples did not dare to broach the subject of the suffering of their Teacher. Thus they lacked full understanding, and that often fuels fear even more.
2. Be completely open
Whereas the Disciples were afraid to talk about suffering and death, Jesus was most open. He detailed how He would have to suffer terribly under the wicked hands of the scribes and Pharisees and also the Gentiles (reference to the Roman soldiers). Jesus talked openly about:-
a) Betrayal
b) Mocking, scourging, spitting
c) Death was inevitable
3. Exercise hope
The Disciples could not see beyond the suffering and pain that Jesus would have to endure. They could not see beyond death. But Jesus could! He was confident that “He will rise again!” The Disciples needed to learn how they too could face their worst fears and conquer them!