Luke – Wide Open Doors!
When you are explaining something that is going to happen to your family, we reserve some of the details of how and when it will occur from our kids so they will not become too excited, overly anxious or afraid. Maybe it is a new job that requires moving to another city and state. It might require leaving your extended family. It might be an illness that will change their way of life. Whatever it might be, we ease them into transitions in their lives in small parcels of information to help them in the journey of change.
The Twelve are given detailed information about what will happen to Jesus when they “go up to Jerusalem”. They are almost there. It has been a long journey with many miracles and teaching along the way. The Twelve are getting used to the popularity of Jesus. They have witnessed the power of Jesus. They are imagining a revolution from the tyranny of the Roman government. But that is not the reality of what will occur. Jesus knows what they are thinking.
All that will happen and has been predicted by prophets before them in scripture. Jesus shares the details once more. By the way, guys, “listen”… But it is too much for them. Are they in shock, denial or just not listening? Maybe God is softening the blow of these acts of violence against the One they love by not allowing their minds to take it all in…yet.
Luke 18, New Living Translation
Jesus Again Predicts His Death
31 Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus said, “Listen, we’re going up to Jerusalem, where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true. 32 He will be handed over to the Romans, and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. 33 They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”34 But they didn’t understand any of this. The significance of his words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about.
THINK ABOUT IT…
We have the details of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and many still do not grasp the significance of who Jesus is, why the Son of God came to earth as a human and what He did to save our souls. In our country, we cannot imagine the Roman forms of torture of being whipped beyond recognition then nailed to boards, hoisted up and place on a hill in humility for all to see. HE who had no sin died for all sinners.PAUSE TO THANK GOD!
Yes, as Jesus journeyed to Jerusalem, He told His disciples what would happen there, but they could not grasp what their Lord was saying (Luke 18:31–34). Some of the people in the crowd thought He was going to Jerusalem to deliver Israel from Roman bondage and usher in the kingdom of God. Still others followed Him just to see the next miracle He would perform.
HOLY PAUSE…Are we like those in the crowd who are just waiting for the next miracle?
Do we understand exactly what Jesus did for each of us?
Do we shudder at the thought of all Jesus endured for us so we can be free from sin? He suffered, died and rose again for our sin. Our part is to believe that He did and say yes to His forgiveness for our sins.
Too simple? It might seem that way at first until we are ALL IN, believing, trusting, obeying, AND following Him as we get to know Him, love Him, and listen to Him while realizing more and more each day how much He loves us. We will spend a lifetime on earth getting to know and love Him more as we realize the depth and breath of His love for us. Then later, we will spend an eternity WITH Him in glory! The best is yet to come!
Paul explains His walk of faith…
“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3, NIV)
We don’t “get it” all at once. God understands and gives us exactly what we need to know when we need to know it as we trust Him. Be ready to listen when He does. He is such a good, good Father.Dear Heavenly Father, Lord and Savior,
Thank you for saving my soul. Thank you for taking me on this faith journey in ways I can grasp and understand. Thank you for being with us and never leaving us. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that guides, challenges our thinking, teaches Truth, corrects our walk and leads us to deeper love of you and others.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna with Your Mug 