February 9, 2024

Mark 10:32-45 (HCSB)
The Third Prediction of His Death
32 They  were on the road, going up to Jerusalem,  and Jesus was walking ahead of them. They were astonished, but those who followed Him were afraid.  Taking the Twelve aside again, He began to tell them the things that would happen to Him. 33 “Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man  will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes,  and they will condemn Him to death. Then they will hand Him over to the Gentiles,  34 and they will mock Him, spit on Him, flog  Him, and kill Him, and He will rise  after three days.”
Suffering and Service
35 Then  James  and John,  the sons of Zebedee,  approached Him and said, “Teacher,  we want You to do something for us if we ask You.” 36 “What do you want Me to do for you?” He asked them. 37 They answered Him, “Allow us to sit at Your right and at Your left in Your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you’re asking.  Are you able to drink the cup  I drink or to be baptized with the baptism  I am baptized with?” 39 “We are able,” they told Him. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with.  40 But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to give; instead, it is for those it has been prepared for.” 41 When the other 10 disciples heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles dominate  them, and their men of high positions exercise power over them. 43 But it must not be like that among you.  On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave  to all. 45 For even the Son of Man  did not come to be served, but to serve,  and to give His life —a ransom  for many.”

Pastor HD Jones
A friend of mine says “unmet expectations lead to expected turmoil”.  The unknown for us is more frightening than the known.  I’m always amazed at my friends that have gone through long term battles with cancer and other illnesses.  They seem to have a calm resolve… “I have 4 more treatments”.  They seem to embrace the difficulty knowing what lies ahead.
Jesus was preparing the disciples for the “Passion Week”.  Jesus wanted them to know what was going to happen.  He wanted them to know what to expect.  Now, when the moment came, they were still overwhelmed and ran away like scared rabbits.  But they had been warned and prepared. I’m glad God gives us His Word so that we can know what is going to happen.  We should not be surprised when there is tension in the Middle East; or an attack here on family values; or people don’t want to hear about the Bible.  Jesus warned us what the last days would look like.  Even though I don’t like turmoil and I don’t enjoy difficulties, I do know that He is coming again to put an end to all this drama.  I’m glad He has prepared us for the end but also walks with us in our today.