Word@Work 105 - Mark 9:30-32
Published: Thu, 04/17/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 9:30-32 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise." But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. (NIV)
Death is not a popular topic at the family meal table. However terminal a friend's illness may be, the end is never mentioned. It is probably the last taboo of the (so called) civilised world. But Jesus was not flinching from His own cruel future, because it was to be the basis for their, and our, futures. It was why He came. Jesus had defeated Satan's work in the convulsing boy - He would defeat death too. The disciples needed to know that His death was no accident, so that (looking back) they would understand it was 'all in the plan' - and pass on the good news to others.
Far from being morbid, Jesus also clearly predicted His resurrection. But the only words His disciples understood were 'betrayed' and 'kill'; not 'rise'. They had not yet seen the raising of Lazarus, and the idea of resurrection was beyond them (even though He had already told them in Mark 8:31). Any unusual truth can take time to sink in: however, their natural thoughts about death propelled them into fear and stopped them asking more - as though ignoring the issue would make it go away.
There are few more direct and yet difficult routes to gospel truth than discussing the prospect of mortality. It starts by being the least comfortable conversation, but strangely, it can become the most satisfying - if you have the certain hope of resurrection with Christ. Yet every week, the gospel is often stunningly avoided in funeral parlours and crematoria; being replaced by wispy thoughts of a 'better place' and 'looking down on us' or even 'being next door')! Death is the touchstone of truth. If your belief system has no reason for confidence after death ... there is no point in having it during life!
Prayer: Dear Lord. Death is frightening, but without hope in Christ its prospect would be hopeless. Thank you that Jesus did rise again, and so I can be confident of His gospel and of my own future as I trust my life to Him. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
Death is not a popular topic at the family meal table. However terminal a friend's illness may be, the end is never mentioned. It is probably the last taboo of the (so called) civilised world. But Jesus was not flinching from His own cruel future, because it was to be the basis for their, and our, futures. It was why He came. Jesus had defeated Satan's work in the convulsing boy - He would defeat death too. The disciples needed to know that His death was no accident, so that (looking back) they would understand it was 'all in the plan' - and pass on the good news to others.
Far from being morbid, Jesus also clearly predicted His resurrection. But the only words His disciples understood were 'betrayed' and 'kill'; not 'rise'. They had not yet seen the raising of Lazarus, and the idea of resurrection was beyond them (even though He had already told them in Mark 8:31). Any unusual truth can take time to sink in: however, their natural thoughts about death propelled them into fear and stopped them asking more - as though ignoring the issue would make it go away.
There are few more direct and yet difficult routes to gospel truth than discussing the prospect of mortality. It starts by being the least comfortable conversation, but strangely, it can become the most satisfying - if you have the certain hope of resurrection with Christ. Yet every week, the gospel is often stunningly avoided in funeral parlours and crematoria; being replaced by wispy thoughts of a 'better place' and 'looking down on us' or even 'being next door')! Death is the touchstone of truth. If your belief system has no reason for confidence after death ... there is no point in having it during life!
Prayer: Dear Lord. Death is frightening, but without hope in Christ its prospect would be hopeless. Thank you that Jesus did rise again, and so I can be confident of His gospel and of my own future as I trust my life to Him. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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