Bible League: Living His Word 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 NKJV Jesus and the disciples are on the move. From the valley of Judea across the Jordan River up to Jerusalem. A journey upward of some 3,500 feet. Our Lord had already spoken before of His imminent death to the disciples. He gives them more details as the religious leaders in Jerusalem would condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the gentiles (v. 33), and that He would be mocked, spit on (v. 34), crucified, and ultimately rise from the dead to life again. The glorious and joyful moment of victory over death. As I read this verse, I receive a beautiful picture of our own faith journey in our Lord’s move to Jerusalem. Faith is a climb as we continually move upward in our strength of faith, purity of faith, and peace of faith in our journey through life as a Christian. The climb can be graceful and easy at times, steady and flowing, but it can also be very challenging and difficult at times. We take heart, though, in our Lord as we find courage and strength in this moment. He is ascending to Jerusalem to begin His week of passion in saving mankind. He will knowingly face physical and emotional atrocities. And yet we see our Lord going ahead of the disciples with vigor and determination. Leading the disciples forward. Moving toward God’s will for the redemption of all. I think of all the brave and courageous soldiers who have run into battle with rifles and bayonets determined to mete out victory over their enemy combatants. I feel touched by the fireman and first responders who sped toward ground zero on 9/11 and the many who then climbed the Twin Towers determined to rescue and remedy the catastrophe playing out live to the entire world. I am in awe of the Christian workers around the world courageously and enthusiastically carrying on the work of the Lord in spite of persecution, suffering, condemnation, and even death for some. Whatever your journey of faith beloved of Christ, the Lord is leading your climb. Yesterday, today, and forever. He is showing you the strength and determination, dedication and sovereignty of God who is in full control of your journey. Even if the climb seems to be too much, the Lord is with you. The Apostle Paul concluded in Romans 8:18; “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory of what shall be revealed to us.” The disciples were amazed how Jesus had so much energy moving ahead of them on the climb to Jerusalem. It says in our verse they were also afraid as they followed behind. Perhaps Jesus and the disciples had the prophet’s words in mind from Isaiah 50:6-7 which says, “I will let those people beat me and pull the hair from my beard. I will not hide my face when they say bad things to me and spit at me. The Lord God will help and the bad things they say about me will not hurt me. I will be strong. I know I will not be disappointed” (ERV). The disciples knew intuitively that this journey to Jerusalem would not be like any other. Their fears are real, but Jesus fortifies their strength. So be encouraged beloved of Christ. Be thankful and be grateful. God chose you for the journey set before you in faith. He reigns over all things. His kingdom is close. His plan is righteous, and it was Jesus who sped to the cross for you. Pastor David Massie, Bible League International staff, California USA Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading2 Chronicles 7, 8, 9 2 Chronicles 7 -- Fire from Heaven; Glory in the Temple; Feast of Dedication; God's Promise NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Chronicles 8 -- Solomon's Additional Accomplishments NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Chronicles 9 -- Visit of the Queen of Sheba; Solomon's Splendor and Death NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 13:1-17 John 13 -- Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet, Predicts His Betrayal and Peter's Denial NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.Insight Some of those in the crowd were experts at telling others what to do, but they missed the central point of God's laws themselves. Jesus made it clear, however, that obeying God's law is more important than explaining it. Challenge It's much easier to study God's laws and tell others to obey them than to put them into practice. How are you doing at obeying God yourself? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.In every believer's heart there is a constant struggle between the old nature and the new. The old nature is very active, and loses no opportunity of plying all the weapons of its deadly armoury against newborn grace; while on the other hand, the new nature is ever on the watch to resist and destroy its enemy. Grace within us will employ prayer, and faith, and hope, and love, to cast out the evil; it takes unto it the "whole armour of God," and wrestles earnestly. These two opposing natures will never cease to struggle so long as we are in this world. The battle of "Christian" with "Apollyon" lasted three hours, but the battle of Christian with himself lasted all the way from the Wicket Gate to the river Jordan. The enemy is so securely entrenched within us that he can never be driven out while we are in this body: but although we are closely beset, and often in sore conflict, we have an Almighty helper, even Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, who is ever with us, and who assures us that we shall eventually come off more than conquerors through Him. With such assistance the new-born nature is more than a match for its foes. Are you fighting with the adversary today? Are Satan, the world, and the flesh, all against you? Be not discouraged nor dismayed. Fight on! For God Himself is with you; Jehovah Nissi is your banner, and Jehovah Rophi is the healer of your wounds. Fear not, you shall overcome, for who can defeat Omnipotence? Fight on, "looking unto Jesus;" and though long and stern be the conflict, sweet will be the victory, and glorious the promised reward. "From strength to strength go on; Wrestle, and fight, and pray, Tread all the powers of darkness down, And win the well-fought day." Daily Light on the Daily Path Exodus 12:11 Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste-- it is the LORD'S Passover.Micah 2:10 "Arise and go, For this is no place of rest Because of the uncleanness that brings on destruction, A painful destruction. Hebrews 13:14 For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come. Hebrews 4:9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. Luke 12:35-37 "Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. • "Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. • "Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. 1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:13-15 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, • I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. • Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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