Friday, January 12, 2024

Third Time's a Charm?

 


Mark 1032 And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. 34 And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”

As Jesus headed towards Jerusalem on His final journey, he fielded a lot of tough questions from both friends and foes.  The religious leaders tried to trick Him with a question on divorce.  The place of family repeatedly came into question.  Moral people who were financially stable citizens were not guaranteed eternal life. Making these statements, Jesus walked ahead leaving his followers to follow in amazement with even more questions.  Jesus then turned to make His third, and more detailed, pronouncement of His death and resurrection.  To be sure, at the time, this third announcement may not have clarified things at all. If it had, we would not have the next event of the Sons of Thunder asking for the closest places to Him in His kingdom.  Yet, Jesus continues to add followers.  Healing the blind man, he then told him he could "go his way," but instead he began to follow Jesus.  This is in sharp contrast to the rich young man who would not give up his easy life to follow Him.  May we not be slow to answer His call or accept His death for us. 


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