The Joy of Glory

Mark 10:32-34
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, 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. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”

Reflection
Amazed and afraid.

These were the complex feelings swirling around in the hearts of the disciples as they followed Jesus to Jerusalem.

They were amazed because of his confident resolve to go to Jerusalem even though he knew that meant his death. Thus, they were also afraid because his death might mean their own as well.

Yet, onward Jesus walked… leading the way to his own grave. But, Jesus was not actually leading his disciples to the grave… but through it!

Yes… he told them that death was waiting for him in Jerusalem, but he also sovereignly declared, “…after three days he (the Son of Man… aka Jesus) will rise.” Jesus knew he was going to die AND that he was going to rise! He wasn’t just going to death, but through it!

Does that make you amazed or afraid?… or both?

We still follow Jesus to this day… and let’s be honest… he can lead us to some scary places. He may even lead us to our own death. But hear the confident, sovereign claim of Christ from Mark 10 that still ring true today… he doesn’t lead any of us merely to the grave, but through it!

Do not be afraid but be amazed because of this word that Jesus spoke over his own death and he speaks it over yours… “AFTER!” There is an after! No matter where Christ leads you… no matter what suffering or difficulties you have to walk through… it is always “through” and there is an “after.” Even when we speak of death and the grave… there is an “after!”

Let Christ’s sovereign promise of “after” transform us from being afraid to being amazed as we follow wherever he leads… even to the grave and through it.

 
*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.