Mark 10:32-34

Find a way to separate yourself from whatever’s going on around you so you can fully enter into today’s passage. if you haven’t read the introduction to Mark’s Gospel, read it here.

Read Mark 10:32-34 imagining that you are one of the disciples who has given up everything to follow Jesus.

There is nothing warm and fuzzy in Jesus’ explanation of what is about to happen in Jerusalem. He is clear and to the point – the Son of Man will suffer and die at the hands of the religious authorities, but he will rise again after three days.

What kind of reaction would you have to this explanation if you had given up everything to follow Jesus hoping he would be the one to save Israel from oppression?

What would you rather hear Jesus say?

Read Mark 10:32-34 again noticing anything that stands out to you.

Before this prediction, the disciples are filled with awe as they follow Jesus toward Jerusalem. What was it in Jesus’ manner or tone that causes them to have that reaction?

When we read the Bible, it’s tempting to dwell on the parts that make us feel good and gloss over anything that disturbs us, but followers of Jesus must honestly face the hard parts of his teaching and leading. This is one of those parts, and if Jesus hadn’t explained earlier that losing one’s life for the sake of the Good News was the way to find true life, this would an impossible part to accept.

Jesus’ invitation to the disciples is to follow him to his humiliation, suffering and death. Hope is found only in the words about resurrection with which they have no personal experience – “…but after three days he will rise again.”

Jesus doesn’t manipulate or deceive his followers. He is completely honest and trustworthy. We may not have personal experience of the places to which he calls us, but we can trust that following him and living in relationship with him leads to true life.

For a moment or two, tell Jesus what you think about him. Just repeat the phrase, “Jesus, you are…” over and over filling in the blank with your thoughts about him.

Do you trust Jesus completely even when you don’t understand where he is leading you?

Is he worthy of your trust?

End your time today by asking Jesus to help you know him as he really is so you can trust him more fully. If you sense Jesus asking you to take action, make a plan for following through.

Are you finding these meditations to be helpful? If so, please forward them to a couple of friends. Interested in going deeper? Check out The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide and blog.