Living in the Resurrection

Mark 10:32-34 NLT  

  32They were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe, and the people following behind were overwhelmed with fear. Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus once more began to describe everything that was about to happen to him. 33 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans. 34 They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him, but after three days he will rise again.”

At this high point in their public ministry, when people were acclaiming the work of Christ and the twelve disciples-- mostly of Christ, though, the disciples were absolutely giddy with the attention. Notice that people following the team were "overwhelmed with fear." Jesus had certainly gotten everyone's attention, the people, the leaders, the rulers, even the normally inattentive. The disciples were expecting things to break out in what would amount to political greatness for them as 'His disciples." Jesus had told them before but their star-studded hearts were only looking for evidence of what that "THOUGHT" a messiah should bring upon them-- greatness!

Once more Jesus tells them, speaking ever so seriously to them about what was about to happen. Who could Jesus be speaking of-- this 'son of man' who was going to be betrayed. Who ever would be given over to priests and religious lawyers? Who would it be that they will sentence to die and hand over to the Romans? Certainly this could not be Jesus. Why they had declared him to be Messiah. And, Messiah was supposed to become king and deliver Jews from oppression, by their own leaders and by other nations. Who did Jesus mean was going to be flogged. Who was going to mock and spit on him? Why he was talking about HIMSELF!  This realization drove them into silence and confusion. And the events of the great passion week would leave them scattered and running for their lives. From the very heights of what they thought was about to become fame, to the very depths of discouragement in just a few days.

Just as the first followers of Christ failed to grasp the truth about Messiah and Lord, and Savior, we, too, can fall into such inattention. We, also, can become so devoted to our 'religious' traditions and expectations-- to what we read in leaders' books about Christianity that we can miss what God says about Christ, about us, about the outcome in the world, and about the coming judgment. We, too, can forget to really listen to the Holy Spirit of God. We must be focused on the inspired Word of God and devoted to listening to the Inspiration of God's Holy Spirit to guide our daily thinking. We need to be ready to release the popular ideas of religious writers and permit God to unveil His plan to us, and to the world through us. We must be willing to become like Christ. Christ was willing to sacrifice so others could be forgiven. Are we? Do we remember that, just as Jesus fulfilled his own prophesy "after three days he will rise again" so will we. When we rise again among God's resurrected ones to rule with Him, what we possessed in this life will not matter at all. What we submitted to do through God's will is what will be then recognized. Mostly it will be THAT we submitted to His will ahead of our own.

How about today-- are you living in your resurrected power yet? Ask.
Your servant in Chirst's love
Dan
drdanelliott@gmail.com