I’m intrigued by Mark’s account of Jesus’s prophesy. Jesus discussed his crucifixion in third person format. Instead of saying, “I will be delivered, they will condemn me…spit on me…kill me, Jesus spoke as if he’s talking about someone else.

The Son of Man proclaimed his death and resurrection to the Twelve. Mark didn’t specify the apostles’ response.

Jesus discussed his future in Mark 9:31-32. “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise. But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.”

Again, Jesus spoke about the Son of Man as if he’s a separate person. This time, Mark recognized the apostles’ lack of understanding and their fear to ask for details.

My curiosity pleads, “But what did the apostles say?” “I want facial expressions!” Were they actively listening? Did they murmur amongst themselves? Perhaps they pulled the donut card and glazed their eyes.  

In the three other gospel accounts, Matthew, Luke, and John wrote how Peter, Judas and Thomas emotionally reacted after Jesus forecasted his death. Instead, Mark featured Jesus’s action rather than to expound upon the interaction between apostles. Jesus foreshadowed his death, but wasn’t distracted by his followers’ interpretation.

I think about a coworker who admits he reads the room before he shares any opinion or input. He opens his conversations with, “A friend told me…” or “I heard someone say…” Jesus, however, wasn’t and isn’t influenced by public opinion. He is aware and all-knowing, yet He remains unshakable.

Jesus, help me become confident like you are. Help me use your example to remain true and courageous so I can live with purpose, for your purpose. Guide me to discern your intention and respond accordingly.

Rising above my current level of wisdom,

Christina

Readers. Your turn!

How do you believe you’d react if a friend told you about something that was about to happen, and they spoke as if the key player was someone else?

If you were one of those apostles, how do you think you would have responded to Jesus’s death and resurrection?

I’m curious about your answers.  Please comment and let’s see what discussions unfold!

Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. “We are going up to Jerusalem…and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise” (Mark 10:32-24).

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