VERSE: Matthew 17:22-23
Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.
DEVOTION
This is the second time that Jesus told his disciples that he was going to be killed and then raised to life (Matt 16:21). It seems reasonable that the disciples were sorrowful since they likely believed that they would not see him again if he died. Maybe they didn’t believe that he would be raised to life. Or that he would be raised to live in heaven. They had spent the last few years with him learning and seeing amazing things and they didn’t want this to end. Certainly they didn’t understand that Jesus had to die to take away the sins of the world and that he would be raised to life to be with them again for a while.
Don’t we all still react to the words of Jesus with unbelief and possibly sorrow. God has made some hard statements (love our enemy, turn the other cheek) that we would like to explain away. We may say, “Clearly he didn’t mean for this to be true in today’s world.” We don’t want to believe that these difficult words are required of us today.
Or we get a hard word in prayer where God says to wait for a while for healing or to continue in your difficult circumstances. We feel sorrow that Jesus does not help us immediately in our situation. We do not understand (and how can we) God’s plans that include us and many others around us.
It’s good to know that these disciples are a lot like us. People like us that want to follow God and yet it can be hard to do that well. Remember that once Jesus died and was raised that he left the Holy Spirit to be our comforter and counselor. After the Holy Spirit came on the disciples, they were changed people who lived their lives for God. Continue to seek the Holy Spirit in difficult times so that the Holy Spirit can help you not to be sorrowful but instead be joyful in all things.
In John 14:27, Jesus says “Peace I leave with you.” He said these words to the disciples to comfort them as they were troubled by his impending death. These words are for you today so that you know that God wants you to not be troubled about today’s circumstances but to have peace that passes all understanding.
PRAYER
Jesus, thank you that you died for our sins and that you were raised again on the third day. Thank you for the gift of salvation so that we can be saved from our sins. And thank you for your Holy Spirit and your peace that is with us every day. Help us not to be sorrowful but to have your joy throughout this week.
Author: Brad Dunn
Recent Comments