Key Passage
Jesus and the people with him were going to Jerusalem. Jesus was leading the people. Jesus’ followers were amazed. But those people that followed behind them were afraid. Jesus gathered the twelve apostles again and talked with them alone. Jesus told them what would happen in Jerusalem.
— Mark 10:32 ERV (Read Full Text)
Key Thought
Two things strike me powerfully about these verses and the people they describe. First, despite their great fear, Jesus’ followers still followed him even though they knew danger awaited them. This is a great reminder that faith can help lead us on to face life’s biggest challenges even when we can’t understand exactly what is going on and when we’re not really ready for the challenges. Second, Jesus knew what lay ahead for himself, but rather than looking after his own needs, he was busy trying to prepare his followers for what lay ahead. Jesus was a servant to his followers even to the very end when he displayed the ultimate act of service and gave his life for them and also for us.
Prayer
O God, give those of us who follow Jesus faith that can inspire our courage and keep us following even when we can’t understand. To face life’s biggest challenges with question marks and confusion is very difficult for us, but we do trust that you will lead us through. We only ask that our faith not fail us! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Related Scriptures
You can go to God Most-High to hide. You can go to the God All-Powerful for protection. I say to the Lord, “You are my place of safety, my fortress. My God, I trust you.” God will save you from hidden dangers and dangerous diseases. You can go to God for protection. He will protect you like a bird spreading its wings over its babies. God will be like a shield and a wall protecting you. You will have nothing to fear at night. And you won’t be afraid of enemy arrows during the day. You will not be afraid of diseases that come in the dark, or terrible sicknesses that come at noon.
— Psalm 91:1-6
We have those many people {of faith} around us. Their lives tell us what faith means. So we should be like them. We too should run the race that is before us and never stop trying. We should take away {from our lives} anything that would stop us. And we should take away the sin that so easily catches us. We should always follow the example of Jesus. Jesus is the leader in our faith. And he makes our faith perfect. He suffered death on the cross. But Jesus accepted the shame of the cross like it was nothing. He did this because of the joy that God put before him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne. Think about Jesus. He was patient while sinful men were doing bad things against him. Think about him, so that you also will be patient and not stop trying.
— Hebrews 12:1-3
But many people believed in Jesus. Even many of the Jewish leaders believed in Jesus. But they were afraid of the Pharisees. So they did not say openly that they believed. They were afraid that they would be put out of the synagogue.
— John 12:42
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
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