Scales

A week ago, I was writing about the word disbelief. When I first read the words of Jesus today, I was confused. They are so clear, and it led me to question many of the disciples actions. But then I started to consider the concept of how upsetting these words would be to them. How unlike the reality they had in mind. Their sinful flesh may have questioned whether Jesus was losing it. Regardless of my speculation, though I really enjoy how clear Jesus is with them.

They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. "We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and 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 10:32-34

When it says the disciples were astonished. It almost seemed as though they followed in simple disbelief. If anyone were to understand his plans, surely it would be them. But as the plan begins to become reality, they follow on astonished. Apparently, according to Luke's account, they were simply unable to understand Jesus. Maybe this is similar to the way in which some of Jesus' parables taught truth to some, but only caused others to scratch their heads.

The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about. -Luke 18:34

When I think about something being made very clear to them, and having them still fight against it, or speak out about how it will never happen, I start to hear my own protests when things do not go the way I have planned.

Surely not I Jesus, I hear myself say. There must be another path we could take. There are easier roads perhaps that will get us to where you want to take us. I am dissappointed to hear myself talking in the tone of disbelieving Peter. (though I'd rather that tone I guess that n the tone of Judas, who would have heard three predictions of his own act of selfish betrayal. Mark 8, 9, and 10 all include a prediction.)

Lord, I pray today that you would first allow the scales to be removed from my eyes when I am faced with the truth of your scripture. You so often describe the hard things that we are to do, and yet I act in disbelief, as if those things can't possibly be what you expect. Help me not to act in fear, but in sure hope that you yearn to bless the world through our sacrifice.

Let today be a turn-the-other-cheek kind of day--a day of selflessness--where I hold nothing back for myself, to protect myself. Let the response of people to me be, "This is a hard teaching," because your teaching is one of humble love, and painful truth.


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