Despite Everything

Matthew 17:22,23 Later, the disciples met together in Galilee. Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man will be handed over to the control of other men, who will kill him. But on the third day he will be raised from death.” The disciples were very sad to hear that Jesus would be killed.

The thing that I’ve noticed down through the years is that when God leads us into a place of suffering, it never really makes sense. Of course, the pain clouds our judgement … but still, what good could ever come of this?

One of the things that I find truly confronting about God is the way that he uses suffering for good. To our way of thinking, blessing is good, suffering is bad. That’s the way we’re programmed. But not God. For Him, suffering is a key part of His plan.

So … Jesus gets together with His disciples and He decides to start preparing them for what is to come.

Matthew 17:22,23 Later, the disciples met together in Galilee. Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man will be handed over to the control of other men, who will kill him. But on the third day he will be raised from death.” The disciples were very sad to hear that Jesus would be killed.

Man, if you or I had been one of those disciples in that meeting, what would we have made of that little prediction?

Is He completely crazy? This miracle-working, storm-stilling, demon-casting Jesus who preached with such power? Killed? And then to rise from death?

But God always knew our greatest need. He knew all about the death and destruction ruining countless lives because we’d rejected Him.

And so, in the greatest act of love of all time, He sends His one and only Son, Jesus, to be betrayed into the hands of men, to be ridiculed, brutalised and crucified to pay for our sin – yours and mine – only to rise again that we might live a new life in His love.

It didn’t make sense to those disciples. But despite everything, He still sent His Son to suffer for us. Jesus

That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.

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