March 22 - devotional

Matt 20:17-19 17 Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, 18 "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19 and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!" NIV

This passage from Matthew begins with the words- "Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem..." They are simple words of explination, but they carry so much weight. For Jesus is going to Jesusalem for only one reason: He is going to be sacrificed. The disciples are thinking that it is going to be a time of celebration. The Feast of Unleaven Bread is coming and they will be celebrating it in Jerusalem! Who would have though that mere fishermen or tax collectors or other "common" men from Galilee would be in Jeruslem with a holy Rabbi who just might be the promised Messiah. This was going to be the best Passover ever!

But just as the excitement is beginning to buld in the disciple's hearts, Jesus speaks these words to them: betrayed, condemned, mocked & flogged, and crucified. How can these words be a part of Jesus' description of the days ahead. Jesus is trying to prepare them for what is coming. What's coming is not what they expect. They need to be prepared. Resurrection is coming, but suffering and death have to come first.

I wonder if Jesus feels the same way about us these days. Resurrection Day is coming and the words we expect to hear are - Spring, family, vacation, love, new life. But by our not preparing ourselves for this time is it possible that we will miss the reality that there must be death to have resurrection? Is it possible that in our rush to focus on the joy of Easter Sunday we will miss the price paid for that joy. Shouldn't we reflect on the words like- fasting, sacrifice, denying self, carrying our cross?

As we start our journey together. take some time today to reflect on the fact that Jesus knew what was coming as He went to Jerusalem. And He went anyway. Walk with Him and let Him show you His love by His great sacrifice.