Mark 8:31-33

What a difficult time this must have been for the Disciples of Christ.  Here they have devoted about three years of their life to following this man.  They have learned from Him and have loved him deeply as a brother.  Christ has been teaching them how to go on without Him at their side, but they weren't listening because the reality was too much to bear, too difficult to hear.

"He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him." (Mark 8:32)

The followers of Jesus did not want to hear this, they preferred to live in denial; and Peter was obvious about his feelings; maybe arguing with Jesus about this topic. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where the truth was devastating, even though you needed to be informed?  Has there been bad news from the doctor, or a phone call from law enforcement advising you of a child's trouble, and you just wanted to look the other way?  There are any number of things we, as humans deny, and attempt to go on as though everything were Okay.

Jesus needed these men to listen up, to take note, to understand and prepare to pick up where Jesus was leaving off.  We know, that is just what they did.  More than likely, we too, eventually listened to the bad news.  Once we go through a valley and come out on the other side it becomes clearer.  These valleys in life are part of living.  The key is to get back up and continue on with living, loving and laughing through the pain.  Jesus needs us to pick up where He left off.  There are many who still need to hear the Easter Story.

Read Mark 8:31-33 here
Listen to Mark 8:31-33 here