Days 251&252: Matthew 17-18; Mark 9:2-50; Luke 9:28-56; John 7-9

     They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. (Mark 9:30-32)

I notice a couple things in this passage. First, I notice that Jesus spent time alone with his disciples. He had important work to do with them. They were his plan A for establishing the church for all time and there was no plan B. He taught the crowds and healed the sick but these things seemed to take 2nd place to spending time with his disciples. There's a lesson here for us.

Second, I notice that, even though Jesus was very clear about the fact that he would be killed...and raised...the disciples couldn't get their minds around it. It made no sense to them. It wasn't until after it all happened that things started to clear up for them. One of the things I take away form this is that the success of God's work here on earth is not dependent on my complete understanding...only on my complete obedience.

Much of today's reading involved arguing with the Jewish religious leaders about who he really was. One of the most notable exchanges is this one in John 8...

     Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”
     “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”
     “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. (John 8:54-59)

I absolutely love the fact that he used the name "I AM" in this discussion. When God called Moses to lead the people out of Egypt he was afraid. He asked God, "When Pharaoh asks who sent me, what should I tell him?" God says, basically, "Tell him I AM sent you!" There was absolutely no doubt in the minds of the religious leaders that when Jesus says, "before Abraham was born, I am" he was claiming to be God. That's why they took up stones to stone him!