Unlimited: An Amazing Procession | Good News Unlimited
Unlimited: An Amazing Procession
Jun 1, 2024 1914
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 delivered over to the chief priests and the 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, NIV).
Jesus, the disciples and others who were following them were on their way to Jerusalem. Jesus was leading the way. It was an amazing procession.
Everyone knew that the rulers in Jerusalem were out to kill Jesus. The disciples also believed that Jesus is probably the Messiah, and that he was heading up to Jerusalem for a great showdown, where he would declare himself as the king sent by God, cleanse the temple, throw out the Romans and the corrupt priests, and re-establish the eternal kingdom of David.
The verbs used to describe the attitudes of the people as they walk are very revealing. Mark says that they are “afraid.” They are afraid because they know how the Romans have massacred other crowds who gathered around Messiah-figures.
The disciples were “astonished.” It means that they didn’t know what was going on or what to think. Because Jesus kept telling them that the chief priests and the teachers of the law would hand him to the Romans and that he would be killed. That wasn’t in their script for what should happen to the Messiah at all!
Also, when Jesus kept telling them that he will rise from the dead three days later, that wasn’t part of their world-view either, because if Jesus were to be killed, it would mean that he wasn’t the Messiah, and that was it. And everyone knew that people didn’t just rise from the dead.
That’s why they were confused and astonished. As they walked behind Jesus to Jerusalem, they didn’t know what they would find there. It was all too much.
– Eliezer Gonzalez
Eli’s Reflection: I don’t know how long you’ve been following Jesus. But I wonder, have you been walking behind him in astonishment or confusion? Are you fearful of what’s up ahead for you? Are you wondering where your life will lead? If so, trust in Jesus more. Spend time with Him. That’s what the disciples needed to do, and so do you.
