Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days’ rise again.” vs. 31
Mark 8:27-33
Mark reports in his gospel that when the disciples tell Jesus that they believed he was the messiah; he gave them a glimpse of what was to come. There would be a period of great suffering and rejection and finally he would be killed–and then after three days he would rise again. Of course this was nothing but gibberish in their minds, and Peter, their new leader, actually rebuked him. It was absolutely incomprehensible to them that the long awaited messiah would be rejected and killed, and they had no idea what it meant to rise again! It’s fascinating that what was once unthinkable eventually became a precious truth for countless believers. All of us, at one time or another, experience suffering as a part of life’s journey. And when that suffering comes near, as much as we might hate its presence, there is great comfort in knowing that we are not alone. Jesus has been there before us and knows the pain and anguish. And because we are not alone in our suffering, sharing the Jesus experience actually strengthens our faith. And of course we can’t forget that final promise, the good news that beyond the suffering comes new life with Christ!
Thought for the Day: How has suffering strengthened me?
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