April 15, 2025 - Mark‬ ‭8‬:‭31

“And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.” Mark 8:31 ESV

Jesus, I think we often don’t think deep enough of what you endured for us on earth. You have a love for people that is beyond our understanding. You performed so many miracles and loved on so many people. You took the time to let people know that you saw them to their core, and you deeply loved them. You spoke truth, repeatedly in an effort for us to gain understanding. Yet, you were often rejected and opposed. People would twist your words and intentions. They would accuse you of things that were not true. The worst were the holy men who were supposed to be the people closest to you. You had the purest of hearts and the deepest love, but so many people were against you. Do we think these things didn’t affect you like they do us? You were human and felt the same pain we do.

Lord, if we take what you endured and imagine it in our lives, wow. How would we handle and continue forward if our pure and good intentions were twisted and rejected? How would we handle it if the people who should support us the most, are the ones to aggressively oppose us? How would we handle it if some of our close friends and followers betrayed us or denied us? Would we continue forward in our mission or give up and get stuck in the pain. It is truly amazing the pain you endured to bring us your truth. And that isn’t even talking about the fact that you endured a humiliating and excruciating death so that we could be set free. You are remarkable. Help us never forget all that you chose to endure for us, and when we face pain and hurt, help us learn to forgive and press forward in love like you did for us. You are worthy of our “yes”, our Lord.

In Jesus name, amen.