All in
As I read and preached this morning from a variety of places in the New Testament about the resurrection and what we can learn from Jesus throughout his life and even after He was raised again, I was struck by a statement that is used a number of times in the gospels to relate the understanding of the disciples when Jesus talked about what was going to happen. "The disciples did not understand any of this..."
Jesus plainly described what was going to happen to him at the end of his life on earth and the disciples should not have been surprised. But they were. They didn't understand. They were confused; even scared when it all finally transpired. And Jesus wasn't taken back by any of it. In the record of the times that he talks to them after the resurrection took place, he wondered why they were so surprised. He chided them for not realizing that this was all necessary. They had missed the whole point of his coming.
It's easy to pick on the disciples. But I have been challenged on this resurrection Sunday by the likeness I share with those disciples. I have all the information I need. I have no difficulty knowing the facts about Jesus and seeing what he wants me to do. I know about the resurrection and what Jesus came here for. But what difference does it make in my day to day life? Am I too much like those two on the road to Emmaus that Jesus described as "slow of heart to believe?" I believe in Jesus and I love him with all my heart. But how has it impacted what I do?
I'll write a little more about it this week as I meditate some on what happened after the resurrection, but for today I'm thinking about how I need to let my knowledge sink to my heart and change me thoroughly. There's a lot being written these days about radical devotion to Jesus and what that entails. The reality is that most of us aren't 100% "in."
Resurrection Sunday is a good time to reaffirm our commitment to follow Jesus with complete abandon. In the Biblical record, it wouldn't be long before the world would see some who did give their all for their Lord. I want to be another of those. Want to join me?
Jesus plainly described what was going to happen to him at the end of his life on earth and the disciples should not have been surprised. But they were. They didn't understand. They were confused; even scared when it all finally transpired. And Jesus wasn't taken back by any of it. In the record of the times that he talks to them after the resurrection took place, he wondered why they were so surprised. He chided them for not realizing that this was all necessary. They had missed the whole point of his coming.
It's easy to pick on the disciples. But I have been challenged on this resurrection Sunday by the likeness I share with those disciples. I have all the information I need. I have no difficulty knowing the facts about Jesus and seeing what he wants me to do. I know about the resurrection and what Jesus came here for. But what difference does it make in my day to day life? Am I too much like those two on the road to Emmaus that Jesus described as "slow of heart to believe?" I believe in Jesus and I love him with all my heart. But how has it impacted what I do?
I'll write a little more about it this week as I meditate some on what happened after the resurrection, but for today I'm thinking about how I need to let my knowledge sink to my heart and change me thoroughly. There's a lot being written these days about radical devotion to Jesus and what that entails. The reality is that most of us aren't 100% "in."
Resurrection Sunday is a good time to reaffirm our commitment to follow Jesus with complete abandon. In the Biblical record, it wouldn't be long before the world would see some who did give their all for their Lord. I want to be another of those. Want to join me?
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