“Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint and I know I will not be put to shame.”
Isaiah 50:7
In reflecting on this particular week of Jesus’ life, we are mindful of how we are to become like Him. “As He is so are we in this world”. When we reflect on the way Jesus moved through all the rejection, betrayal, pain and death, we are reminded of how we are to respond in every given situation. While we will never face the intensity of what Jesus suffered, there are many of us who have and will suffer for our faith.
“The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us.” 2 Timothy 2:11-12
“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him.”
Philippians 1:29
I’m mindful of what it takes to keep moving forward, knowing that it will cost. Reading Jesus’ movements through this week are always very sobering for me. It stirs within me every desire to be as faithful to my assigned purpose as He was to His.
Tuesday would have been like any other day except Jesus is one day closer to the cross. From Marks Gospel we see Jesus taking every opportunity to teach on this day. Mark 11:20 begins with the disciples going back into Jerusalem for the day. The cursed fig tree is found withered and Jesus encourages faith in God, prayer and forgiveness. At the the temple, as he is teaching, his authority is challenged by the religious rulers ~ Mark 11:27-33. After He observes the widows offering, Jesus leaves the temple, and reading Matthews Gospel, chapter 24 and chapter 25, we see His conversations with the disciples. Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple, Signs of the End of Age, The parable of the Ten Virgins and The Talents and finishes with his teaching on the Final Judgment.
Matthew 26:1 When Jesus had finished all these saying, she said to his disciples, “you know that after two days the Passover is coming and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
What a note to end your day.