Mark 10:32-3432And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, 33Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: 34And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again. (Mark 10:32‑34).
JESUS and His disciples were on the way up going up to Jerusalem, where He was to suffer the Just for the unjust, in order that guilty sinners might be pardoned and saved. There was something in the manner of Jesus that made the disciples both wonder and fear. He “went before them, and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid.”
The disciples evidently felt that something extraordinary was about to happen, but although Jesus had told them before that He was going to be killed (Mark 9:31,31For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. (Mark 9:31)) they did not understand it. So Jesus “took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto Him, saying, Behold we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they shall mock Him, and spit upon Him, and shall kill Him; and the third day He shall rise again.”
Oh! what a path of sorrow lay before Jesus, as He thus journeyed on. And He knew all about it, but did not turn back. He loved us so well, that He was ready to lay down His life for us, and to suffer shame and reproach that others might be blessed.
Luke tells us (Chap. 9:51) that “when the time was come that He should be received up, He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.” It was God’s will that He should go there to die; and He knew how much He must suffer, but this did not make Him hesitate, nor hang back. He “went before” His disciples, and led the way, although He knew that the buffeting, and the spitting, and the crown of thorns, and all the horrors of the cross were before Him. But He also knew that He should rise again. He could look beyond death to resurrection, assured that He would triumph for us over all the power of Satan. And so He pressed on with such energy that the disciples were amazed. Oh! what a Saviour is Jesus! Surely, dear children, we may well trust Him. Is He not worthy that we should both trust Him as our Saviour, and follow Him as our Lord and Master?
ML 04/06/1902