Understanding...

Read Luke 18:31-34

The question all of us ask throughout our lives is why.  Why did this happen, why did that happen, why God why?

Understanding is so elusive.  And it eluded Jesus' first disciples.  As we read in Luke 18:31-34 we see the text tells us they were lost; confused with what Jesus was talking about.  He was talking to the Twelve and telling them all that was about to happen; how when they would arrive in Jerusalem all that the prophets had written about Him would be fulfilled.  He was going to be handed over to the Gentiles and they would humiliate Jesus with their insults, spits, flogging and eventually they would kill Him.  And on the third day Jesus promised He would rise again.

To so many of us this is so clear; we see it through the eyes of history, understanding our faith and knowing that all that Jesus said here actually happened.  But to many, these words are still unclear.  If you're reading this and Jesus' words aren't fully in focus for you yet, please know what Jesus was talking about, what the Christian faith is all about is Jesus' life, death, burial and resurrection.  His words then are still true now - when He went into Jerusalem and experienced the cross, He did it for you and He did it for me.  He paid the price for sin, your sin and mine, the perfect sacrificial death so that we would not have to die and live eternally apart from God.

The disciples didn't understand and there are times when we don't understand what is happening in our lives.  What's important, always important, is that we understand these truths about Jesus.  He came into this world to take us out of this world and into a relationship with His Father.  His life was sacrificial so that all who would believe and ask Jesus to be the forgiver of their sins and leader of their life would come into this eternal relationship.  It's all God has ever really wanted - you.  Reflect on this understanding this week and thank God for the life Jesus lived for us.