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32 They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the gentiles; 34 they will mock him and spit upon him and flog him and kill him, and after three days he will rise again.”

 

Walking with Jesus must have been a rollercoaster of experiences. In the passages before the reading for today we see Jesus 1) teach about divorce 2) praise how blessed children and 3) admonish the rich. Then, as they are walking, Jesus clearly states blow by blow the tragic events that are about to unfold. It is no wonder that they were amazed and frightened at the same time. Even with this foretelling, it was apparent that the disciples were not ready for what was going to happen.

 

But isn’t this how life is? We all walk into those turbulent moments where we are unsure if we should be joyous or frightened. We can experience trial but at the same time see blessings that our neighbors bring into our lives. A new opportunity is equal parts scary and exciting. As a parent, I know that each day can bring a roller-coaster of emotions and experiences, often times without a clue of what is about to happen.

 

But like the disciples, I encourage you to follow Christ. When you are scared, search out his reassuring words. When you feel broken, lean on the Holy Spirit for support and guidance. In times of uncertainty, know that you follow a God who is unwavering. In doing these things, we will find challenging times manageable. Our God is with us. Always.

 

Lord of Life, walk alongside us in the midst of uncertain times. Help us to find peace in the storm and know that you are always with us. Amen.

 

Chad Ryberg Cryberg@livinglord.org

 

Prayer Concern: Allow us to see God working in our lives.