Prepared for the Future!
“The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill him. But three days after he is killed, he will rise.” Mark 9:31b
Jesus had recently come down from the Mount of Transfiguration. There he discussed the future with Elijah and Moses. God the Father once again proclaimed his benediction, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him.” (Mark 9:7) Now, Jesus was focused on his final visit to Jerusalem. That was the future they were discussing. So Jesus was also focused on preparing his disciples for the future. The future that Jesus was describing didn’t sound very good. His disciples, at this point, didn’t understand. They did believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah, but they couldn’t get over the fact that Jesus kept telling them that he would die. Humanly speaking, you can’t have a dead king.
We know what Jesus was teaching his disciples is the great news of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Because of that event we by faith in Jesus are Prepared for the Future! Yes, our future is secure because Jesus died as our substitute. We had deserved God’s punishment because of our sin and rebellion. But Jesus took the punishment on himself. The proof the payment is made is the truth that Jesus rose, just as he said.
Faith in Jesus is what we need to be prepare for the future. Like the disciples in Jesus’ day, we don’t always understand why things happen. But we have come to know the One in charge. To be prepared for the future we need to believe in the One who secured our future. Since he’s promised to work all things for our good, we can trust him. Faith in Jesus is what prepares us for the future.
Lord Jesus, thank you for that saving faith. With our future secure, assure us that we have nothing to fear. Amen.