Being able to see the future is not what it is cracked up to be. How many of us could look inside a crystal ball and step out into the world each day knowing what was coming?
That was the challenge Jesus had to face. When he came down to earth to live out life as a human being, the story was already written. He knew the ending before the tale was even begun, and he came anyway.
In the book of Mark, a woman came to Jesus with an alabaster box. She broke it open and anointed Jesus’ feet. In Chapter 14, Verse 9, the Master exclaimed that what she had done would be told throughout the world, and it would be a memorial unto her.
He knew the scope of what he had come to earth to do. The future of his ministry had been written before he had ever lain in that lowly manger three decades earlier.
It was only a short time later that we see Jesus in front of Pilate. In violation of Jewish law, the Chief Priests were determined to try, condemn, and crucify Jesus all on a single day. Mark 15:1 tells the story, how the Jewish rules and regulations were twisted beyond all measure, rubber stamped by a second meeting of the Sanhedrin, finally forcing Jesus into the Roman court system.
Jesus knew what was still to come, for it had been foretold in the Scriptures. In Mark 15:16, he was led into the soldiers’ barracks. Everyone was called to watch, and the crown of thorns was placed upon his head.
What motivated the God of all the heavens to allow such a thing? He sent his Son, who was part of him, to be tortured and killed. What possible reason was good enough to allow this?
The end result, of course.
However, the crucifixion was not an easy thing for God to witness. His heavy heart comes through in Mark 15:33, for in this verse, we see where darkness came upon the whole land from the sixth hour (noon) until the ninth hour (three in the afternoon).
It is in Mark 16:15-16 that Jesus’ ordeal brings the rewards he sought, for in this passage, he tells his disciples to “go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he who believes not shall be damned.”
Jesus read the last page of the story, and still he chose to come to earth and live out his life among men. That alone is worth our praise. How wonderful that he gave his life for you and me so that we can live with him in glory forevermore!
Worrying about the future is hard. Knowing it can be even harder. Having a Savior who has our future in his hands is worth everything.
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