The FOREVER NOTEBOOK

Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”- Matthew 20: 17-19

When Jesus made this claim his disciples didn’t grasp the meaning. Such an incredible prophecy of one’s fate was far beyond the realm of human rationale. Sure, Jesus’ ministry had been met with opposition but He had all these extraordinary powers and such amazing knowledge and wisdom. Wherever He went He drew large crowds of people who adored Him. They and His disciples saw Jesus as the blessed hope of Israel, the one who would be their great liberator and king. The future looked so promising. With Jesus as their leader they were headed for a better tomorrow. Then, suddenly, Jesus hit them with words that stopped them in their tracks. “Betrayed…condemned…mocked…flogged…crucified!”

This One who would lead them was now prophesying His impending death. There are few things in life that hit so hard as the news that someone you love dearly is about to die. Possibly they were too consumed by words of Jesus’ death to consider the words that followed. “On the third day he will be raised to life!” Even if they did try to process these words such an event was beyond comprehension. People just don’t die and then come back to life a few days later. They had seen Jesus perform some amazing miracles including raising Lazarus from the dead but this assertion was beyond comprehension.

There is also the possibility that they were only hearing what they wanted to hear, much like we sometimes read scripture. It’s kind of like watching television and tuning out the commercials and flipping through the shows until we settle on something we like. I once worked with a radio station receptionist who read the bible at her desk every day. One day as I was walking by I noticed that she was highlighting scripture but not with a yellow highlight pen. She was using a black marker. It looked like she was marking out parts of scripture that she didn’t like.

We also cannot ignore the fact that the Holy Spirit frequently veiled the meaning of Jesus’ instruction only to give them understanding at a later time. The same thing happens to us. Have you ever read a passage of scripture numerous times and then one day you have a light bulb experience? “So that’s what that means.” It was not until after Jesus’ resurrection that they were able to understand His prophecy. It took a relatable life experience and the illuminating work of the scripture to grasp the meaning of Jesus’ words.

Jesus’ prophecy concerning Himself was that on the other side of suffering everything is going to be OK. There is going to be incredible victory. That terrible ordeal of the cross would not be the end but the beginning of something better. To get to the better future that they had envisioned He must first suffer and then there would be victory, not as they had imagined, but something far better with eternal value. God’s plan is always better than man’s plan.

Jesus’ victory was not just for Him but for all who put their faith in Him for eternal salvation. Whenever we face painful trials we can always be certain that on the other side of suffering there is victory. Jesus conquered death and suffering with His resurrection. All afflictions on this earth for the Christian are temporary and end in eternal victory.

At your disposal is a power that is unfathomable. It is the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. It is mind-blowing supernatural power that exceeds human comprehension. Nothing you face in life is impossible for God. Surely we must be grounded in the reality of human experience and knowledge. But we should never forget that we are not solely limited by that which we can see and understand. There is a power that is in us that supersedes the limitations of the natural world. Now and forever, on the other side of suffering there is hope…because He lives. Suffering and death is not the end. Thanks be to God for His incredible gift.