Mark 10:32-34 NLT

[32] They were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe, and the people following behind were overwhelmed with fear. Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus once more began to describe everything that was about to happen to him. 

[33] "Listen," he said, "we're going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans. [34] They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him, but after three days he will rise again."

Mark 10:32-34 NLT

We're on the other side of the resurrection, someone being flogged with Roman whips, public crucifixions are so far from our reality, but for these people walking with Jesus, wanting a Messiah to rescue them from Roman oppression is now just going to walk towards the Empire!!??

And is this talk of death and return to life another metaphor?

What's going on?

It's easy to criticise the disciples for not "getting" Jesus but there's a lot to "get".

Empire.

Torture.

Death.

Life.

This is not what Rabbi's do, not what leaders of popular movements do, how can this work?

Today Jesus calls us to follow Him, towards Empire, trouble, because we already have Life in us...

#gospelofMark #GoodNews

#invitation