“We are going up to Jerusalem,” [Jesus] said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”

Devotion based on Mark 10:33,34

Do you ever watch people doing something and realize they are doing it the hard way? You wonder how much better their life would be if they were to figure out the easy way of doing it.

Jesus explained to his disciples what it would take to earn their salvation, and it must have looked like the hard way to them. Surely, he could stay away from Jerusalem, where all his enemies were gathered! There was no reason to let them condemn him, mock and spit on him, flog and kill him, was there? How much easier the life of Jesus would have been if he could have found a way to avoid such suffering.

But when it came to your salvation, the hard way was the only way. Someone had to live a perfect life in your place. Someone had to die to take the punishment for your sin. Someone had to fulfill all the prophecies. Someone had to make the selfless sacrifices for his disciples, including you.

Jesus knew he would rise from the dead, and he wanted you to join him in the resurrection. He did everything the hard way so that your life would be better right now. You have peace with God. He did everything the hard way so that your life would be better in the future. You will live forever with him.

Prayer: