Words of Wisdom for the Weekend ~ We will See Him on the Road to Suffering

"And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

And Jesus said to them,“You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’

But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee."

(Mark 14:26-28)

"If Jesus "will go before" his disciples from Galilee as he had gone before, then this is a call to follow him down the hard road of conflict, criticism, enmity, persecution, suffering and death and resurrection. So the passion story becomes a roadmap for all of Jesus' followers (who deny themselves and take up their crosses) whether Christians martyred in the first, or Christians bold in the twentieth, centuries. 

"Read this story, then, as a detailed itinerary of the disciple's life. 

"But hear in it as well the constant consolation—not only that he, in "going before us" is always near us, however hard the persecution; but also that we, in going his way to Galilee, will see him as he told you. The dearest comfort in this promise is that precisely by taking the Way of the Lord, we will meet the Lord himself. In suffering is he revealed! In the experience of our own crosses is he made manifest . . .  

"Be cross-bearers then. These are the truer followers.  

"From Galilee to Golgotha: first we study the map, the Passion; and then—actually travelling the passionate path ourselves, "going" even as we were called—we will see him too, just as he promised we would."

"Master,

Grant me, in the study of your story, both love and faith. Love will make me attentive to all you do. Faith will make me bold to follow you. I beg to see you, O my Saviour! Amen"

~Walter Wangerin Jr., Reliving the Passion

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{Email subscribers, I welcome you to come over and listen to this beautiful hymn,
 "In the Valley" by Sovereign Grace}

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{Words for Wisdom for the Weekend: These are words that I have been challenged or encouraged by that I have read throughout my week that I kept pondering; words that I couldn't get off my mind and heart throughout my week. 

For other Words of Wisdom for the Weekend posts see here.}