He Wasn’t Actively Opposed By Atheists and Secular People

Mark 8:31 (NIV) – He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.

Mark 8:31 (Message Bible) – He then began explaining things to them: “It is necessary that the Son of Man proceed to an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty by the elders, high priests, and religion scholars, be killed, and after three days rise up alive.”

Jesus prepared His disciples for the difficulties He would face. He told them in advance so that when it happens they don’t lose faith. The disciples were steadily getting convinced that He was divine and the Messiah. Therefore to see Him suffering could easily undo their faith.

Jesus warned them so that when it happens they remain faithful and wait for the resurrection three days later. Jesus warned them to demonstrate that He was still in control even during suffering. During great suffering we expect God to use His power to intervene and instantly end the suffering. When God delays to intervene during suffering, we start wondering if He has lost control. 

Jesus tells them, I know I will suffer. I am in control even during suffering. I also know that suffering will end in death. That means when someone dies, God hasn’t failed to keep the person alive. God is still in control! God doesn’t lose control even when His people die. Jesus says I will suffer and die, but I am still in control!

When Jesus is in control, it may be a hard journey but it ends well. He says He will suffer and die, but He ends the story by saying He will resurrect! Let us persevere because in the end we shall be victorious. Don’t give up and don’t fear! Soldier on today. Any pain and suffering today is temporary and victory is assured!

What catches our attention is the list of people who will make Jesus suffer and die. We expect atheists who reject the concept of God to actively oppose Jesus. We expect secular people who have drifted from religious issues to actively oppose Jesus. But atheists and secular people are not listed among those who actively oppose Jesus!

Elders who are a form of government for the people in their communities will reject Jesus. Priests who rejected Jesus were the religious leaders of their time. They led worship services at the temple. They blessed people in the name of God, yet they rejected and opposed Jesus!

Scholars of religion who had in-depth knowledge of the things of God, opposed and rejected Jesus. All these people dealt with the things of God on a day to day basis yet they missed the Messiah, opposed Him and rejected Him. They even went ahead and killed Him!

The secular people were nowhere among the opposers. The atheists did not kill Jesus. He was rejected, opposed and killed by people who were considered His people! Very religious people!

People considered to be spiritual led others in killing Jesus. Spiritual people couldn’t recognize who Jesus was. Spiritual people were blinded by their own righteousness. They were too good to be saved.

Whether religious, spiritual, or both, we need to examine ourselves lest in our self righteousness we end up missing eternal life. We can be too good to the extent that we are unable to recognize guidance from God. Good people let us examine ourselves prayerfully.

Good people are in danger of getting lost. Religious people are in danger of getting lost. Spiritual people are in danger of getting lost. Examine yourself prayerfully! You could be worse than demons in your righteousness!

Dear God some people see a big difference between spiritual and religious and make a big issue out of it when it really doesn’t matter. We pray that just save us. Save us who considered ourselves good. Save us who consider ourselves your people and close to you. Help us examine ourselves so that we do not get lost while thinking we will be in the frontline of the saved. In Jesus’s name, Amen!

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