Thursday 15 Dec 2022

December 15: Matthew 17:22-23

Key Verse: Matthew 17:23
They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.’ And the disciples were filled with grief.

Devotion:
Has anyone ever told you they were going to die? What sticks in your mind is the fact they will die, not what they say before hand or afterward, just the fact they will die. When I read these words I could not but help think of the words spoken to me a while back when my Dad told us he had cancer and did not have long to live. Those words stuck with me. As it happened Dad did continue to live for a few years during which time we grew closer.

With that in my heart I think I begin to know what the disciples were going through when Jesus told them He was going to die. Nothing they could do would be able to stop that death. They could hope for more time and could pray for more time; but the Father had the time in mind and knew when this all had to happen in order for our sins to be covered by Jesus’ blood.

I’m sure the disciples were trying to come up with all manner of excuses so Jesus would not have to face death; they would have been distraught knowing their Saviour would die and I don’t think they thought too much about the words after that. Jesus tried to console them by reminding them He would be raised from the dead three days after His death. Those words were probably not realised until after it had all happened…

When we look back over the time Jesus was with the disciples, we can see what He was promising because we know the outcome. At the time I don’t think the disciples fully grasped those words saying He would be raised from the dead until after He was!

Points to Ponder:
What promises do you think of which God has given you?

Will you look back and realise the promises were true?