March to the Cross- Jesus: Abiding King

Tuesday, March 30

Jesus: Abiding King

Focus: Jesus had spoken of His death to His disciples, who were becoming confused and distraught; Jesus reassures them that it is for their best so they could receive another Helper.

Today’s verses:

Mark 8:31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed and after three day rise again.

Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

John 16:6-7 But because I have said these things, sorrow has filled your heart. But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

John 14:16-18 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

Jesus knew what was coming. He was going to be hung on a cross and die in just a matter of hours. He wanted to make sure the disciples knew that this was an intentional plan and it didn’t mean he had been defeated. He was telling them in advance so they would know it wasn’t a mistake and that the Father was sending a Helper to live with them. He was doing it all on purpose so that the world would know that He loved the Father and that there would be peace for each and every one who believed in Him.

Even though Jesus was sharing good news of the Holy Spirit in the midst of the sad news that he was going to die, I think I would have been saddened to hear that the person I have grown to know and love so deeply was physically leaving me. I’m not sure that I could have comprehended the thought of another “Helper” or “Spirit” in that same moment. I would have been confused and wanted to ask a million questions! If you were one of the disciples, thinking that you were about to come into power with the future King, how would you have taken the news of his impending death, and would you have understood His promise of the Helper?

For further reading: John 14:1-27

Dear Abiding King,

We give thanks for how you prepared the disciples for what was ahead and for the Father’s plan to send the Holy Spirit to live with His children forever. When we are confused and perplexed over any message you give us, let us always have faith in you. Let our hearts not be troubled or under distress for your plan is always better than ours!