Jesus and the disciples are on their journey to Jerusalem. They have come down from Galilee and have drawn together for a while around the flatlands of the Jordan River, around Jericho. They have taught those that they came in contact with, they have met with other pilgrims and they are about to begin what is approximately an 18 mile uphill walk to the city of Jerusalem.
The way in which Mark pens the beginning of this ‘journey narrative’ is that ‘Jesus is leading the way’ or ‘Jesus was walking ahead of them’, Luke tends to use even stronger language saying ‘he set his face to go to Jerusalem’, not drawing or holding back, but either way Jesus knows what is ahead, he is in full awareness of the bigger picture and he is leading the way. Verses 33 and 34 reveal the third occasion when Jesus predicts his death (after Peters announcement and in chapter 9) to the disciples in Luke’s gospel, yet even with this repeated passion narrative the disciples still haven’t quite obtained the picture that Jesus is trying to paint; astonished at this stunning moment the twelve still show signs of refusing to believe their Messiah was going to Jerusalem to die.
Now as I began to mull over the disciples apparent blindness to Jesus message, it made me aware that in attempting to
• follow Jesus voice,
• and in trying to serve Jesus,
it's often easy to be SO concerned with our own agendas that we might just miss out on hearing the master’s voice, just as was the case with the disciples in this passage. Jesus still wants to communicate with us today! This is not a concern that we should have. Our biggest concern is something that each of us and that definitely includes me, has the power to monitor and adjust, our biggest concern should be - listening to and then discerning what it is that Jesus is saying to us as disciples.
Listening in a culture that moves with increasing noise and haste, a culture where paying attention to Jesus voice can be such a challenge. It’s true though, sometimes we want lightning bolts, ostentatious dreams and visions when all Jesus wants US to do is set aside some time to be quiet and listen to what it is that He wants to say.
In concept it’s not difficult, and it shouldn’t have been difficult for the disciples to listen to what Jesus was saying to them face to face in the passage we have just read, yet they still choose to hear what they wanted to hear and we as his followers today are often guilty of making the exact same mistakes. From the beginning of time God has communicated with His creation and he won’t stop trying to communicate with us, but we have to train ourselves to be better listeners.
Jim Elliot the American missionary (of Scottish heritage) to Ecuador, who was killed with four others while attempting to evangelize the Waodani people, said this,
‘I think the devil has made it his business to monopolize on three elements: noise, hurry and crowds….Satan is quite aware of the power of silence.’
• We aren’t used with silence, but silence gives us space and time to think and very importantly listen.
• Take some time today and attempt to hear Gods voice.
• Silence gives God the opportunity to communicate with us, his people.
For although God is present and can be known in the tumult and chaos, he is known best in the silence, offer Him your ears and your heart from time to time in the midst of your business, and he will reveal Himself to you.
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