Jaw-dropping Jewels about Jesus
Rarely does Jesus, God the Son, do exactly what we expect of Him. It seems odd that He so frequently surprises us, given that He never changes. Hebrews 13:8 makes this absolute statement: “Jesus the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Still, though He is blessedly consistent in His goodness, Jesus does unforeseen things. Even when He does what is expected, He does not always do it in the way that we anticipate. Let us join with Jesus on a jaw-dropping journey. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
Jesus’ response to the question regarding fasting (Mark 2:18) prompted His use of wedding imagery in verse 19, an answer that emphasized the power of joy. He then includes a further thought, speaking about that part of life that is not celebratory and joyful: “But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days” (verse 20). This is the first statement in Mark’s Gospel about the impending death of Jesus on the Cross and His three days in the tomb. It was a somewhat veiled reference, but He would clarify it in unequivocal terms later. His inclusion of this statement here is a reminder that there will always be challenges and difficulties in our lives as Christians. Furthermore, Jesus is telling us that we do not have to hide our genuine emotions. We should not pretend to be ecstatically joyful if we are suffering, including sharing in the sufferings of others. James 5:13 also reminds us of both sides of life: “Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing Psalms.” Romans 12:15 establishes a principle for all Christians: “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” Our joy is deeper than the distresses and helps us through them, but it does not eliminate them. The realistic words of our Savior are further confirmation that He knows all about our lives and cares about each detail and each day.