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.)
In Mark 13:19, Jesus speaks about future events: “For in those days shall be affliction such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.” In addition to the teaching about “creation” (which we considered yesterday), Jesus states unequivocally that a great “affliction” is to come, a time of difficulty and distress “such as was not from the beginning of creation.” Throughout twenty centuries, devout Christians have wondered if they were approaching or even experiencing this “affliction.” Certainly the official persecution of Christians by the vile and violent Roman government seemed to fulfill Jesus’ prediction, for it was hard for these early Christians to imagine anything worse than the martyrdom of many. Later, as wars swept across lands where Christians resided, some thought that this prophesied time had come. The great bubonic plagues that wiped out entire villages were even worse in their devastating effects. As mankind entered the twentieth century, two world wars and the possibility of nuclear war appeared to many to be this time of “affliction.” Yet, here we are, still awaiting the full fulfillment of Jesus’ words. The frightening details of the book of Revelation tell us that this even worse time is coming. A wise person prepares now for the inevitable. By trusting in Jesus for His salvation, each one of us will be kept “from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” (Revelation 3:10). “The wrath of the Lamb” (Revelation 6:16) will not be directed against God’s people: “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Thessalonians 5:9).