Walking into Danger - April 29 Readings: Judges 5, Luke 18:31–43, Psalm 54, Proverbs 11:9–10

Links to April 29 Readings:  Judges 5, Luke 18:31–43, Psalm 54, Proverbs 11:9–10

Jesus, in Luke 18:31-33, told his disciples something for the third time that they did not want to hear; a message they completely resisted. He was going to Jerusalem to suffer and die.

“Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. Everything that is written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and He will be mocked, insulted, spit on; and after they flog Him, they will kill Him, and He will rise on the third day.”

Jesus was going to be given over into the hands of the Gentiles for punishment. He would experience humiliation by both mocking and by being spit upon. Then they were going to flog him; a severe punishment in and of itself. And then, to top it all off, they were going to kill him. Jesus was going to Jerusalem to be humiliated, tortured and then to die.

And he went anyway.

Imagine that I told you I had a ministry opportunity for you in which you could do some wonderful and powerful ministry. But, as part of that ministry you would be imprisoned, tortured and eventually killed.

What are the chances that you would go on that trip?

We tend to assume that God would never lead us into danger or suffering - a uniquely American view of the Christian life. It would come as a surprise to Christians in North Korea or Iran, wouldn't it? It would certainly surprise the Apostles and the others in the early church who suffered and died for their faith.

Let me state the spectacularly obvious. Jesus only rose from the dead because he first died. If he hadn't gone to Jerusalem, yielded himself to the Father's will and suffered humiliation and death, there would have been no resurrection and no salvation for us all.

And what is the lesson for us? As Christians, we cannot simply seek the easy way or the safe path. No great work for God is accomplished if we are unwilling to do the hard thing, to walk the thorny path in obedience to God. No, we ought not be spiritual daredevils. But we must be willing to go where God leads even when it puts our comfort and ease at risk.

Jesus went to Jerusalem because he served a higher purpose. Redeeming the world meant more to him than his personal safety. He willingly went knowing he would die but also knowing he would rise again!

We must put a higher value on the advance of the kingdom than we do of our own comfort, ease and even safety. We will never do great things from our spiritual easy chairs.

Father, use me even if it costs me.