Mark 14:61b-62 (MSG)
Then the high priest asked (Jesus), “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus said, “I AM. And you will see the Son of Man seated I the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
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Confident in His Strength
Throughout the second half of Jesus’ ministry, He taught the disciples that they would face opposition just as He would. Their spiritual development would depend on how well they could cope with that reality.
The same is true for us in our post-Christian culture. Jesus’ response during His arrest and trial teaches us how to respond to our challenges today. The stakes were high when Jesus faced Pilate with His life hanging in the balance. But Jesus did not fight back or reflect fear. Pilate was amazed (Mark 15:5). Jesus’ way of engagement with opposition was not through fighting back. God’s call upon His life included this space. So He trusted His Heavenly Father.
John 19:11 reveals how deeply rooted Jesus was in the security and identity that God provided Him: You would have no power over me if it were not given you from above. There was no need to whine or react in fear. There was no need for rebuttal.
I Peter 3:14 tells us: Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened. Our confidence comes in knowing that one day justice will come. It is difficult in times of opposition not to fight back. Earlier, Jesus had responded to the Jewish leadership with a remark that they considered blasphemy. When asked if He was the Messiah, Jesus said, “I AM.” Then He continued to tell them how they would see Him sitting at the right hand of God one day! Jesus was confident that Resurrection Day would come, justice would come. The irony of it all is that when Jesus said this, His words became the testimony that the religious rulers took to Pilate that would ultimately get Him crucified. But Jesus knew that God would vindicate Him three days later.
How should we respond to rejection and resistance? We trust God in the face of opposition. We rest in the identity that He has given to us as His sons and daughters so that we don’t have to fear rejection and overreact. In the end, God will set all things right. Today, pray that God will strengthen your confidence and security in Him.
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Enjoy the Full 6-Day Series
- Monday, April 15 – Faithful to Your Mission – w/ Pastor Jamal Jones
- Tuesday, April 16 – Give Your Purest Worship – w/ Pastor Marlyn DeFoggi
- Wednesday, April 17 – Surrender to Peace – w/ Pastor Jeremy Woltz
- Thursday, April 18 – Confident in His Strength – w/ Pastor John Kelly
- Friday, April 19 – Share in His Suffering – w/ Pastor Dave DeMasters
- Saturday, April 20 – Faith in the Silence – w/ Pastor Lisa Eggert
Revisit Last Year’s Holy Week devotionals
Watch the 6-part Holy Week 2018 video series, The Week God Died, on YouTube
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