Thursday 19th June
Read Luke 9:43b-45
“While everyone was marvelling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, 44 ‘Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: the Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.’ 45 But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.” (NIVUK)
School is in. Immediately.
First lesson: Greatness is weakness.
All of their expectations about the coming of the Son of Man involve his arrival with victory. Triumph should follow in his wake. He is the One before whom spirits tremble and flee. Yet it is right at this point that He chooses to drill home the first lesson, carefully.
Despite His greatness He will be delivered into the hands of men. Spirits quake, yet mere mortals will prevail. They did not understand this at all. In fact, at this stage, and after the events of the last 48 hours, it was incomprehensible. Clearly though, greatness does not equal power and authority to do what One likes. Greatness comes in submission to the will of others.
Greatness is weakness. It will take time for the first lesson to sink in. We should not be surprised if it takes us time to grasp it also.
