Dip Into The Book Of MarkSample

DAY 5: IT’S YOUR REACTION THAT MATTERS

This verse is the main verse of the Gospel of Mark; weird, isn’t it? In today’s society, where we like to focus on being blessed, wealthy, the nice house, the great car for our best life, Mark doesn’t uphold these things in Jesus’ mission. Mark encourages his audience that Jesus' life wasn’t about those things; it was about suffering, being rejected and being killed

. But wait a second, Jesus lived a perfect life – without sin, without fault, the Perfect Lamb. How was it perfect if it held suffering, rejection and death? Jesus’ life was perfect because He did these things without sinning; when He suffered, He forgave and loved those who were persecuting Him. When He was rejected again, He reacted correctly; even when He was on the cross, He was forgiving. A perfect life is not about a life free from suffering, rejection or pain – that simply doesn’t exist. A perfect life is a life that walks suffering, rejection and pain with God by your side and in the footsteps of Jesus that forgave, loved and conquered them to rise from the dead. 

It’s our reaction to these things in our life that makes the difference. Don’t blame God or get angry, or hold an offence, but forgive, love and keep moving forward. No matter what life throws at you, Jesus can walk you through and out the other side better, wiser and with more strength and joy than you have ever imagined.