Reading
SAA Notes
Unbelief is a hard shell of sin that twists what is good – the desire to honour God, into something wicked and repugnant – the willingness to murder. Deliberate unbelief finds it opposite in Mary and the extravagance of her love. Be challenged by Mary’s extravagance in your love!
SJA Notes
* Dear God, please show us what You want us to know today.
“His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.”
This is a passage with much sadness in it.
The crowds that came out of the city and shouted Hosanna would soon be shouting for murder instead.
The heart of Judas is seen so crooked in his unbelief.
And the leaders of God’s people really started looking to kill Jesus.
But here we have a note from John. You can imagine him say,
“We didn’t get it at the time! We just didn’t understand what was happening!”
But God in His grace and mercy _did_ reveal to them. After Jesus was glorified, they remembered these things and the Holy Spirit linked them up together in their minds, in their hearts.
John was there. He was part of the no-understanding.
But God moved him and the others to yes-understanding.
As with them, so with us.
Sometimes we just don’t understand what we read in God’s word.
But God opens the eyes and ears of our hearts.
He WRITES His word on our hearts – what a marvellous thing this is!
* Father God,
Sometimes we find it hard to understand Your word.
But we know that You are wiser than we are.
And we thank You that You will choose to show us everything that You have for our good.
And that this is enough.
Thank You Lord!
Amen.