Spit

"Going up to Jerusalem, Jesus was walking ahead of them and they were amazed," Mark 10:32.

Amazed? Why? Because he led them all the way to the city where he must die. Yeah. And, followers were afraid. Jesus told them (again!) religious and civil authorities would condemn him to death. They'd mock him. They'd spit on him. They'd flog him. They'd kill him. Authorities who should have welcomed the Son of God onto planet earth in peace. (But peace is not our way of doing things, is it?) The way we welcome the Son of Man reveals the nature of our persistent problem. Sin. So that's why he must die. And then rise three days later.

We get together with a brother or sister today and mourn the way we treat each other. And together, forgiven at the cross, we praise God who draws us into Jesus' peace.