Our Scripture meditation is based on Mark 9:30-32, part of the Gospel reading for next week.
[30] They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, [31] for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” [32] But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. (ESV)
We can empathize with Jesus’ disciples. At times in life we, too, have feared addressing God. Yet God has ensured that we have even greater confidence in approaching God than the disciples in this passage.
Questioning God directly can be difficult for us. When we’ve experienced a tragedy in our families, we often want to demand that God explain why He didn’t prevent the loss. Yet we struggle to confront God. When we commit a sin that leads us to feel shame it can be difficult to turn to God concerning that sin. If we are having doubts about what happens in heaven, we might be too embarrassed to ask God to clarify our understanding through Scripture.
Surely those who walked with Jesus daily had greater confidence asking questions of the Lord. Not necessarily. Remember that in Mark chapter 9 Jesus is not yet crucified and resurrected. It’s not until after Jesus is resurrected that He breathes the Holy Spirit into the disciples (John 20:21). The reception of the Holy Spirit is a prerequisite for saving faith in Jesus We received the Holy Spirit when we were brought to faith in Jesus (Acts 2:38, 1 Corinthians 12:3).
It is through this saving faith that we can approach God with confidence (Hebrews 4:16). Not that we ourselves are worthy to stand before God, but as God’s children redeemed by Jesus we turn to our Heavenly Father.
Kevin Wilson 360 