Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Mark 15:35, ” Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, ‘Look, He is calling for Elijah!’ ” 

Background

There Jesus was, hanging on the cross, dying for something, for everything, that He had not done. The scholars say that crucifixion was the harshest form of capital punishment that man had at the time. The victim would actually drown from the fluid in his lungs, even as he was surrounded by all the air he needed. Each breath he took would be slightly weaker than the previous, until he eventually could breathe no more. But in the midst of this excruciating torture, our Savior had some things yet to say to us, even as his breath got weaker and weaker. However, one of the phrases recorded in scripture wasn’t real clear to those who heard it. As Jesus called out to God, mixing Aramaic and Hebrew words, some of the listeners thought they heard one thing when Jesus was crying out something completely different. As He called out to God, they thought He was beckoning for the prophet Elijah. 

Application

Does that sound familiar? Not the part where God gets confused with Elijah, but the way Jesus says one thing to us and we think we hear something else. How many of Christ’s words have we read over and over again, only to go our way, convincing ourselves that we really heard something different? Just pick a verse from the Bible, perhaps one that makes a bold claim or gives a direct command. Do you hear it as it reads to you, literally accepting the words that are on the page? Do you believe that His instructions are meant to be followed completely, that things like forgiving and following and sacrificing are not random words He chose that can be carried out haphazardly or casually? Do you believe that prayer is as powerful as He said it is? Do you believe that He loves that unlovable person that tempts you to hate? When He spoke, when He speaks, are you hearing one thing and carrying out another? Is there something that you keep hearing, but you won’t let yourself believe it’s meant for you? What God has told us is what He intended to tell us. So hear Him, listen to Him, and follow Him. Those words are saying exactly what they mean. 

Charge

As we seek Him today, dare to take God at His word. Act as if He knew what He was saying when He said it, and see what He intended to happen when we believe it. 

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words