Mark 9:30-32 - They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And He [Jesus] did not want anyone to know, 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." But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask Him.

This is one of those times in Jesus' life that doesn't get any attention, either in movies or in storybooks. It's easy to see why. Jesus is trying to keep His presence a secret, so He doesn't get swarmed by thousands of people looking for healing and other kinds of help. He wants to focus on what He's teaching His disciples. And it sounds like a difficult lesson: "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."

I wonder if this was a frustrating time for the disciples. They were used to seeing miracles on almost a daily basis. They were used to challenging parables and stimulating discussions. Even Jesus' enemies could add to the excitement of a day with Jesus!

But now—no. Secrecy, teaching—and the shadow of the cross.

And yet this time was utterly necessary for them. In a few short months they would be turned loose to carry the Gospel of Jesus to the ends of the earth. They would watch Jesus endure the cross, die, and rise from the dead. They would finally start to understand the whole reason He came—and the wonderful gifts of forgiveness, joy, and everlasting life He won for us. But none of this would happen without teaching. To pass it on, they needed this quiet time with Jesus first.

You, too, may be experiencing a quiet time in your life. It may seem like nothing but boredom, and you long for a change. Or it may seem like endless difficulty—everything is too hard, and you don't know why, and you're ready to be done with this and move on to a new stage in life. I've been there, and I think you have, too.

But it's during those quiet times that God continues to work in our lives, helping us grow in Him, strengthening our faith and helping us to mature as Christians. It may look like nothing is happening—but then you see the fruit of that time, years and years later.

Any time, whether it's exciting or quiet, is worthwhile—if you're with Jesus.

THE PRAYER: Lord, please draw me close to You and help me to learn from You. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Reflection Questions:

1. Would you say this is a quiet or an exciting time in your life right now? Why?

2. When were other quiet times in Jesus' life? Why do you think God allowed those times to be so quiet?

3. When have you seen God work through a quiet or even boring time in your life to strengthen you in Him?

Today's Bible Readings: Isaiah 14-16    Ephesians 3

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