No apologies!

Mark 3:7-12

⁷ Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. ⁸ When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. ⁹ Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. ¹⁰ For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. ¹¹ Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” ¹² But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.

I am always amazed that the evil spirits knew who Jesus was. They cried out, “you are the Son of God” (see v11), yet the chief priests, the teachers of the law (see Mark 3:22), his disciples (see Mark 8:27-30), even His own family didn’t understand (see Mark 3:21).

It was only until Jesus had died that someone finally understood and believed he was “the Son of God” (see Mark 15:39). That person was a Roman Centurion, of all people.

I am suddenly filled with a sense of conviction – and some sadness. My Lord and my God – Jesus – only had evil spirits and a foreigner too very late in the game acknowledged Him, even after God the Father had said so clearly declared, “You are my Son.” Truly, He was a “man of sorrows and aquatinted with grief” (see Isaiah 53:3).

What about me? Do I acknowledge Jesus to the world around me, without hesitation and without apology, with resolute conviction, that He is the Son of God?

Lord, forgive me for not standing up for you immediately, unapologetically, and boldly declaring every chance I get that you are the Son of God. You’re so worthy, Jesus – of the highest praise.

Amen

Written by B van Noppen