When understanding eludes us.

A study of Luke 18:31 34 on the Daily Bible refresh with Dr.

Brad Miller.

Hello good people.

Welcome to Daily Bible Refresh with Dr.

Brad Miller.

That's me.

So glad you joined me in my, my task, my goal, my quest to get the audible word of God into two millionaires, a million people by the year 2028.

We do that by a daily reading from the Revised Common Lectionary.

Year C is where we're at the Lenten season.

And we do that by this daily reading which is from the New Testament only and it's from the message version.

To make it a little bit more understandable, relatable, we give you some points to ponder, to think about and applicable and action step to follow in your life.

We do all that from our voiceofgoddaily.com website, the home of the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible study method with a prayer and do it all in under 10 minutes.

Let's have our reading for the day from the Gospel of Luke 18:31 34 Reading from the Message I want to see again.

Then Jesus took the 12 off to the side and said listen carefully, we're on our way up to Jerusalem.

Everything written in the prophets about the Son of Man will take place.

He will be handed over to the Romans, jeered at, ridiculed and spit on.

Then after giving him the third degree, they will kill him in three days he will rise alive.

But they didn't get it could make neither heads nor tails of what he was talking about.

A short and pointed passage of scripture for the day about this point which is so important about how when understanding eludes us.

It's really fascinating to think about the human nature of this.

The disciples struggle here to understand this radical idea which just turned their worldview upside down.

Even Jesus's closest followers couldn't get it.

They couldn't grasp the profound transformation that he was talking about here.

So let's talk about some points to ponder.

Number one is the beauty of not knowing.

The disciples confusion isn't a failure.

It's deeply relatable.

In progressive Christianity we embrace that doubt and uncertainty are natural parts of faith.

This text tells us that they could make neither heads nor tails of Jesus.

Words reminding us that it's okay to sit with mystery and gradually evolve into understanding.

Faith isn't about having all the answers.

It's about continuing the journey despite our doubts and questions.

Another point is about challenging power structures.

Jesus prediction about his confrontation with Roman authorities reflects a crucial truth speaking truth to power which often comes with consequences.

In our contemporary context, this reminds us that working for social justice, standing up for for marginalized people, and challenging oppressive systems might mean resistance.

Yet, like Jesus, we're called to persist in this work of transformation.

A third point is about death and resurrection as metaphor.

While traditional interpretations focus on the literal death and resurrection, progressive theology also sees these as powerful metaphors for transformation.

What we need to die in our communities and systems for a new life to emerge?

What old ways of thinking need to be released for justice and inclusion to rise?

Sometimes profound change feels like death before resurrection becomes visible.

Here's your action step.

Identify something that you're struggling with in your life to understand or accept in your faith journey.

Instead of pushing away the discomfort, create a space to sit with your discomfort.

It might mean journaling about it, or recording something about it, or discussing it with a friend or a small group, or just praying about it.

Not just praying about it, but to pray about it.

Remember that your questions and doubts aren't obstacles to faith.

They're a part of the journey towards a deeper understanding and and authentic spirituality.

We're going to come back and pray here just a moment, but let's talk about getting to a deeper understanding of the Bible and your own spirituality by going to the resource that we have for you.

I really want to invite you.

Go over to voiceofgoddaily.com and pick up our resource.

It's called the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Method.

It's going to help you go deeper in the Scriptures in your own study.

So pick it up.

ABC123 Bible Study voiceofgodaily.com let's pray.

Loving God, you are a mystery when we we come to you with our confusion, our questions and our doubts.

Thank you for meeting us in these spaces of uncertainty when we feel lost or unable to understand the changes happening around us or within us.

Help us remember that even Jesus closest friends struggle to comprehend these new ways of thinking.

So give us courage to sit with our questions rather than rushing to easy answers.

Guide us as we work for transformation in our world.

Even when we can't see clearly how things will unfold.

May we trust that new life can emerge from what appears to be death.

Whether in our personal growth, our communities, or our systems of justice.

Grant us patience with ourselves and others as we navigate the mysteries of faith and life.

Amen.

We're here to navigate the Scriptures with you here every day here in Daily Bible Refresh.

We hope that you'll join us again tomorrow.

We usually drop our episodes before 6am Eastern Time.

And we do so in such a way to make the Bible understandable, relatable and applicable.

And we have the goal of getting the audible word of God into two million ears, a million people, by 2028.

Help us do that.

Bring a friend.

Until then, My name is Dr.

Brad Miller.

Reminding you that God's loyal love doesn't run out.

His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new every sa.