The Face of Courage

When you think of courage, who do you think of? Tell us a story!

Myself, I think of Mark 10:32-34.

Brooklyn Museum - With Passover Approaching, Jesus Goes Up to Jerusalem - James Tissot - overall
Let me set the scene: Jesus is walking down the road, heading for Jerusalem. Some way behind him come his followers, boggling at what’s happening in front of them. And behind his followers, a crowd, uneasy, anxious and fearful. They can tell there’s something going on, but they don’t know what.

Jesus does know what’s going on. He knows that when he gets to Jerusalem he will be betrayed, and the people will “mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip and kill him.”

But he’s going to Jerusalem all the same. His purpose is firm, he’s set his course, and he won’t be deflected. Every step he takes is bringing him closer to unearned pain, suffering and death, and he knows it. But on he goes, and the people follow, fearful and amazed.