When the Mission Doesn’t Make Sense | Mark 9:30-32

The Daily Devotional by Vince Miller

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

Today's shout-out goes to Timothy Munz from Denton, TX. Thank you for your partnership with us through Project23, which is helping people understand the mission of Jesus more clearly. This one’s for you.

Our text today is Mark 9:30-32:

They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he 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. — Mark 9:30-32

Jesus is trying to prepare his disciples—but they still don’t get it.

He pulls them aside privately. No crowds. No miracles. No interruptions. Just teaching. Just truth. And what he says is blunt and startling: “The Son of Man will be delivered. He will be killed. And three days later—he will rise.”

This isn’t the first time he’s said it. But they still can’t comprehend it. We can because we know what's coming. But they can't because this mission doesn’t meet their expectations. They’re expecting power, not surrender. Victory, not sacrifice. A throne, not a cross. And so, even though Jesus speaks clearly—they don’t ask questions. They’re afraid.

Sometimes, the truth is so uncomfortable we’d rather stay confused than confront it.

We all want a Jesus who fits our plan. A Savior who always makes sense. But Jesus often disrupts our assumptions. He speaks the truth, and we don’t understand it. He leads us into sacrifice, and we fear it. He calls us to death—so he can lead us into life.

So don’t let your confusion keep you from asking questions. But especially, don’t let fear keep you from drawing close to him and his mission.

Jesus isn’t afraid of your questions—he welcomes them. Even when he has to repeat the answers. He wants you to know him, even when his mission feels confusing. He knows it won’t always make sense. And he may not reveal every detail the way you’d like. But that’s not a reason to draw back—it’s a reason to lean in. Push through the confusion. Ask. Trust. Stay close. Because even when you don’t understand the plan, you can trust the One who made it.

#FollowEvenWhenHard, #TrustThePlan, #Project23

ASK THIS:

1. What truth about Jesus do you struggle to understand or accept?
2. Where are you tempted to stay silent because you're afraid to ask?
3. How might Jesus be calling you to trust when the plan doesn’t make sense?
4. What would it look like to follow Jesus even into hard places?

DO THIS:

Bring your questions to Jesus today. Ask what you’ve been afraid to ask—and trust his heart even if he delays the answer.

PRAY THIS:

Jesus, I don’t always understand your plan—but I want to trust your heart. Help me follow, even when I feel afraid. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

“Trust in You”