And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of man.” —Mark 8:31-33 NKJV

I have a vivid memory of the afternoon I came home to find an ambulance sitting in our driveway, lights flashing. Being in their elder years, I always expected an ambulance in Mama and Daddy’s driveway, not in mine. My first thought was “Wait! Ralph and Josh are down in the woods cutting trees!” My next thought was that no one was around; they must still be in the woods. Oh no, someone must be hurt too badly to get home. Hearing nothing but silence, I thought, “This must be, really, really bad!!” Then, the panic set in.

As I flew out of the car, one of the EMTs came bounding out the front door with the assurance that everything was okay. There had been a little accident, but no need to panic. Too late! I raced right past the EMT, hyperventilating as I went.

My husband, Ralph, thought he had only nicked his sneaker. With our son Josh’s help, he hobbled home, but when he checked it out and saw what had really happened, Josh called 911. Thankfully, other than needing some stitches in a toe now slightly shorter than before, Ralph was fine. I, on the other hand, could have used some O2, a nitro, and a sedative on the spot! I was so focused on the “Oh no!” and the “What if?” that the good news sailed right on by me.

This was just what the disciples experienced. Their beloved Friend and precious Rabbi, the One they’d spent almost the entirety of the past three years with—eating, sleeping, serving, and doing life—had just told them the bad news … first. He was going to be horribly treated and killed.

Then He followed it up with the good news, “I’m going to rise again in three days!” The disciples totally missed that part of the story. They just could not get past the “tortured” and “dead” part. Peter had finally found the Friend of all friends, and he wasn’t having any of that negative talk. He pulled Jesus aside and corrected Him.

Isn’t that just like most of us? What’s the first thing we tend to say when someone tells us they are going to die? “Oh, don’t say that! Think positive. You’re going to get better. Have you tried …? Have you tried taking …? Have you tried such and such doctor?” We don’t want to lose anyone we love. Nor do we want them to suffer. We feel grief-stricken and helpless. So, we offer a wide range of suggestions. It’s almost as though giving some options to try makes us feel like we’re doing something. Doing something makes us feel better about the bad news, or able to eliminate it altogether.

I recently said goodbye to a dear, dear friend, who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. She took the bad news and turned it into good news, “I’m going Home!” From the moment of her diagnosis until she stepped into her Savior’s arms, her life motto became, “I want to finish well and finish strong.” The doctors gave her six months, but our Great Physician gave her several more years of eternally impactful earthly opportunities. She absolutely finished well and strong.

Of all the “bad news” we could ever receive in life, the most crucial bad news is that we are sinners. We have totally missed the mark of God’s expectation. We are separated from Him and destined for Hell for all eternity. But the good news is that God loved us so much that He sent His only Son to take every single one of our sins and nailed them to His cross. Because of that, our broken relationship with our Father can be mended. Then He rose again on the third day, and because of that, we too can rise to eternal life with Him. The only way for us to enjoy the Good News of forgiveness, restoration, and eternal life is to embrace the bad news—agree with God about our condition, repent from our sins, be quick to accept His gift, and then set ourselves to living a life of obedience to His will. When we do that, we will live like my friend did. We will finish well and finish strong.

Father, thank You for the bad news that becomes good news in Christ. As I live for You, let my life motto be like my friend’s: “I want to finish well and finish strong.”
I love You, Lord!

In Him,
Donna Perkins

Sweet Selah Ministries

Vision
To inspire a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth of God’s Word that stillness and knowing
Him matter most—and will be reflected in more effective work and service

Mission
To offer biblical resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)

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