Most of us, if we’ve lived for any length of time, have at least one of those moments when everything changed forever. One day you were moving along, life was going along in it’s same-old, same-old way and we thought this is the way that out life would be. These things around us would be these certain ways, our plans would work pretty much the way we expected them to, and even if there were a few variations, our life was pretty much laid out before us.
Then there was a moment when it seems that someone took our life like a box of toys and dumped it all over the floor. Our plans were forever changed, maybe our hearts were broken and would never be completely healed again. It could be that time was when we discovered our spouse was cheating on us, maybe someone close to us was killed in a car accident, maybe we were fired from our job in a company lay-off. Whatever that moment was in our life, most of us have had that shared sensation of time suddenly being in slow-motion, like some kind of bad dream that our minds can’t fully process.
Today, I think that could be how many of the disciples were feeling. One minute they were with Jesus and they were full of fervent love and desire to spread the gospel, then in just a matter of hours their lives would be completely broken apart. All their devotion and passion for the ministry was shaken to the core. Most of them fled in terror and shame. I feel very sad thinking about that. Thinking about how Jesus was abandoned by most of his friends during his darkest hours. I want to think in righteous indignation, “How could they! I would have stayed! I would have stood up for him!”
But then I realize, no. I am the same.
I have fled from Christ and his persecutors for much less than a threat of death or beating. I have remained quiet when others around me made fun of Jesus and Christians. I have fallen asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane, I have denied him to the suspicious crowds, I have my share in his death on the cross.
I have had a moment in my life when the solid ground dropped out from under me. I have had a moment when all my “best laid plans” failed and my life ruptured because of choices I made.
Yet, even in those deepest, darkest hours there shone through the hope of Christ. The same Christ that I helped to crucify – the same friend that I have betrayed. He stood with me, and he stood with all the disciples during the darkness that was soon to overtake them. The disciples were caught off guard, but Christ wasn’t. Our view is from the ground and we only see what’s around us, but God sees the big picture and nothing surprises him. He set up the plan so that I could be forgiven for all the times that I have failed to stand by him. He set up the plan so that even when my view of things was clouded by darkness and tears, there was still a way that he could come to comfort and help me.
He says the same thing in the beginning,
“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I wil not leave you until I have done what I promised you. ” ~ Genesis 28:15
that he says in the end,
“I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” ~ Matthew 28:20
So, even though today I’m sad thinking about the ordeal that Christ is just beginning to suffer, I have been given a glimpse of the big picture and I know that he will emerge triumphant from this – I have been given hope.
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” II Corinthians 12:9
Have a wonderful Easter celebration!
Blessings to the family!
Tim