It's Almost Time

It's almost time!  Easter is just around 

the corner!  But, before we sing of His resurrection, before we glory in the Conqueror’s might, let's take a minute 

to walk with His disciples during 

those dark days of uncertainty.  

I’d like to walk with those men and women because I believe that we all have days of uncertainty.  We all have days when we wonder what tomorrow will bring.  We all wonder, at some time or another, if tomorrow will even come, don’t we?

Can you imagine the disappointment? 

Can you feel the aching pain?

Their leader is dead.  

Their hope was in vain.

Those hopes seemed to vanish, eclipsed by the roar 

of the thunder within, and the words “nevermore.”

Their plans for tomorrow were lost in the storm 

of the evil before them, 

in the winds of despair.

They questioned, “God, why, and God how could it be

that Jesus, our Savior, is no longer there?”

As we walk with the people who walked with our Lord, 

we can feel in our hearts the despair they endured.

On the other side of the cross, on the other side of the empty tomb, we can only scarcely imagine what they might have felt.  We can’t really walk in their shoes because now we know the rest of the story.  They told us! And in their words we  find our solid hope.  

I, for one, wish His friends hadn’t been required to walk that path,  But I’m so grateful that they were finally able to touch the scars and hear His voice, and know that He was truly alive after all.

May you live in hope as you consider the joy that was just around the corner for those disciples.

From my heart, Diane

 

Peter said Never

Jesus was talking to His friends after the Passover dinner as they were walking to the Mount of Olives.  And Jesus told them, 

“This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

Then Peter said, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

Jesus told him, “This very night, before the rooster crows,you will disown me three times.” Matthew 26:31

Peter said “never,” but yet, Peter did.

Peter boasts of strength, and yet Peter fled.

We promise, we boast, 

and we swear, but instead.

We run from the task.

 Our weakness is fed. 

Before we look askance at Peter, let’s look in the mirror.  We may see a picture of the many times we’ve neglected to stand up for our Savior.   Peter really thought he would be strong enough to stand by Jesus’ side facing the might of the leaders and the government, but he wasn’t.  I wonder if I am strong enough.  I suppose it’s a question we all must ask, and when we do, we also must understand that Jesus understands us. 

Did He disown Peter?  Did He hurl down wrath on Peter and the other disciples who ran away?  If we continue to read about what happened later, it helps us to see how Jesus reacts when we let Him down.  He continues to search for us and show up in our lives.  

What did Peter see in Jesus’ face?  Maybe a look of sadness, even disappointment, or pain – but I believe those looks at Peter, and at all His followers always contained love.  And I believe He still looks upon His children, His friends, His followers with love as well, even when we fail Him. 

Jesus said never, 

and He never will 

forsake His own children. 

He loves them all still.

He promised His strength.  He offers His might,

when His children face evil – the Devil’s delight.

Jesus is strong enough to love and to save.

He overcame death, 

and He rose from the grave.

There’s no need to fear.  

Jesus rose from the grave!

Hallelujah, Amen, 

Jesus rose from the grave!

• 
  

It Wasn't Taken. His Life was Given

Matthew 26:47-56

Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 

And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.

Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and He will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?” At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.

The night that Satan thought he had me,

the night he planned his victory,

the night his servant Judas kissed me –
would end my walk to Calvary.

The rough arms came, reached out,
and seized me.

My dear friend drew his sword to fight.

“Put back your sword,” I had to tell him. 

“It has to be this way tonight.”

“Oh, don't you think I could withstand them

without your help if I did try?

Oh, don't you know that heaven’s angels

would be at hand with just a cry?”

And then I asked of those who seized me,

“Why did you come with clubs and swords,

while every day
I sat among you, teaching in the temple courts?”

“And on those days did you arrest me?

No, now you come in evening’s hour,

for Satan's way is always darkness

and you by hating, give him power.”

“So lead me on that way to Calvary.

We'll take the road together now.

I'll walk along, no need to drag me

for I won't use my heavenly power.”

“Oh, I could call on heaven’s angels if I wanted to be free.

It must be now, as God has planned it,

so there’s no need to shackle me.”

He gave His life.

It was NOT taken from Him.

Pain in the Garden

They walked in the garden together.  Supper was over and the night they would never forget was closing in.  

They were all tired and needed some sleep, but one of them still had a burden that could not be put to rest.  The Teacher looked in the faces of his friends and then asked them to stay where they were and wait, while He walked on ahead.  

He needed to be alone now.  Little did the others know just how alone their Teacher would be before that night was over.  But just now He must be alone in prayer with His Father.  He asked his friends to pray as they were waiting for his return - not just wait - but wait and pray.

Do you think they wondered why?

But as He walked alone, upon the path ahead, 

they settled down, relaxed a bit,

and slept, while his heart bled. 

"My father" Jesus cried "please take this cup away, 

because I know the weight, the debt, the price,
this night I'll pay.

And my Father, God, you know the pain I cannot hide.

Although it’s in Your will, I ever must abide." 

After a while He rose and went back to the disciples.  They were asleep.

"Couldn't you watch and pray one hour?

 Didn't your flesh have that bit of power?

Please watch and pray" again He said, 

as He walked a little way ahead.

 In grief, He fell before the King.

He wept – his heart was shattering.

He prayed, and He sweat with drops like blood.

He prayed to the ever-living God. 

But He said, 

"Not my will be done, but thine."

 And his friends slept on in his darkest time.   

They missed so much!  They had no idea what our Savior suffered for them. They didn't see his struggles.  They did not hear his plea.  How could they know?  

If we ignore this part of the story we will miss much as well.  We won’t see what Jesus, God's Son, suffered for us during those hours in the garden.  There was more suffering ahead, but in these scriptures we see Jesus’ humanity, and in that humanity we see his love and pain so vividly.

If we read Matthew 26:36 - 46 or Mark 14:32 – 41 we will respond with gratitude as well as sadness.

Thank you, Jesus.  Oh, Thank you!