The Jesus Way

Jesus knew the resurrection was coming.

He allowed His disciples to suffer, grieve, and come to the end of themselves.

He would reveal His Glory in His perfect timing.

On these days before we celebrate Christ’s resurrection, my thoughts turn to those die-hard followers of Jesus and the gut-wrenching emotional suffering that overtook them after the torturous death of the Lord.

They’d given up everything to follow Him. Even though He’d spoken to them about His upcoming suffering, death, and resurrection – their hearts and minds didn’t quite grasp the reality of what He had said.

The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again. (Luke 24:7 NIV)

Allow yourself to step into this passage of scripture. For three -worse than terrible days, the eleven surviving apostles along with other faithful followers of Jesus grappled with what His death meant to them personally. It seemed impossible for them to reconcile the reality of His brutal death by crucifixion, with their expectations of the joy He had promised.

And all the while, Jesus knew the resurrection was before them. He held them in their suffering and the hopelessness that filled their spirits. He knew the Glory that awaited them.

Stepping into scripture . . . helps to bring it to life personally right here, right now.

This world is full of tribulation and suffering. Just as Jesus spoke those words to His friends 2000 years ago about what was ahead, He has told us. . .

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. (John 16:33 NLT)

He knows how difficult life is. He allows us to grieve and suffer, holding us in our suffering and the heaviness we feel in our spirits. And, by His Grace He helps us to hang on – if even by a scraggly thread – until He reveals His Glory at the precise moment He chooses.

Life now may be brutal, but an Explosion of Joy awaits!

Enjoy the good times. Celebrate friends, family, and fun times. And on the days when life is a challenge, stay strong and keep tethered to Jesus. Unlike those early disciples, We KNOW that one day – in God’s perfect timing His Glory will be revealed and everything will be ok.

In the meantime, take comfort in the reality of scripture.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  (2 Corinthians 4:16,17 NIV)