Holy Week – A Time to Reflect
During this week, as we anticipate the celebration of the work Jesus did for us on the cross and His resurrection, I’m struck by a few things:
1. The disciples eagerly followed Jesus from the beginning when he invited them to, “Come, follow me.”
2. But when Jesus went to the cross and died, the disciples returned to their previous way of life. They went fishing.
3. Not until they saw Jesus risen, did they fully believe and understand all He had said and the promises He had given to them.
What was life like for the disciples between the crucifixion and the resurrection? Did the blackness that temporarily covered the earth when Jesus died remain in their hearts? Did they plan just to continue fishing? What did they think about all that happened up to that point and the promises Jesus had given them?
As I think about these questions, I think about events in my own life. At times I’ve eagerly followed the Lord, thankful for His presence all His promises to me. Other times, I’ve felt as if He’s not there. Has He disappeared? Did He go away? During those dark times, I’m reminded to hold on to His promises. What He said He will do will come to pass. The things I don’t understand don’t equate to His unfaithfulness but to the fact that He’s God and I’m not.
Where are you today? Do you feel like the disciples, lost and alone, as if everything you had hoped in is gone and you’re not sure anything you thought is true? Are you in the time following the resurrection, tempted to go back to the old ways and struggling to believe that anything will change?
Hold on my friends, Jesus will have the final say. All is not lost. The resurrection is coming. He is faithful and will fulfill all His promises, in His way and not ours. May we all have a revelation of the risen Lord this season.
David
March 30, 2021Good thoughts dear friend. When we don’t “see” things happening (as we think they should), we have a tendency to “revert” to our comfort place. For the disciples, it was fishing. For us it may be different. However, JESUS is still on the Throne and is busy setting things in motion (circumstances) that allows us to be in a position to understand a little more fully, HIS purposes and plans for our lives. JESUS IS FAITHFUL and HE IS RESSURECTED and HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE. even through the “darkness” of our challenges. Ever since that day, we have had to “do life” in the in-between. Difficult and challenging at times, uncertainty creeps into our minds, as it probably did with the disciples, our response is still to walk in obedience to what is written….. The Message puts it this way in Matthew 28:18-20; ” Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”
Joy Beless
March 30, 2021So powerful – the blog and the image. Thank you for sharing!