John 16:
29-33
When the
days were approaching for Jesus to be crucified, He tried to prepare His disciples.
He told them He had come from the Father and He would be returning to Him.
The
disciples were glad that He was speaking to them clearly. They thought they
understood. They said they believed that He had come from God.
“Jesus
answered them, ‘Do you now believe? Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now
come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone.’”
And that is
what happened. They saw the miracles. They heard the words of life
spoken by the Life giver himself, and yet, when the world came looking for Him,
they ran. Even Peter denied the Lord he
knew and professed.
The road
ahead was uncertain. All their hopes and dreams had been snatched up, and doubt
flooded in. Who was this Jesus? And what will happen now? They were in danger.
They knew it, and they were afraid.
We too say
we believe. The question is: what would
we do differently?
We might be
at church on Sunday, but when the storms come and world turns away from God
or against us, will we scatter and leave Jesus alone?
In spite of
the fact that they were God’s chosen, the disciples in their trial, did not
know what we already know. They had not yet witnessed the resurrection. They
had not yet been given the Holy Spirit. They were in the dark and did not
understand.
We, however,
know the end of the story. Christ overcame the world, and so can we.
As we enter
the season of Lent and reflect on Christ’s journey to the cross, we need to
keep the end in mind.
Though the
path grows dark and the world turns ugly, just over the hill, beyond the cross
is the resurrection. Hold tightly to God. Take time to prepare to face trials and tribulation, your eyes focused on
Him. Don't be afraid. Walk as children of the resurrection and rejoice.
“These
things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you
have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
