When I read the last chapters of Mark – and really this applies to all the ends of the Gospels – leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion I get this surreal feeling. There is such a flurry of events and conflict: Jesus is anointed at Bethany, Judas agrees to betray Jesus, Jesus sets up the Passover Feast and institutes the Lord’s Supper, He warns Peter that Peter will betray Him, the Garden, Arrest, the young man flees, the trial, Peter’s betrayal. Yet in all of it, Jesus is calm, together, and above all the emotion of the moment.
How did He do that?
Two reasons come to mind, and both of them are equally important. First, Jesus knew He had come into the world to be handed over to men, be crucified and rise. He had told the disciples about this before. This was the plan unfolding. In other words, Jesus did not enter these circumstances as you or I would have – completely unaware and befuddled by what was happening. He faced these moments knowing that this was what He had come to do in order to redeem us. So as Hebrews says, “For the joy set before Him He endured the cross and scorned it’s shame.” He knew that this was salvation for me and you and that here He would win us forgiveness so we would be able to be with Him forever. So all this turmoil was worth it for Him.
Second, Jesus knew this was His Father’s will. Now, that might not seem all that comforting up front, but no one knows that Father like the Son knows the Father. We are told in 1 John 4 that God is love. No one knew the Father’s character and love better than Jesus. He understood God’s love for us as broken and sinful children in need of redemption. He also knew the Father’s love for Him as his only begotten Son. He was so certain of the Father’s love that He could also be certain that the Father’s will was rooted in love and was good.
I wish we all had this kind of clarity. To know your purpose and to know the Father’s love would be a powerful foundation for one’s life. Thankfully both our purpose and the Father’s love have been revealed to us in Jesus. Sometimes it’s hard to trust God’s purpose and love when the world careens in ways that feel out of control, but we will someday see that how all the events of this world unfolded in such a way as to glorify God and accomplish His plan; even if it is hard/impossible to see right now.
All things work to the good of those who love God in Jesus, even when we feel like there is no way any good can come from it.
Sometimes life seems surreal. To navigate through it, we need the solid reality of knowing God has a purpose for us as His redeemed children – and eternal purpose to live as His Kingdom people – and He truly and deeply loves us and does all things for our good. Jesus shows us that, but he also gives us the purpose and love.
How did He do that?
Two reasons come to mind, and both of them are equally important. First, Jesus knew He had come into the world to be handed over to men, be crucified and rise. He had told the disciples about this before. This was the plan unfolding. In other words, Jesus did not enter these circumstances as you or I would have – completely unaware and befuddled by what was happening. He faced these moments knowing that this was what He had come to do in order to redeem us. So as Hebrews says, “For the joy set before Him He endured the cross and scorned it’s shame.” He knew that this was salvation for me and you and that here He would win us forgiveness so we would be able to be with Him forever. So all this turmoil was worth it for Him.
Second, Jesus knew this was His Father’s will. Now, that might not seem all that comforting up front, but no one knows that Father like the Son knows the Father. We are told in 1 John 4 that God is love. No one knew the Father’s character and love better than Jesus. He understood God’s love for us as broken and sinful children in need of redemption. He also knew the Father’s love for Him as his only begotten Son. He was so certain of the Father’s love that He could also be certain that the Father’s will was rooted in love and was good.
I wish we all had this kind of clarity. To know your purpose and to know the Father’s love would be a powerful foundation for one’s life. Thankfully both our purpose and the Father’s love have been revealed to us in Jesus. Sometimes it’s hard to trust God’s purpose and love when the world careens in ways that feel out of control, but we will someday see that how all the events of this world unfolded in such a way as to glorify God and accomplish His plan; even if it is hard/impossible to see right now.
All things work to the good of those who love God in Jesus, even when we feel like there is no way any good can come from it.
Sometimes life seems surreal. To navigate through it, we need the solid reality of knowing God has a purpose for us as His redeemed children – and eternal purpose to live as His Kingdom people – and He truly and deeply loves us and does all things for our good. Jesus shows us that, but he also gives us the purpose and love.
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