Today I was walking up on the mountain, not far from where we spread John’s ashes yesterday. Also yesterday was a beautiful service for him at our church. We cried a lot, we laughed a lot, we rejoiced a lot. And we ate a lot. He would have loved it. But today, with the family gone and the house empty, I was feeling the reality that he is gone from my life on this earth forever. Gone. No more drives, no more camping, no more smiles, no more teasing, no more sweet companionship, no more long talks. No more security in his nurturing and care. He took such good care of me. We had so much fun together. He was my life, my joy, my sun.
So I cried as I walked and began to sing, “Go rest upon that mountain. Son, your job on earth is done. Go to Heaven a shouten’, look at the Father and the Son.” (by Vince Gill.)
I cried to God, with tears running down my face, “But his job wasn’t done here on earth. He needs to take care of me.”
“Oh my child,” I heard God say in my mind, “I will take care of you. I will sustain you.”
This verse came to my mind, “Cast your burdens upon the Lord and He will sustain you. He will take care of you. He will not let the godly slip and fall.” Ps. 55:22 (NIV, NLT)
I stood still and soaked in God’s love for a moment. Birds sang around me. A vista of ridges, trees, the valley and snow capped mountains spread at my feet. God’s presence enveloped me and I was filled with sweet peace.
“I will trust You, Lord,” I prayed, “I will trust you to sustain me, to take care of me, to nurture me, to hold me up, to support me. Jesus you are in me. You are with me. You are for me. You will guide me, you will provide, you will use me for your glory, you will bless me.
He already is blessing me with the love of family, the support of friends, the help and advice with finances from John’s family. He always comes through. I can trust Him because He is trustworthy.
“God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to Him for protection.
He arms me with strength. He makes my way PERFECT.
He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights” Psalm 18:30, 32-33
“Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” John 20:15
There was a rumble deep in the earth. The ground shook mightily. With loud cracks, huge rocks split open. People gathered on Golgotha were knocked off their feet as rocks rolled and earth crumbled.
In the tombs, graves broke open and many Godly people who had died were raised to life. They walked about, even into town, and after Jesus’ resurrection appeared to many people. (from Math. 27:52)
The centurion and guards near the cross saw the great earthquake and graves being opened and they said, “Surely this is the Son of God!” A miracle had been demanded and a miracle they received. The mighty hand of God, shaking the earth, tearing the curtain in the sanctuary and raising people from the dead. But still many did not believe.
Near the cross a group of people huddled on the ground, where they had fallen when the shaking began. Mary Magdalene rose to a sitting position. She looked up at the battered figure on the cross. The body of her beloved Teacher and Lord was limp, his head hanging slack. On the ground beside her, lay the mother of Jesus, her heart wrenching sobs and cries the only sounds that were heard. On her other side Mary, the aunt of Jesus and Salome were just sitting up.
Mary raised her tear-stained face to gaze at her Son on the cross. “He is gone!” She wailed. “It is over. It was all for naught. The years hiding in Egypt, the hours of learning in the temple, the preaching, the miracles, the suffering, all for nothing.” Her voice could barely be heard as her words carried the grief of a mother’s heart. “He healed hundreds, He saved others, why in the name of our God didn’t He save Himself?” She fell to the ground as her keening cries rose in the still evening air.
Mary Magdalene put her arms around the sobbing woman and pulled her close. “He also raised Lazareth from the dead. We can not forget that. It is not finished!”
The other women crowded around Mary to comfort and console her. They shielded her eyes when the soldiers came to break the legs of the crucified criminals so they would die before the Sabbath began. Jesus was dead however, so they rammed a spear in his side and blood and water poured out.
The woman who had followed Jesus watched as a rich man from Arimathea, Joseph, by name, took the body down, along with Nicodemus. Wrapping Him in linen cloth and spice, they laid Him in a nearby tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus sat nearby and watched as the men rolled a heavy stone across the opening.
The crowds had gone home shaking their heads. The disciples apparently had fled and were hiding. John took the mother of Jesus home and the other women ministered to her since her heart was torn in two.
All night and all the next day, despair settled on them like a cloak, heavy and dark. Visions of Jesus’ suffering played back in Mary Magdalene’s mind over and over. This was not what they expected. Jesus their Teacher was the Messiah, or God with us, but wasn’t He supposed to reign as conquering King for Israel? Wouldn’t He deliver them from their bondage and lead them to be a great nation? Wasn’t He God? And yet He let them lead Him to slaughter like a lamb. He never said a word. He did nothing to save Himself!
Mary had expected something great. Many angels coming from Heaven to take Jesus from the cross. Or even after He was dead and lying on the ground, she had expected life to come back into His battered body. She thought He would have risen again and walked with them. As He said.
Was He really the Son of God? Was He truly the Messiah? Mary had been so sure. After all He had fed thousands of folks on a few fish and two loaves. Hundreds had been healed from grave sicknesses. He had even brought a few back from the dead. How could things have gone so wrong? Mary had not expected this. Not this darkness. Not this horror. Not evil and death. No not this.
I so often think God will work a certain way. When darkness comes, when suffering comes, when death comes, I am knocked to my knees. I don’t expect it. A mighty God would not work that way. Would He? Would He allow His very own Son to die a horrible, violent death?
Well, yes He would! Yes He did. To save my soul, to save your soul, He did.
Would a loving God allow suffering and trials in our lives? Oh yes He does! To save souls. To test us. To draw us closer to Him. To train us for battle. To develop our faith muscles. So others will see His glory shining in us. So a cloud of witnesses will see our faith in Him. Oh yes, you bet, He does.
The religious leaders were not satisfied with Jesus being only dead. To keep Him in the grave, they secured the tomb by putting a seal on the huge stone at the entrance then posted guards to stand next to it. Why were they afraid of a dead man?
The day after the Sabbath, Sunday, in the predawn stillness, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of Jesus and Salome, the wife of Zebedee, walked to the tomb with spices to anoint Jesus’ body.
“How will we roll that big stone away?” Mary Magdalene whispered. The others just shook their heads.
Coming in sight of the tomb they stopped. Would the guards let them near. An eerie stillness filled the air. Not a sound was heard, nothing stirred in the gray dawn. Then a Morning Dove called. All else in the garden was silent. The women waited, holding their breath. Expectancy hung in the air like the morning mist amongst the lilies.
What is it? Mary Magdalene thought, What is about to happen?
A rumble started deep in the earth, like a low growl. It grew until it was a roar. Mary looked at her companions, their eyes were wide in fear. Like the hour when Jesus died, the ground began to shake. Violently the earth shook, the trees swayed, rocks rolled from the cliffs near by, the women fell to the ground.
With mouths open, Mary and the others watched as a glowing white figure descended from Heaven and landed in front of the tomb. An angel! Who appeared like lightening, so bright Mary couldn’t look at him, and his clothes were whiter than anything she had ever seen.
The angel took hold of the stone and with a grating sound rolled it away from the tomb. Then he sat on it. The two guards who had been standing like statues, fell to the ground in a dead faint.
Mary and her companions stayed on their knees and bowed their heads.
“Don’t be afraid,” the angel said in ringing tones, “I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, He has risen! Just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him. Now I have told you.”
Mary slowly rose from the ground and crept up to the tomb’s entrance. She peeked inside. In the dim light she could see nothing. Stepping in farther she saw a white cloth laying on the low stone bench, a scarf folded at the head, and nothing else. No body of her Lord.
With a gasp she turned from the tomb, ready to tell the others that Jesus’ body was gone, but they had left. Shocked and confused, Mary sat on a stone near by and wept bitterly. She had been strong to this point, but the disappearance of her Beloved’s body was too much.
Mary and Salome hurried excitedly to tell the descilples what the angel had said. Suddenly in front of them stood a man. They stopped.
Mary gasped. “Jesus!” .
“Rejoice!” Jesus said, with a smile. “I am alive!”
“My Son!” Mary ran to Him along with Salome and falling on the ground before Him, they held His feet and praised Him.
“Do not be afraid,” He told them, “Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee and there they will see Me.”
Mary Magdalene was sitting near the tomb and weeping when John ran up and bending over looked inside. Then Peter stormed into the tomb and John followed. After a few moments they both came out and walked quickly away talking excitedly to each other.
Mary wondered what they saw there, maybe she had missed something so, she walked to the tomb. Bending over she peered into the dark cave. Her eyes were blinded by a great light and she saw two angels sitting there. One at the head and one at the feet of where the body of Jesus had lain.
“Woman,” one angel said, “why are you weeping?”
“Because they have taken away my Lord and I don’t know where they have put Him.” Stricken by grief and shock, Mary could not grasp what she had heard from the first angel.
With head bowed and tears running down her face she turned from the tomb. A man stood before her with the rising sun glowing behind him.
“Woman why are you weeping? Who is it you are seeking?” He asked.
Shielding her eyes from the bright sun, and thinking it was the gardener, Mary pleaded, “Sir if you have carried Him away, please tell me where you have put Him and I will get Him.”
Unable to take her pain any longer, Jesus said, “Mary.”
That one word was enough. He called her name and she knew Him.
“Teacher!” she cried. She rushed to Him and wrapped her arms around Him. She clung to Him as if she would never let Him go.
Jesus pried her arms from Him and gently wiped the tears from her face. “Mary,” He said softly, “don’t you know you must not hold on to Me? I must go soon to my Father in Heaven. But what I said before is true. My Father is your Father, My God is your God. If you love Me and keep My word, My Father will love you. And We will come to you and make Our home with you always. Go tell my brethren this.” (from John 14:23-24)
Mary missed the joy because her focus was on her circumstance. Jesus was close to her and she didn’t know Him. Maybe while she sat in the garden weeping, He was standing near by. Her eyes were downcast and she never saw Him. She didn’t know He was alive.
“Just turn to Me.” He might have whispered. “Only open your eyes and look upon My face. I am here with you.”
Are you missing the joy?
Is Jesus calling your name today? Is He standing near by waiting for you to look at Him, to run to Him, to grab hold of Him?
Jesus went into the grave beaten. That first Easter morning He burst forth from the grave Victorious!
It was not all for nothing! His life, His work, His death was for a purpose. When all seemed lost, God’s plan went forward. Even sealed boulders and armed guards could not keep Him in the grave. It was NOT finished! The sacrifice was done, the price paid, but Life had just begun.
No matter what grief, no matter what pain, no matter what burdens you have, Jesus gives you Victory. Victory over darkness, victory over despair, victory over sin. Death is turned to life in our lives. Life that will go on forever and ever.
Darkness lifts, the Light is come! Life bursts forth from the grave! Justice is satisfied! Jesus is near by! All I can do is praise Him!
“A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” Mathew 14:19-20
Note: I have paraphrased and dramatized “The Crucifixion” and “The Risen” which are based mostly on Mathew 27:45-66, Mark 16:1 (for which women went to the tomb) Mathew 28:1-10, John 20:1-17 and also from The Story which combines all four gospels.
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” Rev. 5:12
The day the Lamb of the world died, the noon sun became as dark as night. God’s Son cried out “My God, My God why have you abandoned me?”
It was a long road up to the hill called Place of the Skull. Jesus already had suffered much physical abuse. No longer able to go on, He fell with the heavy cross beam on His back and lay still.
A bystander, Simon from Cyrene, who had just entered the city from the country and had no idea what was going on, was forced by soldiers to carry the condemned Man’s cross.
What a welcome to the city! Crowds of people; some weeping, some running and some yelling insults to this condemned man who looked nearly dead. Simon must have been afraid. What if this man died on the way, would they nail him to the cross instead? Yet, Simon bent to lift the heavy beam off the beaten and bloodied back. It was then Simon gazed into the eyes of Jesus.
He was startled at what he saw there. Instead of the cold, rebellious eyes of a criminal, or the sorrowful, dead eyes of a beaten man, he saw gentle eyes, loving eyes, bright eyes full of compassion and understanding. Simon didn’t realize he was looking into the face of his Savior, but that one gaze changed his life forever. He was never the same again, but how could you be after an encounter with the Living God.
It’s hard to imagine the pain Jesus endured. Whipped almost to the point of death, hit, kicked and with blood running down his face from the long thorns imbedded in His head, He was laid on the wooden cross and nails were driven through the palms of his hands. Then a large nail was pounded through both his feet together and into the wood. The pain must have been unbearable, yet He suffered in silence.
Once the cross was pulled upright and slammed into the hole, His body weight hanging on His arms caused the air to be cut off. Automatically His legs pushed up to hold the weight on His nailed feet. The pain that screamed through his shoulders and arms was excruciating. His back already beat into hamburger ground against the roughened timber. Blood ran in His eyes, pain shot up His legs from his pierced feet, yet He looked upon the soldiers gambling for His clothing and the people gathered around who were mocking Him. And He had compassion on them.
“Father forgive them!” He cried. The One flogged, the One spit upon, the One scoffed, the One unjustly accused, the One nailed cruelly to a torture device said, “forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Two criminals were crucified with Him, One on the left and one on the right. One of them mocked Jesus, saying “If you are truly the Messiah, the Son of God who You claim to be, prove it by saving Yourself and us too!”
But the other criminal rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even have fear of God when you are dying! Unlike you and me who deserve our punishment, this Man has done NOTHING wrong!” He got it! Looking at Jesus, he pleaded, “Lord Jesus, remember me when you come into Your Kingdom.”
Jesus met the gaze of the criminal with love in His eyes, “Today,” He replied, “you will be with Me in paradise.”
If you will but ask, there is nothing Jesus can not forgive. His love for you is beyond understanding.
As Jesus. hung in agony, the people, many of whom a couple of days before had sung praises to Him, now shouted abuse. The religious leaders mocked Him saying, “He saved others but He can not save Himself. So He is the king of Israel, is He? Let him come down from the cross right now and we will believe Him.” Even the Roman soldiers scoffed at Him.
This King of Kings, Almighty God, Prince of Peace, could have, indeed, called ten thousand Angels to set Him free. I’m sure mighty winged warriors were lined up in Heaven, anxiously awaiting the command to destroy those who dared trample the Son of the Living God. To annihilate those who dared to crucify the one true, perfect Lamb on a cruel cross. To wipe out forever those who spat upon and mocked their adored Prince.
One call from those cracked lips and the world and all its inhabitants would have been blown to bits. But this God-Man, Jesus, chose to die, alone, for you and me. Only Love will do that.
They hung Jesus on the cross at 9:00 in the morning. After hanging there for several hours, He managed to raise His weary head and looking through a red haze of sweat and blood saw His mother, her sister, Mary and Mary Magdalene, weeping near the foot of the cross. Tears ran down His mother’s upturned face and her eyes were full of sorrow and grief. Jesus knew there was one more task He needed to complete.
“Dear woman, Mother of Mine,” He cried weakly, but loud enough for them to hear, ” do not be afraid. John will be like a son to you and will look after you.” To the disciple standing beside her he said, “John, from now on, treat her like your mother.”
That’s His nature, to always care for those He loves. “Do not be afraid or discouraged. I will never leave you or forsake you.” He told Joshua long ago. “I am with you always even to the end of the age” He told His disciples just before He disappeared in the clouds.
No matter what we go through, no matter how desperate our situation, Jesus is always with us. Sometimes He delivers us from the trial and sometimes He walks beside us holding us up, helping us over the rough places.
At noon the sun became as dark as night. The wrath of God poured out upon His one and only sinless Son. Jesus who had endured silently to this point cried out, “My God, why have you forsaken Me?”
You see since before the beginning of time, the Father, His Son, and the Spirit had been one, together in perfect harmony always, through all things. Until now. Now they were ripped apart. For the Son had the sins of the world, all of them that you and me and everyone else who ever lived or ever will live, placed on Him. Jesus carried the sins of all man kind and His Father could not stand to be near Him, or even to look at Him.
For a moment in time and we don’t know how long, the Son was forsaken by His Father. Jesus, the perfect Son of God was completely alone in a darkness full of evil. This I believe is what killed Him. Death on the cross is very slow and comes as the victim suffocates when the legs become too weak to hold the body weight. Jesus died after only 6 hours and even Pilate was amazed He was dead so soon.
I think the grief and pain of His loving Father’s abandonment squeezed His heart until it shattered into a million pieces. Jesus, the Prince of Heaven, could not bear being ripped from His Father’s presence where He had been for all time. His human heart could not endure the despair of being plunged into utter darkness and buried beneath the unimaginable weight of the terrible evil of all man kind.
He cried out, “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.”
Then that compassionate, merciful, shattered heart ceased to beat.
At that moment, God’s wrath was satisfied. The earth shook violently. The sun turned black the day was a dark as night. Huge rocks split in two. People who had been dead for ages came out of the tombs and walked among the living.
The heavy curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn from top to bottom. Signifying that no longer is there a barrier between man and God. No longer does God burn with wrath for His crown creation because of their bent for evil. No longer is there an inner sanctuary where God dwells that only a priest may enter and plead forgiveness for God’s people.
For now the blood of Christ flows, free. A fountain flowing to wash away the sins of the all man kind. No longer does the presence of God dwell in a temple, but now He will enter into any open heart willing to accept Him.
Now you can fall on your knees at the foot of the cross and lift your tear-stained face to the Savior. Now you can ask forgiveness from the Lamb and His blood flowing from that stained cross will wash you clean.
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.” Romans 10:9-10 NLT
“But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from God’s wrath.” Romans 5:8-9 NLT
“Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh the joys of those who take refuge in Him!
Fear the Lord, you, His godly people, for those who fear (respect) Him will have all they need.
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who TRUST IN THE LORD WILL LACK NO GOOD THING.” Psalm 34:8-10 NLT
But wait a minute, you say! Have all I need? Lack no good thing? What about that pay check that I don’t get any more? What about my car that broke down? What about that beautiful house we lost? Why did God take my husband? I surely needed him!
Why does God allow sickness? Why does He wait to heal until our loved ones are in Heaven? Why doesn’t He answer our prayers?
Oh my friends, He does. He always hears and He always answers. In His time, in His will. His timing is always right, even if its not our timing. Remember, He is always more concerned about our souls than about our earthly comfort.
For you see, it can’t be perfect for us. Not yet. He can’t answer every prayer as we would want. As my granddaughter at 10 years old once said, “It would be too easy.” Yep! She had it right.
If life was easy street, where would we be? If we got every desire, every prayer, everything in life just as we wanted, where would we stand? Not near God, I’m pretty sure. Not hiding under His wings, close to His side, seeking His face every day, I can assure you.
We would be sailing out there somewhere, flying on waves of our own making. Going our own way, doing our own thing, thinking we are pretty special. That’s the way we are. We can be very independent when things are going smoothly.
A sunshiney day, smooth seas, a good stiff breeze and we set our sails, lean back with a big self-satisfied smile, and pilot our way through the day.
That’s why God has to send some rough waters, some high waves, or maybe a raging storm to reminds us we need Him. To grow our faith muscles. To teach us to rely ONLY on Him.
We can’t do life without Him. But we need reminding. We need knocked off our high horse now and then. We need a reason, some times a big reason, to seek His face, to hide in His shadow, to dwell in the secret place, near His side. To run to Him. To call out to Him. To give Him our burdens.
That my friends is why we should rejoice in trials and great troubles.
“Dear brothers and sisters when troubles of ANY kind come your way, CONSIDER it an opportunity for GREAT JOY. For you know that when your faith is tested, your ENDURANCE has a chance to grow.
So let it grow. For when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4
Only by working do our muscles get strong. Such is our faith. Only by testing and trials will it grow.
Darkness! Can you see it? Blackness! Black as coal, heavy, oppressive, no light, not even a pin prick of light, complete darkness, no sight. I can see darkness moving over the face of the earth. Darkness wrapping around the world like a cloak. Suffocating darkness, enslaving darkness capturing the hearts of men and women.
Evil can you see it creeping over the land? The earth shutters, the people cry. Sickness, disease, sin, violence, terror, pain, rage and oppression. We can see it coming. We fear, we run, we cry out. But where do we run and to whom do we cry out?
“But know this that in the last days perilous times will come, for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self control, brutal despiser of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying it’s power. And from such people TURN AWAY.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5
We are even fighting amongst ourselves. People of the same nation bickering and slashing each other. Government leaders turning against God and betraying our great country. Evil men infiltrating our shores and threatening our children.
“But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” 2 Tim. 3:13
The enemy is in our midst, deceiving and confusing our minds. He stalks amongst God’s children bringing depression and discouragement where there should be joy and peace. He’s attacking our marriages, ripping apart families and causing all hope to vanish. He is the master of deception and he deceives whom he can.
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill and to destroy.” John 10:10
Is there no light? Not even a glimmer?
A star shines in the night bright and glorious. Star of wonder! Star of Light!
Jesus bright and shining, Jesus loving and giving! Jesus who burst upon a dark world with the Light of the ages is still here. He is alive and ruling. Jesus the Healer is amongst us!
“I, (Jesus) have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly! I am the Good shepherd. The good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” John 10:10-11
Jesus is the Light! He is shinning for all to see! For all who will receive Him as their Savior and make Him Lord of their life.
No darkness, no evil can stomp out His light. Do not be deceived He will come with vengeance and He will stomp out the darkness! He will defeat evil!
“Now I saw heaven opened and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.” Rev. 19:11
Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the Light of life!” John 8:12
Choose the Light. Choose Jesus. Don’t let the thief steal your joy. Don’t let the evil one kill your peace. Don’t let the deceiver destroy your light.
Stand firm against the Devil. Lean on Jesus. Walk in the Light! Give Him your burdens instead of falling beneath the load. Don’t fight the battle by yourself. March in the power of the Commander of Heaven’s armies!
“He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen white and clean, followed Him on white horses.
Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword that with it He should strike the nations. He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron and He Himself treads the winepress of fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” Rev. 19:13-16
“Arise and Shine! Loved Ones, for your Light has come!
The Glory of the Lord has risen upon you! For behold the darkness shall cover the earth and deep darkness over the people, but the Lord will arise over you! His Glory will be seen UPON YOU!” Isaiah 60:1-2
Large crowds followed Jesus wherever He went. They crowded around Him, bringing those who were sick, lame, blind, deaf. He healed their sick, he taught them with many parables, He even raised a few from the dead. His day was very busy, so busy He could not take time to speak with His mother and brothers. His ministry was intense with people clamoring at Him every moment. It was hard for Him to breath, He could barely hear anyone speak, He could hardly think. In fact earlier in the day the people had crowded around Him so much that He got into a boat and taught with parables out on the lake, just to get some space.
By evening He was worn out. His head hurt from all the noise and demands, His throat hurt from talking loudly so the crowds could hear Him, His feet hurt from standing all day, His heart hurt from seeing so much suffering. And yet He could do only so much. He was human after all.
He’d, had enough, the sun was setting, His belly was growling, He could barely keep His eyes open. He was human after all.
So, He told His disciples to get into the boat and row to the other side of the lake. As soon as the boat moved away from the shore Jesus, seeing a chance to catch a nap, laid down in the stern of the boat with his head on a pillow. Immediately He fell into a deep sleep. No tossing and turning, no twilight land, no dozing. As soon as His head hit the pillow He was sawing logs. He was human after all.
They left the crowds behind but some even followed in boats. Did no one see the dark clouds building? Didn’t anyone feel the wind as it built up speed? Did no one feel the waves becoming higher and higher? Or was it a sudden storm that just burst upon them before they knew what hit them?
A fierce storm that suddenly came up. Waves rose and broke over the bow, wind howled, rain poured down. It was sudden, it raged, it threatened their lives. So fierce was it, the boat began to fill with water, soon to swamp. And Jesus slept away in the bottom of the tossing, wet boat. He was human after all.
The disciples furled the sails, fought the oars and bailed the water, but nothing seemed to help. They would go down, they would sink, they would drown in the raging sea. The disciples, as I would have done, panicked. They yelled at Jesus but He didn’t hear them. One of them, Peter perhaps, struggled in the windswept, pitching boat to the back, shook Jesus and yelled above the wind. “We’re going to drown Teacher! Don’t you care?”
Jesus opened his eyes, sat up groggily, shook His head and looked about to see why they woke Him. He saw the water in the boat, the waves crashing over the sides, the 12 men, mouths agape, staring at the waves with wide eyes.
“Silence!” He yelled, “BE STILL!” He would really like to get some more sleep. After all He was human.
Suddenly, just like that, the wind stopped. The waves stilled. There was dead silence. The setting sun shone on the glassy lake.
Now, the 12 pairs of wide eyes were pinned on Him instead of the waves. Their mouths hung open in terror but not for their lives.
Looking around, Jesus asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith.” Do you still not believe who I am? Do you still not understand that I am fully human, yet I am God? Do you not trust that I will not leave you or forsake you, but will be with you always?
I am so much like those disciples. I can’t say that I blame them really, after all it was a very fierce storm and it threatened their lives. I would not want to be dumped into a raging, cold sea. So they tried to do what ever they could do to save themselves. They fought the waves and wind. They rowed like crazy. They put all their strength into the oars. They did all they could do, as if Jesus, the Miracle Worker, wasn’t sleeping in the boat. It didn’t work. The waves were swamping the boat. So they panicked. After all they were only human.
Exactly what I would have done. When a storm comes up sudden and fierce, I always do everything I can possibly do, on my own first. As if Jesus isn’t sleeping in the boat.
I fight, I put all my strength into it, I fret and plan. When that doesn’t work, I panic. Then when all seems hopeless and there is no other way, I call out to Jesus.
No wonder He says, “Are you still afraid? Don’t you know who I am? Don’t you know I am fully God? Don’t you know I am in your boat? Do you still have no faith?”
You see because Jesus was fully human, He understands us. He knows what makes us tick. He knows what makes our hearts pound in fear. He knows what makes our knees weak. He knows how we get tired. He knows how our bodies hurt. He knows. And he understands. He sees our tears. In fact, He puts them in a bottle.
Yet He is fully God so He has the power to comfort, to guide, to give blessing, to bring peace. He is the Mighty Creator, the God of the Universe, the Miracle worker and the Way Maker.
He will never leave me or forsake me.
He is always in my boat waiting for me to call on Him.
I have a wise friend who told me once when I was recovering from knee surgery, “You are taking a really long sabbath. When it was me, I would sit and just enjoy every bird I saw, every smell I smelled, every sound of nature, all the cuteness of Sadie. I don’t know, I just rested.”
“So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. On the Seventh day God had finished His work of creation, so He rested from all His work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when He rested from all His work of creation.” Gen. 2:1-3 NLT
Have you ever thought about this? I mean did God need to rest after creating the world? He has no physical body. Does God get tired? I doubt it. I know He used this for a example for us to follow but what does it really mean when it says God rested?
In Psalm 132:8 The psalmist says, “Arise O Lord, and enter your resting place, along with the Ark, symbol of your power.”
And again in verse 14, God is speaking, “This is my resting place forever,” He said. I will live here, for this is the home I desired.”
This temple was not a place for God to come and sleep or relax but a dwelling place for God. It was the place that His Glory dwelled among men. So I think we could look at Genesis 2 the same way. After He created, God came to dwell on earth, He presided there. A garden became His place of rest, or abiding place. And He had sweet fellowship with man. Makes perfect sense.
Jesus says “Come to me all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear and the burden I give you is light.” Math. 11:28
If we think about this in the light of abiding in Him, it doesn’t mean we can go to Him and He will give us sleep, or relaxation, or rest from our labors. It means if we abide in Him, we will find a safe place to dwell. A place where we can be free from worry, because He is in the traces with us. He is pulling the load.
When He says “the burden I give you is light”, it does not mean I will not have troubles or tribulations or sorrows or grief. It means He is the One carrying the load. He is the One who works out my troubles. He is the One who carries me through the tribulations He allows into my life. I don’t need to worry and fret because He is the One who is at work in my life.
Nothing comes to me that He does not allow. And if He allows it, it is for my good. He may be working for my souls good, not my bodies good. He works all things for our good, whether our earthly good or our Heavenly good.
When I rest in Him, when I abide in Him, I have sweet fellowship with Him. IF I go to the garden, and IF I don’t hide from him, and IF I am not too busy trying to work things out on my own, He will walk with me and talk with me.
I can sit back, relax and enjoy every bird song.
I can breath in every wonderful woodsy scent.
I can feel every cool breeze on my face.
I can let the worry go, the exasperation, the impatience, the grumbling.
I can soak in every breath of God, every nugget learned, every touch of His hand.
I can relish every brush of His fingers on my cheeks, every whispered word, every smile on His lips.
I can sit in His presence and know Him.
I can abide in Him.
Excuse me, I think I might just go take a long sabbath.
“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety. He is my God and I trust Him.” Psalm 91:1-2
The night is inky black and the air hangs still. Jesus says to Peter, James and John in Gethsemane, “My heart is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
Jesus knows His hour has come, to suffer the pain and anguish of the cross. In His humaness, fear and anguish overwelm Him. He prays to His Father and pleads that this cup be taken from Him. Three times He prays this.
However, in the end He says, “My Father! If this cup can not be taken away unless I drink it, (if there is no other way) Your will be done.” (Math. 26:42)
Once He said this, with the Father’s help, He set His face like flint and was determined to do His Father’s will. (from Is. 50:7)
Then He turned to face His betrayers. The crowd who came for him with swords and clubs. And He asked them who they were searching for.
“Jesus the Nazarene,” they said.
“I AM HE”, Jesus said. And they all fell to the ground. (John 18:4-5)
Amazing! Just the name, I AM was enough to flatten the brave soldiers. Yet Jesus let them take Him.
Although this was not enough for Peter. Quickly he drew his sword and slashed off an ear of one of the soldiers. Ouch!
Jesus calmly told him to put his sword away.
Then Jesus said this, “Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us and He WOULD SEND THEM INSTANTLY?” (Math. 26:53)
12 legions of angels is what the greek says. One legion is 6,000, so 12 legions would be 72,000 angels, at least, at Jesus’ disposal.
One word to the Father and his attackers, the religous leaders, all those against Jesus, possilby the whole nation, maybe the whole world would have been TOAST.
The power and the rescources Jesus had at His disposal was beyond our understanding.
Jesus asked His Father to take the cup of suffering from Him, yet He wasn’t forced to walk that road to the cross.
He was not ordered to come to earth, it was not manditory that he die, it was not required of Him to give His life.
Yet, voluntarily He held out His hands so they could tie them. Willingly turned His face and let them slap His cheek. Meekly He stood and let them spit in his face. Submissively He turned His back so they could whip it to shreds.
He suffered mightily, He was crushed, He willingly laid on that cross, so you and me could live eternally with Him. Thank You Jesus!
For without His sacrifice, all of mankind would have been doomed to eternity, forever and ever in utter darkness where there is knashing of teeth and every kind of evil.
That’s why He did it. It was the Father’s plan, there was no other way, His Father asked, but Jesus willingly let them lead Him to slaughter only and foremost because He loves us. Every one of us.
Let that sink in.
“He could have called ten thousand angels to destroy the world and set Him free.
He could have called ten thousand angels but he died alone for you and me.” (Ten Thousand Angels by Billy Henderson and Steven Dale Jones)
“As the deer longs for the streams of water, so I long for you, O God.
I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before Him.” (ever feel this way, oh if I could only stand in the Glorious Presence of the living God!)
Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise Him again, my Savior and my God!
Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember You.
I hear the tumult of the raging seas as Your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
But each day the Lord pours His unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing His songs, praying to God who gives me life.
“Oh God, m rock, ” I cry, “why have You forgotten me? Why must I wonder around in grief opperessed by my enemies?”
Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”
Why am I discouraged? Why is m heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will prise Him again, my Savior and my God!
Declare me innocent, O God! Rescue me from these unjust liaras.
For You are God, my only safe haven.
Why have you tossed me side? Why must I wander around in grief oppressed by my enemies?
Send out Your LIGHT and Your TRUTH
Let them guide me.
Let them lead me to Your holy mountains, to the place where You live. (to God’s Glorious Presence)
There I will go to the altar of God, to God, the source of my JOY.
I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God!
Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again, my Savior and my God!” Psalm 42: 1-2, 5, 7-11 43:1-5
I don’t know who the author is of this Psalm, (a descendent of Korah, who actually was a temple worker, a very bad dude who led a revolt against Moses and God, and who ended up burried alive in the ground by God, Numbers 16) but he is in great distress. He longs for God’s presence, he wants only to go to Him and worship his God.
He is discouraged. He senses trouble coming upon him like the raging waves of the sea. Each day this trouble sweeps over him like a roaring tide.
Yet he says, “Each day the Lord pours His unfailing love upon me. And I will sing praises and pour out my heart to Him.”
He asks God, who is his only rock, “why have you tossed me aside, why have you forgotten me?”
Yet he cries out to God, “send me Your Light, give me Your truth, guide me, only, to You, oh God.
There I will worship You. There I will praise You, even though trouble washes over me. You alone are the source of my JOY.
Why am I discouraged,” he says over and over, “why is my heart so sad?
I will put my trust in My God.
And I will praise Him again and again.”
I know some of you face dire problems. I know there is much trouble, sickness, sadness, sorrow, and discouragement to over come in this world. But my friends, the key to victory over these things is trusting in our God at all times.
When its the hardest to trust that’s when we need to trust the most.
Running to Him first in all things, laying all our troubles and burdens at His feet. Every time.
Long for God. Worship your God through Praise and thanksgiving. Praising Him no matter what the circumstances, no matter how wrong it seems, no matter how burdened we are and thanking Him all the time gives us victory. Victory over all the dark places Satan would love for us to be.
Do I do this all the time? NO. I need lots of reminders. I need a psalmnist telling me that he had troubles aplenty, and was in dire straights, yet he longed for God, he needs God like a deer needs water.
Go to God first. Turn your eyes upon Him. Long for Him. Run to His side. Hide under His wings. Pour out your heart to Him. Tell Him all your worries and troubles. But most of all, Thank Him and Praise Him!
Prairie Wind 
