Every Easter I ask God to reveal to me something new about the crucifixion story. (I do the same at Christmas too.) The reason I ask this of God is that the biblical story of Easter and Christmas is one we know and the risk with that is becoming overfamiliar with it which is very dangerous. Overfamiliarity has the potential to dilute the significance of these celebrations and in turn the importance of the foundation of our faith.
On Good Friday last week I found myself awake in the darkest hours of the night and I wondered if it was about this time that Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane with several of his disciples. During the night the disciples fell asleep instead of spending the final hours of Jesus’s freedom with Jesus, cheering him on and praying with him. God allowed them (maybe caused them) to be silenced through falling asleep. But why? Perhaps God wanted Jesus to draw close to Him without the distraction of the disciples, to cry out in his human vulnerability crying out “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42 NIV).
Just like for Jesus in Gethsemane, there are times in our lives when God allows (and maybe causes) people to be silenced. Perhaps it is a person or people we lean on or go to for wisdom and guidance ahead of seeking God. They are suddenly unavailable in our moment of need.
I have certainly had these moments. The world suddenly crashing down around me and all I long for is a word of encouragement or reassurance from a close friend, but they’re away or otherwise unavailable in that moment. Then I find myself turning to God almost as a second choice because the first choice was not available. For that I find myself asking for forgiveness that for some reason I thought God was not the one I needed to run to first.
I wonder if God wants to use the story of the disciples falling asleep as a reminder for us to seek God first and that sometimes He will cause people to be silenced if we need encouragement in doing that. Do you struggle in seeking God first ahead of friends/family/Google/support groups? If so, you are not alone. I encourage you to ask God to reveal to you why you struggle with this and what you can do to change it.
What beauty there is in wounds of the story of Easter.
On Good Friday last week I found myself awake in the darkest hours of the night and I wondered if it was about this time that Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane with several of his disciples. During the night the disciples fell asleep instead of spending the final hours of Jesus’s freedom with Jesus, cheering him on and praying with him. God allowed them (maybe caused them) to be silenced through falling asleep. But why? Perhaps God wanted Jesus to draw close to Him without the distraction of the disciples, to cry out in his human vulnerability crying out “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42 NIV).
Just like for Jesus in Gethsemane, there are times in our lives when God allows (and maybe causes) people to be silenced. Perhaps it is a person or people we lean on or go to for wisdom and guidance ahead of seeking God. They are suddenly unavailable in our moment of need.
I have certainly had these moments. The world suddenly crashing down around me and all I long for is a word of encouragement or reassurance from a close friend, but they’re away or otherwise unavailable in that moment. Then I find myself turning to God almost as a second choice because the first choice was not available. For that I find myself asking for forgiveness that for some reason I thought God was not the one I needed to run to first.
I wonder if God wants to use the story of the disciples falling asleep as a reminder for us to seek God first and that sometimes He will cause people to be silenced if we need encouragement in doing that. Do you struggle in seeking God first ahead of friends/family/Google/support groups? If so, you are not alone. I encourage you to ask God to reveal to you why you struggle with this and what you can do to change it.
What beauty there is in wounds of the story of Easter.