When you consider more deeply the moments the disciples have had with Jesus, the miracles they’ve experienced, the questions they’ve asked, the miles they’ve traveled, this moment is more profound. All these people have seen the power of Jesus firsthand, and now he’s gone. What now?
If you are feeling something you don’t think anyone could possibly understand, Jesus understands it. He understands our sorrow, our temptations, our needs and desires. He has lived it, and he died for those things, too.
Jesus just wants our belief, our heart. He just wants us to see him, acknowledge him, and ask to be let into the kingdom. That’s it. For Easter this year, let’s uncomplicate the process. Just be with Jesus, just let him know you believe. And rest in the fact that we will for sure be with him paradise.
It’s hard to imagine giving up your life for someone, but in this torturous and humiliating way, it’s even harder. Why would Jesus do this for us?
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
That’s the reason: love.
There are so many reasons in our lives to fight against God’s plans; they can be painful and hard, they can be boring or take forever, but they are aways good. Jesus recognized this, and even though, humanly, he didn’t want it, he knew it was for the greater good of all of us.
There are numerous reasons why Peter wants nothing to do with Jesus during this dark time. And there is always a litany of reasons for us to reject Jesus on a daily basis.
