I Thought…
I’m currently writing Good Friday and Easter messages for our church this weekend and I’ve been trying to put myself into the shoes of some of the people who were there, with Jesus, as I read the text.
I’ve come to the conclusion that many of those people, whether they knew Jesus and believed in Him or not, were thrown for a loop!
Each and every one of them: the disciples, Mother Mary, Longinus the Centurion, Simon of Cyrene, and the thief on the cross, to name a few, must’ve had “I thought” moments. I thought this was gonna end differently! I thought, based on the Palm Sunday reception, they liked Jesus! I thought our cause was winning! I thought we’d overthrow the Roman empire. I thought he’d be here forever.
Each of these people, just like you and I, dealt with confusion and unmet expectations. Many of them lost a friend in the worst way. Things got dark quick!
What’s going on? they must’ve asked.
What a gift it is to read scripture today and have the benefit of hindsight. We know that Friday was just the beginning of the story. It was, of course, the fulfillment of prophecy, and the end of sin’s free reign in human hearts. But it was also the beginning of the end of separation from God. Good Friday’s noise and blood and pain made Easter possible.
And Easter – Jesus’ going to the grave and walking right back out, finished death’s sting too! What a gift!
It all made me think about those times in my own life when how I think God should step in and step up to handle a situation doesn’t play out. Or how I imagine an outcome doesn’t come near how it unfolds. It can be discouraging for sure.
But again, hindsight is 20/20.
After living in Zambia for 2 1/2 years we came back to the states for a season of reset and training, and prepared to go back to Zambia to re-plant again in 2018. Our 2014-2016 stint hadn’t ended the way I thought, and we had some unfinished business! The revised plan was to start a school for rural bush pastors to have opportunities for ongoing education and support, but, as you probably guessed, that is not how things turned out.
There was a season of frustration and confusion. There were times when I whined to God. I thought you led me back here! I thought we were friends…what a baby I was being!
But then we started to gather some of the Lost Boys of Isubilo in Chifubu.
Unexpectedly, the Young Lions Running Team was born. Then Covid hit and no one was in school so we had a captive audience. We did so much daily life together! We mentored and discipled and even unveiled our Apolo mission and leadership course. We became a family with those original 14 young lions, and then that family became a force. Soon after, that force planted our upside-down Roar Church in Chifubu, which still stands to this day, and is a beacon of joy!
I wouldn’t trade any part of the journey, and I’m beyond grateful for the way things turned out. I’m glad that God sees the bigger picture – that he can see further and higher than me, and that His way really is better.
Looking back over all the times of questions and confusion, and ‘…but I thought’ moments, I can see His gentle guiding hand. I can feel His kindness. I know His Presence and His love!
My prayer for all of you this Easter weekend is that you will revel in the work he did on the cross to save you. And just like the cross looked like an end to all the people present, Jesus had other plans. It was part of THE plan! Same with your life. He’s not done with you, yet! Just rest in the fact that to him, you and I were worth it all. All the pain and suffering. All the grief and lonliness. And let gratitude rise…
And speaking of rising, since Easter is THE miracle day of miracle days, and a celebration of the greatest victory of all the victories, remember…
You can trust Him. He’s got this. He’s got you!
Happy Easter Lions!
from all of us at Orchard.