If some said, "The son of the king is coming this afternoon," I suppose I would expect someone well-dressed, self-assured and maybe a bit snobbish; someone who has had it easy and is used to getting his own way. Someone that can wiggle out of unpleasantness because of his power, connections and wealth.
So it is no wonder that Jesus is pretty confusing at first. Here is someone who left "it all", to come to Earth at a time when sanitation was limited, travel was hard and dusty, and illness, war and strife were the daily fare. And he did not come to play among the Roman resorts of the day or hobnob with the rich and famous, who had in fact tried very hard to kill him as an infant.
No, He hung out with the sick, the sinful and the outcasts almost exclusively. And more amazing, He actually submitted to a horrid, humiliating public death at the hands of the infidels, the invaders from Rome. We know this because God saw fit to share this struggle with us in Matthew 26:36-46 which tells of Jesus time in the Garden of Gethsemane.
This teaches us two amazing and truths for our lives:
Firstly, Jesus wrestled with God, asked that a way other than the cross be found to save His people from being lost in the mighty mess we have made of everything. So, wrestling with God cannot be sin since Jesus (who knew no sin) did it. Yeah! Speaking ALL my heart to God is not wrong. It is a comforting precedent to comfort and guide me when I am working my way to fully embracing God's Will.
Secondly, Jesus gives us an example of how that can work: (1) Pray. Pray a lot. Pray with honesty. Pray fervently. Pray with our whole heart. Keep praying. (2) Accept what is and our role in it -- with the help of the Spirit of God. (3) Turn our hearts, our will, our all, over to God. (4) Thank God for the trust, strength, wisdom, guidance and resources God provides--as we step out in faith.
Almighty God, my ability to understand You is very limited, but Your ability and willingness to love me wholly is unlimited. You explore my heart, supply all my needs, recondition me so that I may live the life You intended when You made me. Your Love never fails me. AMEN
So it is no wonder that Jesus is pretty confusing at first. Here is someone who left "it all", to come to Earth at a time when sanitation was limited, travel was hard and dusty, and illness, war and strife were the daily fare. And he did not come to play among the Roman resorts of the day or hobnob with the rich and famous, who had in fact tried very hard to kill him as an infant.
No, He hung out with the sick, the sinful and the outcasts almost exclusively. And more amazing, He actually submitted to a horrid, humiliating public death at the hands of the infidels, the invaders from Rome. We know this because God saw fit to share this struggle with us in Matthew 26:36-46 which tells of Jesus time in the Garden of Gethsemane.
This teaches us two amazing and truths for our lives:
Firstly, Jesus wrestled with God, asked that a way other than the cross be found to save His people from being lost in the mighty mess we have made of everything. So, wrestling with God cannot be sin since Jesus (who knew no sin) did it. Yeah! Speaking ALL my heart to God is not wrong. It is a comforting precedent to comfort and guide me when I am working my way to fully embracing God's Will.
Secondly, Jesus gives us an example of how that can work: (1) Pray. Pray a lot. Pray with honesty. Pray fervently. Pray with our whole heart. Keep praying. (2) Accept what is and our role in it -- with the help of the Spirit of God. (3) Turn our hearts, our will, our all, over to God. (4) Thank God for the trust, strength, wisdom, guidance and resources God provides--as we step out in faith.
Almighty God, my ability to understand You is very limited, but Your ability and willingness to love me wholly is unlimited. You explore my heart, supply all my needs, recondition me so that I may live the life You intended when You made me. Your Love never fails me. AMEN
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