This morning in my devotional reading from Our Daily Bread
was a portion of the passage from John 13 from the Last Supper, the night
before Jesus’ crucifixion. It got me
thinking about Jesus’ last “free” night on earth. He knew exactly what was to come. He faced the horror of the upcoming betrayal,
pain and Cross.
Have you ever had a time in your life when it was the eve of
something tragic and beyond agonizing for you?
The night before a funeral of a beloved one? The night before a divorce? The night before surgery? The night before some incredible loss that
you knew was coming? It is almost
unbearable… you cannot find breath, your body is wracked with heartbreak, dread
and mind-numbing disbelief. You are
unable to allow the grief to touch the root of your soul for fear it will take
your own life right then and there. Perhaps you even wish it would end your life as a means of escape.
How much more must Jesus have felt as His future loomed before Him? To face not only the horrific upcoming
torture of His body but the separation from His Father, to Whom He was in constant union since before time began? To face that
severance of blessed communion with His beloved Father, to have the Father turn
His back on Jesus? Is it any wonder
that, in prayer in the Garden
of Gethsemane, He
And yet, in the midst of all this foreknowledge, in John
14:1 He is able to tell His disciples (and us) “Let not your heart be troubled…”
Perhaps you are also facing a dark night of the soul. If not now, I am sure you have in the past
and can easily go back there in mind, body and soul – these are not nights we
ever forget… ever. May I ask you to
momentarily remember that Jesus has been there and knows what you are going
through or have experienced? This is not
a Savior Who sits high in some lofty throne in the heavens unaware and
untouched by your tragedy and grief. He
has walked in your shoes… and so much more. He has been crucified, buried, and experienced Hell. By choice… for us… in our place... for our redemption.
Your life will never be the same after what you have faced
or are about to go through soon. But
take heart in the fact that, when we have Christ as our Savior and Lord, we
have One who ensures that your eternal life has also been transformed forver. You will never have to face the torment of being separated from the Father. Because
Christ chose us by electing His painful path that night so many centuries ago,
we can allow ourselves – in Him – to not let our hearts be troubled. Right now you may not be able to wrap
yourself around that eternal truth, but know beyond feelings… know the truth of
the fact… that in Him your heart may rest.
And in time there will be the glory of a resurrected day for you in the
here and now on earth, as well as the unspeakable joy and
victory of forever with Christ, never to be separated, never to feel pain, but
only the sweet victory of salvation through the One Who rose from the grave and
conquered death… on our behalf. He chose
you and gladly went through everything because of His love for you. YOU.
As you turn off the light tonight and lie in darkness remember His dark night of the soul, and look beyond – as He did – to a time
when there will be no more pain or sorrow… only the peace that will come in His
arms… opened wide before time began, opened wide as He hung on the cross…
opened wide now with love for you.
Accept this comfort… accept Him… and let not your heart be
troubled. Believe in Him.
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