I have to admit that I am constantly astonished by how amazing God's love is for us. As I have been studying for Sunday's messages the last few weeks, I am drawn again and again to Jesus' patient answers to his disciples questions. In John 13 and 14 we have a series of questions posed by Peter, Thomas and Philip. Questions that they should have known the answers to after being with Jesus for better than three years. Jesus' answers and explanations to these questions is a demonstration of the love and compassion that he has for us.
Let's face it, during this period of time, Jesus was under a growing amount of stress. His time had come. He had already seen Judas leave to go and betray him. He knew that shortly he would be tried, tortured, convicted and finally executed. He would, in moments, be in the Garden agonizing over the next few hours. Yet under this growing stress he pauses to comfort his disciples and answer and explain things to them once again. I know that this may not seem like a great expression of God's love but stop and consider your own reaction under such stressful situations. When you are under an incredibly heavy load and the stress and pressure is on, how do you respond when someone asks you a question to which they should already know the answer? (Let alone three people in a row). Parents snap. Bosses snap. Spouses snap. But Jesus didn't. Consider that no one has ever faced the stress that was building for Jesus. It's not just that he was about to give his life, which is stressful enough. He is about to take on the wrath of God for the sins of the world- "for He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us" (1 Cor. 5:21). Under that intense pressure Jesus persevers. He comforts his disciples, explains things to them one more time because he loves them.
The cross is the ultimate expressiion of Christ's love for us, and it is something for which you and I are eternally greatful, but let me challenge you: As you read the Gospels, note the number of times that Jesus exhibits patience with his disciples and rejoice that that same patience is still available to you and me. After all, the biblical definition of love beings- "Love is patient. . .(1 Cor.13:4).That kind of love is something that Jesus demonstrated with his disciples and does with us today.
Gather and Go
Pastor Dale