He was innocent. He really was.

But after countless hours of media coverage, countless hours of scrutiny, ceaseless hours of prayer, he leaves his wife and two small children alone to begin serving his prison sentence. Family has been mostly supportive yet not uncontaminated by the relentless onslaught of the information-rich-truth-deprived age in which we live. Friends have both helped and tried to help. He has 10 but hours before he leaves. What would you say? What would you want to do in those last 600 minutes?
Reading John’s account about Jesus Christ last few hours before his ‘sentence’. Never one before or after more truly innocent. Absent from His story is the wife and two small children. Present in His story is knowing before Him is humiliation; pain; separation from His Father; and a grave. What would He say? What would He want to do in those last 600 minutes?
He spent time with His Father – in prayer. He prays for himself (John 17 1-5); He prays for His disciples (John 17 6-19); He prays for all believers (John 17 20-26).

Think about this. Armed evil “went backwards” and “fell to the ground” when confronted by unarmed Love. Numerically superior and armed with clubs, swords and whatever else they brought comes to confront inferior numbers with very little arms – and evil can’t even stay on it’s feet! Jesus simply spoke 3 Words.

What is it that God wants to be to me in my life – that this story by John about Jesus is telling me? Perhaps my story just needs to reflect better Christ IN me and I can rest that that impact is more than enough. More and more I learn of the awesome ways in which God reveals who He is. This one is a good one.

Grace and Peace

John 18

Published November 20, 2014

Topics: Clarity of Faith | Connecting the Dots