Preparing Our Hearts for Easter: Day 34

An article by Frank    No Comments

In the lead up to Easter we have been putting up a new lent devotion each week day. These devotions are also available in the discussions section of our Facebook page and have been played on New Zealand’s Rhema.

The death of Jesus represented a moment of confusion for the disciples and without the hindsight of the Resurrection; the time between these two events would have been confusing. They had seen the death and the defeat of the one they believed would liberate Israel. Peter bore this out more than any other in his denial of Jesus where he did his utmost to distance himself from any connection to his teacher, lying to do so.

Whilst not in the same circumstances, facing only the death of Jesus, we also live between two events – the Resurrection of Jesus and the future renewal and reconciliation of all things. We seemingly live distantly from each – the Resurrection of Jesus occurred over 2000 years ago and at the moment the world can see distant from any hope of complete transformation. This can be confusing and the whole thing can seem hopeless. Too often this sense of hopelessness and confusion overcomes people.

In the face of that, just as the disciples did in that time, we also have the promises of God and the words of Jesus explaining those seemingly hopeless times and the witness of his life. It is these things that the disciples needed to turn to in their time of confusion and it is to these things and the words of the prophets that Jesus turned the misguided thoughts of the disciples who were on the road to Emmaus in Luke chapter 24. All they needed was faith in what they had witnessed and heard, faith in the promises made.

We need the same. When life seems confusing and hopeless; when the Resurrection of Jesus feels too far in the past and the future restoration of all things feels too out of reach, those promises are where we must place our faith. We work unceasingly in our broken world not in a vain hope that maybe things are different and will be different, but in the assurance of what has already been declared. We live with faith in the big picture and the story of God.

Pray

Jesus – today we ask that you give us the gift of faith when things seem hopeless. When the world feels like it is pressing around us and we feel distance from you, give us a sense of renewed confidence in the promises you have made.

Amen