The phone call with bad news. The discovery of indiscretion. The revealing of a lie. The sudden accident. The vote that goes the other way. The response of “No.” So quickly we realize the fragility of life. It’s amazing how fast life can change, isn’t it? My guess is that all of us have experienced this. So did Jesus.
When you think of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, what comes to mind? For Maundy Thursday, we typically think of Jesus’ last supper with the disciples, which included him washing their feet. For Good Friday, we think of his crucifixion. Those are the main events of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, so it is normal that those events come to mind when we think of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
But a whole lot more happened on those days. For the last few months, we’ve studied John chapters 13-17, learning what Jesus said to his disciples and what he prayed to God on that Maundy Thursday evening. Now the teaching has concluded, and the prayer is done. What happens next is not the crucifixion on Good Friday. Instead in John chapter 18, we learn that numerous other important events occur.
These other events are all very difficult for Jesus. These dark events involve and affect his relationships, his body, his reputation, and his fate, changing the course of his life in a matter of hours. Jesus, of course, is prepared. He is not blindsided as we are. But he still faced the reality of a shattered world.
How about you? Know the feeling? Even if you’re dealing with pain in ways far less significant than what Jesus experienced, you know the feeling of overwhelm, of depression, of brokenness.
Join us next week on the blog as guest blogger Emerald Scaffe guides us through John 18 where we learn from Jesus about living during difficult times.
Photo by Alec Douglas on Unsplash
Engaging Scripture 