Slow of Heart

And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:25-26)
           
There are only a few things that are necessary for basic survival in life food, water, shelter, air, clothing, and sleep. If you asked many today their phones and laptops would also make that list. Other people might say a tv is necessary to survive and if they did not own one, they would not know what to do. Others might say they could not survive without being able to listen to their favorite music. We all have our own lists of what is necessary but for Jesus what was necessary for him to enter his glory included something unbearable.

Jesus poses the question “was it not necessary?”  Jesus the son of God who brought people back from the dead asks if it was necessary for him to die so that he can enter glory. The question seems a little perplexing it does not seem necessary since Jesus has all power and authority under heaven and on earth could command heaven’s armies to defend him but instead, humbly accepts the cross and suffers for all of us. Although we might not find it necessary for Jesus it was necessary because of how much he loved us. It was necessary to pay the ultimate sacrifice.

On disappointing days when we feel like we are losing it can be hard to understand what is happening in our lives. We can become angry or worried, distressed or disappointed, and incredibly frustrated in the circumstances of our lives that it becomes hard to understand what is God doing during our hard times? Even in tragic times God is working in our midst we might not understand it, but he is in control.
 
Heavenly Father, help us to trust in your plans and timing.
 
Walking with you,
Stacy Watkins