There comes a time in our lives when everyone must flee.
There are some things that we have to do that only involve us and God- No one else. There comes a time.
Yesterday, Resurrection Sunday, our Pastor taught from Matthew 26:51-56. This passage focuses on the betrayal and arrest of Jesus Christ. It is the scene when Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss. The scene when they laid hands on Jesus and took Him. The scene when Peter, disobediently, cut off the ear of one of them that were arresting Jesus. And in the same scene, after all was said and done: all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
“Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.”
– Matthew 26:56b
There comes a time in our walk with Christ when we must walk with Him alone.
Everyone must flee so that we are able to carry our cross with Christ. Our cross.
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, ‘If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”
– Matthew 16:24-25
There comes a time when all we’ll have is Christ so that we are able to experience His power and presence in a way like no other.
I’m reminded:
“When my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.”
– Paslm 27:10
We gain intimacy with Christ, that nothing in this world can compare to, when others forsake us.
The cross of Christ, only He could bare. What’s phenomenal is that at the sight of Christ’s cross, the disciples fled. Just the sight. The disciples were those closest to Jesus. He poured into them; He taught them. The same disciples who personally observed Him perform miracle after miracle. And after all that, they forsook Him and fled.
Why?
Fear, weakness, doubt, worry? I can’t say exactly, but I do know it’s all spiritual. It had to happen the way it did, and the same goes for us- it has to be like this. It’s all spiritual. As I grow in Christ, I’m learning to take things less personal.
There comes a time.
God could have chosen any way to save us. There is nothing impossible with God so He could have chosen an instant, automatic, easy way. But He chose not.
The way He chose to do it was nothing but easy. It was agonizing, it was suffering, it caused Christ sorrow (Matthew 26:38). It cost Him His life.
But He did it.
“He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, ‘O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.”
– Matthew 26:42
Only Christ could drink His cup. No one else. No one else could possess the strength, the humility, the submission to fulfill the mission that was His. The same goes for us. We have a cup that only we can drink. A purpose and a mission that is especially for us. No one else.
I appreciate the scriptures for allowing us to see how Christ called out to the Father:
“And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, ‘O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”
– Matthew 26:39
We have to learn to cry out to Him and express our feelings & desires, but at the end of it all: Thy will be done.
We have to learn to trust Him more than we trust ourselves (Proverbs 3:5). We have to believe that He knows what’s best for us. We have to remind ourselves that He works all things for our good (Romans 8:28). We have to learn to submit to His sovereign will and His sovereign plan for our lives.
As we do, we’ll be able to face the giants in our own lives. Unavoidably, there will come a time when we all must be able to say: Not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Read Are you stressing & worrying? Ask God For What You Need.
