“Please, Dad? Can I go with you?”As a child, I idolized my dad. An active kid, I was always on the go. If my dad was running an errand, I would forever tag along. My hand in Dad’s, I was a happy camper.
So I have an inkling of the disciples’ disappointment as Christ turned to them and said, “Where I am going, you cannot come” (John 13:33).
It was in the upper room, where they met and broke bread together. The way Jesus was talking, the disciples must have known they were on the cusp of something big. Then He drops the bombshell: “But you can’t come.”
Their questions aren’t recorded, but I’m sure some echoed through the disciples’ minds.
While they’re still processing what sounds like His abandonment, He speaks of something new—a new command.
“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another” (John 13:34).
“As I have loved you…”
How has He loved them? As a servant. He has just washed their feet…and now they must love as He does.
In the next few hours, it became clear to them—this kind of loving would cost.
In hindsight, we see why they couldn’t tag along. Christ Himself agonizes under the weight of His sacrifice; it would be crushing to mere man.
Jesus reassures Peter, though: “You will follow later.”
Later, the Comforter comes. After Jesus puts Himself between God and man and bears the weight of our fall, He clothes us in His righteousness. He leaves a “Counselor to be with [us] forever” (John 14:16). So we can follow.
We can tread the costly road of suffering and servanthood because in the midst of the pain, through the bumps in the road and in the heart of the fire, He dwells in us. We are more than conquerors, the bush that is not consumed.
Remember Moses’s bush? It was in the desert, so this was not a mighty oak tree; instead, it was scrub. Likely a thorn bush, a physical manifestation of the fall—thorns and thistles. God dwells there. In the midst of the fire, we cannot be consumed.
We are not abandoned.
We can follow.
“He lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:17).
We are not alone.
Joining Laura, Jen, and Michelle with words from the heart.
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5 comments:
Mmm... Yes. More than conquerers indeed. Grateful for your wise words in this space.
Yes, the bush is not consumed. Good reminder, Laura Lee! I've not thought of that and we must remember that we will not be consumed by the trial we are facing either.
I love how you said, now, because of what Christ has done, we can follow. What a blessing.
Thanks for stopping by New Life Steward!
Mary Beth
So often when we hear NO, or no you can't come or wait, we don't understand and it is only in hindsight do we learn the full lesson. Good words here today, Laura
and this following? a CHOICE. daily. great post, laura
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