As parents of small children, we all understand that they are not fully formed in their rational thinking or skilled in their subsequent behaviors. Toddlers spill things. They make messes of all kinds. They are a mess. We expect it. They tear down, tear up and take things apart. They throw temper tantrums when they don’t get their way. They love greatly but can turn on a dime when you say no or tell them they cannot do something right now. Yes, these little ones take on the world with a confidence, if you are nearby, that assures them they can do anything.
But then they take a fall, cry mournfully until you pick them up, dust them off, bandage their wounds while consoling, forgiving, and loving them back to health. Toddlers make messes in the learning processes of life. We know that. They do not.
Jesus tells his disciples who have followed Him through good times and bad, that they are about to fall apart, run away, and make a mess because of what is about to happen to Him. They try to grasp what He is saying but their spiritual thinking is still being formed. Their confidence in “what is unseen” will be tested beyond what they can handle in the moment. Jesus’ warning just cannot be fully grasped. But Jesus knows that. Jesus loves them beyond our wildest thinking no matter what.
Jesus will still love them when they fall apart, run for cover, hide out for a while. Bold, impetuous Peter will even deny he knew Him. But because of this deep abiding love, Jesus will still lay down His life for theirs—and ours, taking on all the sins of the world then and now. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8-10) Meditate on that thought for a moment.
I am weeping at the thought. I have read this passage many times—today I marvel at our Savior’s love before, during and through all my messes and falling apart as a result. Jesus knows when I will fall apart when life is hard and challenging—before I know it. Yes, Jesus knows. I do not. And Jesus knows just what I need when I need it most. And Jesus loves me, still. Wow.
Matthew 26, The Message
Gethsemane
31-32 Then Jesus told them, “Before the night’s over, you’re going to fall to pieces because of what happens to me. There is a Scripture that says,
I’ll strike the shepherd;
dazed and confused, the sheep will be scattered.
But after I am raised up, I, your Shepherd, will go ahead of you, leading the way to Galilee.”
33 Peter broke in, “Even if everyone else falls to pieces on account of you, I won’t.”
34 “Don’t be so sure,” Jesus said. “This very night, before the rooster crows up the dawn, you will deny me three times.”
35 Peter protested, “Even if I had to die with you, I would never deny you.” All the others said the same thing.
36-38 Then Jesus went with them to a garden called Gethsemane and told his disciples, “Stay here while I go over there and pray.” Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he plunged into an agonizing sorrow. Then he said, “This sorrow is crushing my life out. Stay here and keep vigil with me.”
39 Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, “My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?”
40-41 When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, “Can’t you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don’t wander into temptation without even knowing you’re in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there’s another part that’s as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire.”
42 He then left them a second time. Again he prayed, “My Father, if there is no other way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I’m ready. Do it your way.”
43-44 When he came back, he again found them sound asleep. They simply couldn’t keep their eyes open. This time he let them sleep on, and went back a third time to pray, going over the same ground one last time.
45-46 When he came back the next time, he said, “Are you going to sleep on and make a night of it? My time is up, the Son of Man is about to be handed over to the hands of sinners. Get up! Let’s get going! My betrayer is here.”
WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?
Embrace the mess and allow God to turn the mess into a message of His love, mercy, and grace.
The scripture said it would happen this way, Jesus said it would happen. But they could not comprehend for they were not fully formed or filled with His Holy Spirit to help them. Their confidence was in the one standing right in front of them. Confidence turned to fear when Jesus was taken away.
The agonizing sorrow of our Lord overwhelmed Him so He prayed to His Father. “Your will—Your way”, Jesus prayed. This sorrow could have been the thought of His Father turning his face from Him as Jesus took on all the sins of the world upon Himself. God cannot and will not be where sin is. Jesus, part of the Trinity of God, knows that. More on this later…
We agonize over what we cannot handle until we place it at the feet of Jesus who understands exactly what we are going through, what messes need cleaning up, with what lessons we will learn in the process. Jesus knows just what we need and delivers us at just the right time and place—all for His glory!
We make messes. We fall apart. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”—but His love for us never changes. Because of God’s great love for us, He forgives us our sins, and the messes sin leaves behind, completely, when we come to Jesus, our Advocate, Savior and Lord, and ask for forgiveness with a sincere heart.
God’s Word also says, our sins are forgotten—as if they never happened! Wait, what!? Yes! So, stop asking Him to forgive you for the same thing over and over. Praise Him in gratitude! It is finished, done, forgiven, once and for all! “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more …” Isaiah 43:25. And … “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12
So, let us turn our messes into His message of redemption so others will know they can be saved, too! Paul explains it best—
“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:31-39, NLT, Emphasis mine}
Oh Lord,
What a message of love you have given us today—again! Over and over, you help us grow and mature through all the failures, missteps in judgement, that cause messes that need to be cleaned up in all kinds of ways. So, cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls with your new mercies fresh each day, and restore the joy and peace of your continual salvation work in us. We cry out for your wisdom, insight and understanding. But even if or when we do not understand fully, we thank you for loving us through it all—no matter what!
In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen!
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 