Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.” Proverbs 16:20 NIV
Jesus’ final day as a free man. His last chance to instruct His disciples on what they needed to know, to do, and how to make life work.
Jesus knew His time with His disciples was limited. Note, His time left was His focus, not what happens when His time ran out.
As a cancer survivor who statistically is not supposed to be here, I can tell you, when you think the end is near, it’s easy to forget about others and focus on yourself.
Yet, Jesus utilized every teachable moment. He instructed His disciples to prepare for the Passover celebration. Even though He could have argued He was facing a personal crisis, He still obeyed God’s command to celebrate the Passover. (Luke 22:7-13)
He also seized this opportunity to instruct them through example on how to serve others: that no task is too low or too insignificant. (John 13:2-7)
He foretold several key events that would be important to the disciples. At the time of instruction, His words may not have made sense, but they gave them much to sift through the rest of the disciple’s lives.
When the disciples recalled Jesus’ final actions as a free man, they would remember Jesus leading them in hymns (worship) and of Jesus going to Gethsemane to pray. (Matthew 26:30)
What a legacy Jesus left for His disciples, and for us!
Jesus’ faith that life was not all about Him, His wants, His desires, but about God’s will gave Him the courage to follow God’s instructions. Even when knowingly facing death, Jesus trusted God to help Him accomplish what needed done before He was taken.
And God met every need.
Even in the Garden of Gethsemane when the disciples fell asleep and failed at comforting Jesus and failed at keeping watch and praying – God provided His comfort to fortify Jesus to calmly handle Judas’ betrayal, His own arrest, and the disciples’ desertion.
And God never left Him.
Jesus relied on God to fulfill His promises, and God did. God gave Jesus the trust, the faith, and everything thing He needed to fulfill His calling.
We might wonder about our callings. Sometimes, they just feel too big. It’s hard to imagine fulfilling it. Did I hear correctly? Did I understand correctly? Maybe it’s just all in my head!
God can do the very same for us: supply the faith, the trust, and every need we have in order to do what He has called. We only need to ask.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Please help me to trust the way Jesus trusted: without exception. Please help me not to look with fear at the size of mountain you’ve called me to climb and conquer, but to trust You will provide every step of the way. Thank You for Jesus’ sacrifice and for His example. In Jesus’ name, Amen.