And That Was That!

They sealed Him in the grave

And that

Was that

And soldiers sent to guard

Stood back

To back

All through the second day

All Hope

Seemed black

Till on that Sunday morn

They heard

A crack

The tomb was opened wide

To show

The fact

That Jesus Christ was free

From death’s

Dark Pact

And Mary heard His voice

It echoed

Back

To tell the mighty news

And that

Was that!

Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. John 20:18

Easter Morning

All Things

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 ESV

To be entirely honest the disabling helplessness brought on by this Covid-19 crisis rubs me like an ill fitting pair of shoes. It is frustrating being cooped up at home with important questions like, “How can one tiny virus turn our world upside down?” and, “How the heck can you shop on line for bananas?” On top of everything else I also stupidly walked into a chair leg and hence now have a broken toe. This morning as I look out the window I realize that I can’t bring in the garbage can, can’t trim the small tree in our back yard or even water my flowers. If you are like me hearing that word; “Can’t – can’t – can’t” is like the annoying jingle of a television commercial. It isn’t that I couldn’t ask for my wife to wheel our trash can back in and water the garden; it is that right now I am dependent and I really need someone’s help.

That dependence is what Jesus was pressing for His disciples to understand as He prepared Himself for His own hour of helplessness. Less than 24 hour later His hands which had once cleansed the lepers, would be nailed to a piece of wood; His feet which had walked on waves would be unable to take a single step and His head that had been anointed with perfumed oil would bleed from the piercings of a crown of thorns. The creator of the universe would hang suffering and unable to move in front of all the world and there He show us the power of His love and give us His life for us so that we could say:

I can do all things through him who strengthens me Philippians 4:13 KJV

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The Donkey Waited

Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me.  Matthew 21:1-2 NKJV

Some days I feel a lot the donkey in this story. Everyone else had something important to do but the donkey. I hate to wait because it makes me feel helpless. But just like the donkey, waiting gives God time to accomplish His plans on His schedule.

horse on field

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

First, the donkey waited quietly. Imagine what might have happened if the disciples came and found the donkey and its colt wildly tugging at the ropes tying them. Just as the disciples were looking for gentle beasts that would be useful for their master, so God is looking for hearts quietly waiting for His call.

Second the donkeys had to be ready to go. I wonder if the donkey had bucked and kicked as it was untied if it would have been brought it to Jesus. Isn’t that sometimes the way we sometimes react when called to do something new?

Last of all, because they waited they were brought to Jesus. Like the donkey, we are not forgotten or rejected. Instead, we are like a restaurant table that has been reserved for the master’s use. When He comes we must be ready and waiting. We must be willing for Him to show us where to go because we will only get where Jesus is leading when we are ready to wait where He has put us till He calls.