Has it really been a week since I’ve been here? What a week it’s been for me! With the passage of time and as God prompts, I’ll let you in on a little more about what has been going on with me. In the meantime, here’s the scripture prompt for this Tuesday Take-Away, a poignant, telling scene from the life of Jesus:
To do this passage justice, you might want to read it in its entirety (John 19:1-27). Here’s how I read it and a few corresponding thoughts to go alongside:
- As we make our own walks to the cross of Jesus Christ—our chosen walks of surrender to behold his suffering so that we might better carry our own—our Savior revisits this scene from his own surrender. Never does his blood bleed brighter, his heart beat more tenderly, than when we choose to pick up our own crosses and to carry them forward in faith. It’s just that important to the work of the kingdom, both 2000 years ago and now. He is present.
- Suffering their loss, they suffered collectively. As the body of Christ, it is both our charge and our keep to come alongside one another as we tenderly take hold of our own humanity, make our pilgrimages to the cross, and surrender our hearts to the painful, healing work of resurrection.
- In our times of pain, Jesus Christ willingly assigns us a “beloved disciple”—a “John”—to make sure we’re taken care of, well-loved, and remembered. Even when it seems as if no one is surfacing to tend to our needs, God has dispatched the witness of his Holy Spirit to minister to our hurting hearts in ways that most perfectly meet the challenge of our pain (see John 14 and 16).
- Finally, true, lasting heart-work—soul-work—always happens “near the cross.” Why? Because Pilate had it right when tagging the identity of the One hanging there: “Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS” (John 19:19). Jesus of Nazareth, King of us as well. King in charge of our souls and the transformational work of our hearts.
So, friends, how do you read it? If not this passage, then what scripture have you been chewing on this week? I pray your Tuesday filled with the rich witness of Christ’s presence, and that, if you haven’t already taken the time to sit with him in quietness to contemplate his worthiness, you would take some time now. As always…
Peace for the journey,
~elaine
I'll have to ponder some on this so maybe I'll come back and post something later. But, I was blessed in the reading of it. I especially liked the part about how God sends a "John" to come along side us when we're struggling.
I, too, liked your observation of how God sends a "John" to us in our times of need — and that our John may very well be the Holy Spirit. I also see the deep and tender love Jesus had for his mother and how he entrusted her to the care of another he loved very deeply. A precious scene of family love…
I posted a scene of family love the other day, Elaine — a sweet series of photos of my dad with one of his granddaughters. Pop over and see them when you them when you get a chance. I think you'll enjoy. Blessings to you this week!
Elaine, I love your insight into this passage. Heart-work happens near the cross, so near the cross I want to stay. Great post!
wifeforthejourney:
A "take away" for more than just one day a week, to be sure. What a blessing to look to and consider, that it is in God's grace to not leave us to suffer alone. Though our griefs and trials may be severe, we do not have to endure them in isolation.
Elaine, thank you for the many times you have been my own "beloved disciple." I need you and I'm so glad I've got you!
Love,
Billy
Aww…I just loved Billy's comment! I'm always looking for Kleenex when I get to visit here! I have to agree with the others that I am so thankful to have "John's" in my times of need. God knows exactly what and when we need and He sends her/him our way! Praise Him!
Just ordered some of my photos to be on an art display next month in Columbia…..praying the entire time as I pressed the "send" button! As long as my photos glorify Him….that's my desire!
Love you!
Susan
Impressive observation…love the depth of spiritual understanding God gives you. This week my verse is 2 Tim 1:12 (NKJV):
For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
My 17 y.o. daughter thinks she is better off on her own. Turns out there is nothing i can do "by law" to force her back home because she is 17. But I can pray and commit her to the one I believe in. Pray that God will cover her but will also make her so incredibly miserable she will want to come back home. She has one more semester of high school before she graduates. She is really cutting off her potential in life…
Believing Him~Pamela
This was a wonderful commentary and insight into this passage Elaine. God does indeed provide each of us with the fellowship and comfort of our own "Disciple" in our times of great need, whether they be visible or Spirit in nature.
Have a Blessed Day!
I loved the wisdom in this post. especially the words "true lasting heart-work always happens " near the cross". I've certainly found this to be true in my life.
"Suffering their loss, they suffered collectively. As the body of Christ, it is both our charge and our keep to come alongside one another as we tenderly take hold of our own humanity, make our pilgrimages to the cross, and surrender our hearts to the painful, healing work of resurrection."
Oh my heart…that moves me. As I meander through the initial course of Women's Ministry, and observe the "disconnect" among us greatly due to busyness, I long for that sense of community, and I see my own failings at giving time and attention to my brothers and sisters and I wonder…how? How Lord, do we come to that place of oneness and interconnection that benefits the Body so clearly in scripture?
And my heart bleeds at the younger generation that is offended by their past church experiences and launch missions to "set the 'old way' straight".
Praying at His feet. That seems to be the answer to "how". The foot of the cross. Odd, when in need we are freed.
Love visiting you Elaine!
~Kathy
Oh, btw, last week's verse kept appearing before my eyes and the call to lay on the Rock and have no other place to lay my head has been coming through loud and clear…My business is hurting, we have had the house on the market for over a year w/ no one interested, and my husband has applied for a camp maintenance director position in California (he has been working out of town for two years)…other uncertainties, but God is here. 🙂
Elaine – I took the liberty of reading the whole passage (John 19:1-27) and I feel that I would like to comment on another portion of the Scripture – it hit me right between the eyes tonight.
It's verse 11 (NLT): Then Jesus said, "You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above."
Here's what I'm pondering. This has been a week of some unexpected and potentially scary news in my family. It's sent me into a tailspin of worry and terrible anxiety. I've been trying to regain some sort of strong-legged faith. So, this verse strikes me with these thoughts:
1. There is NOTHING that comes into my life unless it has FIRST passed through God's hands.
2. The enemy has no power unless it is allowed by God's sovereignty (I'm thinking Job here…)
3. Jesus yielded His own power to the will of His Father.
So, these circumstances have come into my life, allowed by the Father, for His purposes alone. He KNOWS what's going on behind-the-scenes. I just have to yield to His more powerful hand, and His more wise providence.
So, I'm reading this verse this way:
"This situation has no power over me at all because it was allowed to come to me from above."
AMEN to that…
GOD BLESS!