Matthew 26:31 Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:
"I will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered".
But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."
Jesus was quoting from the scripture in Zechariah 13:7-9 which reads:
7"Awake, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!" Declares the Lord Almighty.
"Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones.
8In the whole land," declares the Lord, "two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it.
9This Third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, 'They are my people,' and they will say, 'The Lord is our God.'"
What a shocking remark from The Lord Almighty that he would strike his only son. But the heavenly Father had long been contemplating on this very event where he would strike his own son for the redemption of mankind. As in Revelation 13:8, Jesus Christ was referred to as "the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world".
Let us examine the heart of the heavenly Father through the life of our father of faith - Abraham. In Genesis 22:9-13, we find Abraham in the same situation where he had to strike/ kill his own son Isaac; which he did not refuse. In verse 10 we find that Abraham really reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. I would encourage you to read through these verses and try to feel the heavenly Father's heart. How painful the situation was emotionally, for the father and the son, when they went through this together. This is the same situation and pain the heavenly Father went through when he strikes his only son on the cross. This is how much our heavenly Father reached out to us and the Son of God humbly and willingly laid his own life to save us from sin and death. Let's remember how desperately Jesus cried out on the cross "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” It wasn’t easy even for the Father nor was it easy for the Son. But our debts have been paid in full. Glory to God! And praise be to the Lamb of God.
I wonder how gloomy and dark that evening must have been, when Jesus was captured by the soldiers. Let's try drawing our attention once again to see how serious the situation was from the disciples' point of view. First, how content they were, how peaceful, how hopeful, how secured they felt in the guidance and care of the Messiah - Jesus Christ. We can also see how much Jesus cared for them by the way he answered John's disciples when they questioned him about why he didn’t let his disciples fast, as he simply says that they are his guests and he himself the bridegroom, and that while he is with them they ought not mourn (Matthew 9:15). Jesus had done so much before the disciples' eye. They knew nothing could stand before him, for even the demons cry out in fear of him, the blind eyes open, lepers are cleansed, the paralytic walk, and even the winds and the waves obeyed his commands. The disciples knew there is no safer place than in the guidance and care (presence) of the Lord.
But, the word of the Loving Heavenly Father foretold by his prophet lie awaiting its ordained time. For the God of creation gave his word to his servant Abraham that from his seed, the nations of the world will be blessed. The night when these words came to pass, the disciples were lost, in fear, confusion, disappointment, and uncertainty. They could not remember the words of Jesus telling them that the Son of Man will be captured, crucified on the cross and will come back to life on the third day. There was no time to think of those words, it didn’t even occur to them. They were confused and desperate.
I want to ask: are you familiar with this situation in your life? When faith seems to slip away through your fingers like water and there is nothing else to hold on to, other than the promises of our faithful Father. Left in the sea of uncertainty, but trying to find and build up your hope by counting the goodness and faithfulness of God that you already experienced in your life?
Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
We learn from these experiences in life that it is the grace of God alone that brought us through the journey. Our presumption of our self and our faith when tested, produce the most unexpected results proving our presumptions and assumption about our self-wrong many times. But in all these, we learn the essential lesson of every believer which is complete submission and dependence. Complete denial of own abilities and strength but complete trust in the Lord and His faithfulness. Knowing how weak we are, leads us to understanding how much we desperately need God. John the Baptist said "He must increase; I must decrease." And my brethren, let me remind you. Our Father in heaven is faithful. He is never late to save us from our troubles. May God give us his grace to learn to cherish the path that we take/are taking in the likeness of Christ and also the disciples who walked before us.
There are good things ahead of us. Remember the first scripture that we quoted, in Matthew 26:31 Jesus continued to say "…But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." After they all were scattered in fear, the Savior points them to the place where they can meet him again. And yes, Jesus is always faithful to fulfill his words. Afterwards, we find Jesus reinstating Peter and calling back the other disciples to him with love and compassion just as he did before he was crucified. He knocks at the doors of their heart once again and as they open up to him, he walked in and ate with them (John 21).
Did you know that Simon Peter was a changed man from that day? The old vessel named Peter was broken and shattered, defeated and disappointed. But on the other hand, The Potter had perfected his masterpiece, ready to be filled with the new wine. What a sight it is to see this master piece - Simon Peter on that Pentecost day!! (Acts 2). Dear friends, believe that the Potter is working on each one of us even to this day. He is perfecting us for the work he had predestined for us. He is also still working on your brother or sister or your neighbor or friend who still despises and opposes you and your faith in Jesus. This calls for determination on our part not to give up on our brothers or sisters, just as Jesus went back to Simon Peter in Galilee.
Looking back at our text in Zechariah 13:8 and 9, The Lord Almighty declares that two-thirds will be struck down and perish. Have we ever considered the life of these two-thirds of the followers of Jesus Christ - who could follow him till the garden of Gethsemane but not through the sufferings? Who never saw the Cross, and worst of all who didn’t witness the resurrection. I believe that this is why we find Jesus making such a serious remark in Matthew 7:21-23:
21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’." They followed Jesus till the miracles and wonders but not through the sufferings. So, they do what they saw Jesus did and taught them to do, but not through the suffering and bearing their own cross. It’s a privilege to bear our own cross and to experience suffering in the likeness of our saviour because we also hope for the same resurrection and glory (Philippians 3:10).
Let us examine ourselves so that we persevere through like the one-third who are put in the refining fire like silver and tested like gold. For the best is yet to come. Do not be discouraged and hold on to the word of our heavenly Father who further declares that He will answer when we call on His name and promises to call us his people. But remember, this promise stands only to those who pass through the refining fire. Now it is clear how important the sufferings and the trials are in our life. For they are the indicators that we are the children of the Heavenly Father.
Hebrews 12:6-8 "6because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son. 7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all."
May the grace of God lead you through the circumstances and obstacles that you're facing in your life and give you the strength to persevere!
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*Thugelhtu, Church of Hope (COH), North Delhi a worship makai, TOUPA mizat khat ahi. Lungdam lua hang.
