The pivotal part of scripture in this selection of text (Luke 24:4-5) is when the “two men”, described in other Gospels as angels, came down and questioned Mary Magdalene and Mary- “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”. On that day, the first of the week, the two women were returning to the place where, within their human scope, the dead would lie. I think this is an honest prediction., right? Where else would we go to visit a friend or relative after they passed? But let us be reminded once again, this was not just another human, another tragedy or case of death- but a triumph! He is Christ, the Son of God, the Living, just as he said he was all along. Yet the two women, as we all can relate, had their own set of expectations as to what they would find when returning to the tomb. Without consciously doing so, they literally and figuratively put Jesus in a box.
How many times do we pray for a job, a romance, a new home, financial stability or peace of mind? And how often do we try to predict and create an expectancy of what those answers should look like? Sometimes, we go to church the first of the week, EXPECTING to see Jesus in a certain predictable way, we listen to the sermon, pray our prayers and take communion. Then we await the answers: a new job opportunity, a boyfriend/girlfriend, financial peace or instant stress relief. But again, going back to the text, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? Could the answers to our prayers look different then what we expect? Could the answer be…”No”? I know I need to consistently remind myself that God’s ways are not my own and to leave room for His majesty and unpredictable ways. After all, that is where our faith comes in. So next time we are praying for our prayers to be answered remember, He is and always has been who He says He is- Christ the Lord. If we trust Him with our deepest prayers, lets leave the answers to Him.
December 1st, 2009 - 6:44 am
Jess, thanks for your thoughts this morning. Your words were very timely for me, personally.
Lord, I pray that all of us will leave the answers to you today. That we would let your Spirit live through us. That we might release the reins on our lives and entrust them to You. It’s so easy to say I have faith and trust You, but when I really contemplate what that means, trusting and surrendering to You completely is the hardest thing I have ever done. It’s a daily battle. Lord, thank you that Jesus is the AUTHOR and PERFECTER of our faith. That You know and are OK with us lacking complete faith. Lord, thank you for always being faithful. I pray for Jess and all of Cumberland that we might surrender to you today. That we might taste and see that You are good! I pray this in the precious name of Jesus, Amen!