WHEN YOU KNOW THE ENDING TO THE STORY

Today is Easter Sunday! A day of celebration for Christians everywhere because our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was raised from the dead. What a wonderful time to celebrate, and I am humbled at the sacrifice of the Lord. He suffered and died for my sins, and if I am honest, that fills me with sadness and guilt.

Jesus was no stranger to sadness and grief. He experienced sadness when Lazareth died, when John was beheaded, and when the disciples fell asleep while waiting for Him when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane. The week leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus is hard for me to read. It is like when I go to the movies, and I already know the ending; it fills me with dread.

When Jesus was eating with the twelve disciples, He knew the ending too, and I’m sure He had many emotions. Sadness and grief were undoubtedly there, along with the dread of what was to come.

Matthew 26:20-21

²⁰ When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. ²¹ And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

Can you imagine the shock that eleven of the disciples felt? Each of them took turns saying, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?” One by one, they asked, and then it came time for Judas Iscariot to act innocent, and he asked, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”

While it is easy for me to sit here and condemn Judas, he did an inconceivable act when he betrayed Jesus. Then I remember what Jesus told the Pharisees who brought a woman before him who had been caught in adultery.

Matthew 8:7

⁷ When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Goodness is that a sobering verse that stops me in my tracks. I am certainly without sin, so who am I to throw stones at anyone, even Judas. Jesus knew that Juda was going to betray Him, but He also knew that I would sin. Judas might have been the person to kiss Jesus on the cheek to send Him to the cross, but “my” sins also sent Him to the cross.

Jesus died for all of our sins, so today, I am taking some time to reflect on His ultimate sacrifice and the part I played. I am humbled, grateful, and full of thanksgiving. He Has Risen!!!

To God Goes The Glory!

Have A Blessed Day!