05 Apr What God is working for, part 1
The keen awareness that his time was short spread like pale light filling the dome of Jesus’ conscious mind. There were no decisions to be made, everything was in order, and nothing was catching him by surprise. He was prepared. He understood what God was working for.
I go to the record of Jesus’ last private hours, when he knew the storm was about to hit, finding it never more important to sit quietly and learn from him there.
Jesus called himself the son of man, choosing that identity because he loved being one of us. But as he prepared for death, he drew strength by turning his thoughts to the immortal glory He had with His Father before time began. He spoke from a perspective that we never can, but I see this . . . as the power of darkness was mounting against him, his focus was not on his personal survival or even the survival of those closest to him — he focused on what God was working for. That vision held him fast, becoming an ark of surreal calm riding above the flood.
What is God working for? In a trying time, no matter how out of control, unjust or unfair things seem to be, God’s purpose is flowing like a strong river. In every situation, God is working to bring about something. Focus on this, stabilizing yourself, and you will find yourself being lifted above the power of the storm. The next altercation, the next disappointment, practice asking what is God working for? Instead of getting sucked in, pull yourself out to observe what is taking place. The clarity and poise allow you to think, to hear, to see, and to be led . . . so that you can become a part of what God is doing there.
Yes, Jesus walked as the incarnation of God in human flesh, bringing the knowledge of God, and a perspective of reality, time and eternity with him to earth. Yes, he was able to remember his glory from time immemorial, able to see into the future and into souls with x-ray eyes from which no thought could hide. But equally true, he was a mortal man, like us, having self-limited himself, so that he had to function within the same constraints. We refuse to hear him, as he tells us that he had no more power to do what he did than we do. The difference between us is that he was always looking for what God was working for. Focusing on that kept him in dialogue with God, so that he could see what God was doing, and carry out what God was working for.
Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. John 5:19
I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. John 5:30
For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. John 5:20-21
the purpose of the divine dialogue
The divine dialogue coaching Jesus forward is never more evident than in his last hours as he zeroes in on what God is working for . . . as he chooses the last things he will say to the inner core of his disciples . . . as he prays, demonstrating his internal connection with God as a mortal man, sweating blood, asking friends to stay awake and watch with him, as he digs into his reliance on God for the clarity, input and strength he needs . . . knowing that everything depends on completing his mission.
We see the divine dialogue at the last supper. As Jesus breaks bread with his friends, scripture washes over him, “He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me;” and he recognizes prophecy fulfilling itself in that moment at that table. Jesus became “troubled in his spirit,” relating to his disciples that one of them was going to betray him. The warrior was not unfeeling or emotionally detached from the events that were unfolding. He did not repress what “troubled” him “spiritualizing it away.” Jesus ached over what was to befall those he loved, wailing — we are told — as he beheld Jerusalem and knew her destruction was coming. And even though “it was written,” everything taking place just as it had been prophesied in Scripture — Jesus was troubled in his spirit as the reality of its coming swept over those he loved.
We need to be very careful, in light of this, that we are not thrown when the unimaginable sweeps over us. Destruction and heartbreak do not mean that His love and care are a lie, but that God is working for something infinitely more important than protecting us from what must come to pass.
We see the divine dialogue speaking through Jesus, as he tells his friends that they will all fail him in his hour of greatest need. He warns them — not to make them feel badly, not to make them fall prey to helplessness, but to condition them for recovery.
Luke 22:31-33
Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.
Peter was one of the first in the line of warrior recruits, and in his first engagement he fell apart. A servant girl seeing him in the firelight identified him as one of Jesus’ followers, and three times he denied he even knew the man. Jesus knew before it happened, telling him that before the cock crowed he would deny him 3 times. But failure isn’t final. We can’t afford to let our failures paralyze us, taking us out of action. Our brothers need us, and we need to focus on what God is working for, to get our act together.
In that last hour with his own, Jesus tells them he is going to be taken, scourged, and put to death — he exposes them to sorrow, so that when the unthinkable took place, there was a measure of preparation — he told us this would happen. This gave them strength to endure, they did not fall apart.