We Trust You In The Process

 

In John, chapter 13, Jesus had come to what He knew was the end of His earthly assignment.
And He knew there was a completed task that had to be done.
The full cleansing of the feet of His students.

Verse 2 tells us that, “It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, to betray Jesus.”

But Jesus knew that the Father had given Him authority over everything and He would return to God. so He got up from the table, “took off His robe, wrapped a towel around His waist, and poured water into a basin.  Then He began to wash the disciples feet.”  (verse 4, 5)

Verse 3 says, “Jesus KNEW that the Father had given Him authority…”
Jesus knew who He was.
He was the Son of God.
He knew His power.
He knew what He had within Him.
Authority.
And did you know - YOU do as well?
Luke 10:19 says this, “I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them.”
John 14:12 says this also, “I tell you the truth anyone who believe in Me (Jesus) will do the same works I have done, and even greater works…”
Authority (privilege, capacity, mastery, and delighted influence.)
Power.
It’s been given to you and I.
And we have an assignment to fulfill on the earth as well.

The rest of that same verse, 3, “… and that He had come from God and would return to God.”
Jesus - the WHOLE time He was here on this planet KNEW why He had come and fully submitted and surrendered to that assignment.
He could serve because He knew the end from the beginning.
He could love unconditionally because He knew from WHERE He had come and to WHO He was returning to.
He had His sights set on ONE mission: returning to the Father.

Where are our sights set?
Is our vision limited to 2020?
Are we saying, “This must be all there is” and live hopeless forever?
Are we refusing obedience because of our fleshly desires that are filled with pride and contempt?
Or are we staying focused on the assignment at hand?
Getting to see see Jesus and being with Him in eternity forever?
Can we do the hard things He’s asked us to do - because our vision is stayed on Him?

Now look at verse 7.
Jesus says this, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

This is so important.
Why?
Because we want to understand.
We want answers.
And some even use their demand to know as a condition for full service and surrender.

But Jesus says the same thing to you and me, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

“I know it’s hard now, but knowing won’t make it any better.  You must submit yourselves to Me.  And trust Me in the process.”

My commentary says this, “The physician gives medicine which is unpalatable, and which causes the patient sometimes to feel worse; this the sufferer cannot understand, and therefore he draws unhappy conclusions; but the power of the medicine does not depend upon the patient’s understanding.”

We think it’s so essential to know what God is doing.  BUT it’s so much better for us to trust, submit, obey, and to love than to know!

It’s like I’d tell a class of students this past February - just weeks before a pandemic outbreak that would challenge everything we were and every way we think.. “We must embrace the mystery.”

Some things we aren’t to know… yet… because the weight of them is too heavy.

And that’s okay.


God - we trust You in the process!