Saturday night. Twelve men in agony.Their leader executed in disgrace, one committed suicide, another publicly disavowed his leader, all eleven in deep anguish and despair.
What a way to end a weekend. Life as they knew it was over. The future was bleak and uncertain over 1900 years ago on Saturday night. And here we are, this last Saturday night, on the eve of Christianity’s most recognized holiday. Easter. Celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, His power over death. What do you think of when you think of Easter? The cross? The resurrection? The gospel? Eggs and bunnies?
The disciples were thinking of none of these things that Saturday night. They couldn’t see past Jesus’ grave to the future He had told them about. But not only could they not see the future, they could not see past the grave, back to the work that Jesus had already completed before the cross. Just a few days before,
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
He wanted to know what his Father was like. Just like we do. He probably had a vision of his Father as an omnipotent, distant, impersonal and judgmental deity. Just like us. So often we view Jesus, the Son, as the approachable One, the friendly, loving One. The one that buffers the wrath of the Father for us. Children’s songs are written using Jesus’ name.
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. John 14:8,9
What was the work that He completed before the cross? Showing us the Father! This was not the first try. The books of the Bible already written were full of attempts to show us the Father. From Abraham and Isaac experiencing obedient love like the heavenly Father and Son, to Hosea marrying a prostitute and understanding how to live a life of grace-giving and unconditional love. What more could the Father do to help us understand Him? He could send His Son, the One who knew Him best. From calling Zacchaeus down from the tree and to dinner, to rescuing the prostitute from stoning, Jesus lived a picture of His Father. A picture of limitless love, never-ending forgiveness, grace. A picture of a Father who longs to be close to His children.
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
Jesus’ own words. Jesus’ own life. His trip to the cross was the finish to the work of His lifetime. Showing us the Father. Let Me show you what love is. Let Me show you how the Father loves. Watch me!
When I think of Easter, let me never forget the cross. Let me never forget the resurrection. And let me never forget the life before the Cross that showed me what my Father is like.
shared with family and friends Easter eve, 4/3/10