To me, this is one of the saddest days in the Church calender, apart from Maundy thursday and Good Friday. I think this is because Jesus was let down so badly by his disciples. He knew that he was going to die a hugely painful death, and wanted his friends to support him, by keeping watch while he prayed for the strength he needed. But they kept falling asleep, and not only this, he knew they would desert him when he needed them most.
He must have been a hugely charismatic figure, with crowds of people gathering to listen to him, and the stories of his miracles must have made him a spectacle of hero worship although became his downfall as he himself knew it would (by making him a target of jealousy and suspicion).
Yet, at the critical moment, when he needed his friends most, they betrayed and deserted him. How many times have we been unpopular because of our belief? How many times have friends been unsupportive and surprised us by this? I think when bad things do happen to us, really bad things, the way we get comfort is knowing that Jesus knew exactly what we are feeling, even if his experience was different, he really knew the meaning of betrayal and pain. I think this is the answer to the faltering of faith we have when bad things do happen, 'How can God let such things happen?'.
I mean things like, when the good die young and the bad folk seem to hang around forever causing trouble? This is the answer, keep your faith because God is with you through your pain.
I think this is one reason why he brought Jesus into the world too, as otherwise, how could we identify with God in our darkest moments. When I think about God, reading bible stories I suspect that he grew and changed and had to alter tactics many times to manage the evolving people. I wish he would enforce stuff in a similar way now, I guess the prophets are unneeded now the Son of Man has changed the world forever.
He must have been a hugely charismatic figure, with crowds of people gathering to listen to him, and the stories of his miracles must have made him a spectacle of hero worship although became his downfall as he himself knew it would (by making him a target of jealousy and suspicion).
Yet, at the critical moment, when he needed his friends most, they betrayed and deserted him. How many times have we been unpopular because of our belief? How many times have friends been unsupportive and surprised us by this? I think when bad things do happen to us, really bad things, the way we get comfort is knowing that Jesus knew exactly what we are feeling, even if his experience was different, he really knew the meaning of betrayal and pain. I think this is the answer to the faltering of faith we have when bad things do happen, 'How can God let such things happen?'.
I mean things like, when the good die young and the bad folk seem to hang around forever causing trouble? This is the answer, keep your faith because God is with you through your pain.
I think this is one reason why he brought Jesus into the world too, as otherwise, how could we identify with God in our darkest moments. When I think about God, reading bible stories I suspect that he grew and changed and had to alter tactics many times to manage the evolving people. I wish he would enforce stuff in a similar way now, I guess the prophets are unneeded now the Son of Man has changed the world forever.
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