During this enforced period of isolation, I鈥檓 indulging in two things I absolutely love doing: weeding and reading. I won鈥檛 bore you with my stories of weeding but I want to share the beautiful truths I鈥檓 learning as I take this enforced time of partial inactivity to read.
I鈥檝e recently picked up a borrowed book (thanks, Bob) titled 鈥淭he Jesus I Never Knew鈥� In it, author Philip Yancey, opens by sharing his religious background and perception of Jesus. Like him, I admit that I also held many common truths of who He was; but among them, little emphasis on the emotions He experienced and expressed. Somehow so many of us overlook those feelings He openly expressed: celebration at the wedding in Cana; grief at the death of his friend; dread of his coming flogging and death on the cross; disappointment at the betrayal of Peter; and, the list goes on. Being reminded of these things brings me comfort on those days when I struggle with my emotions during this challenging time.
Rather than pull us down even more by reiterating negative feelings, I鈥檇 like to remind us of how Jesus comforted the organizers of that wedding by turning water into wine. He wept at the death of Lazarus but then shared His power and elation at the raising of Lazarus. Even the dread of physical suffering was tempered by the knowledge that His death would be followed by burial, resurrection and the establishment of the church, the glorious emotion of true and unfathomable love.
鈥淢y Jesus knows just what I need鈥e satisfies and every need supplies. Oh yes, He knows just what I need.鈥� (Song by Mosie Lister)
鈥淧eople with their minds set on you,聽you keep completely whole, steady on their feet,聽because they keep at it and don鈥檛 quit鈥� (Isaiah 26:3. The Message)
