Holy Week – and indeed, Faith iteself – comes with a roller coaster of ups and downs; highs and lows.
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.
Genesis 50:20ab
We see that as Jesus rides into Jerusalem triumphantly, welcomed by the crowds as the Son of David; just to be betrayed, denied, abandoned, judged, sneered at, and crucified later that week.
In our readin from Luke we are backing up just a little in our journey to Jesus’ last supper where He instituted the Lord’s Supper and celebrated the Passover with His disciples.
He says, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
This is a high. Jesus having this wonderful celebration with His disciples that He has “earnestly desired” to have with them.
But the lowest low is coming. Evil s coming. Suffering, pain, and death will follow.
But there is an “until!” There will be more to the story! There will be the highest high when the day comes and He will once again when the Kingdom of God is fulfilled. When death is conquered. When suffering ends. When all evil has been utterly and permanently destroyed forever!
Until can be a difficult word when going through evil or when it is on the horizon. But it is also a word of hope – and patience. A word of anticipation and a word of reliance. It is a word which we can hold on to because we know that what comes after all the trials and pains and lows and evil will be far outweighed with good and joy!
And so we endure. And wait. UNTIL! And then we rejoice – forever!
Scriptures
- Psalm 118:19-29
- Luke 22:14-23
