49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Those who knew and loved Jesus stood at a distance striving to assimilate what they were beholding. What appeared to be the worst they could have imagined was in all actuality the very best that could have happened. Is not most of life like that? We stand in a bereaved silence, astonished and amazed, gazing at a particular happening that has crossed the path of our lives and has quite literally taken our breath away. How can something so devastating to us turn out for our good? Though we “know” Him, the “Why’s?” often echo loudly in our minds drowning out any thoughts of a higher purpose for good, oftentimes leaving us soundly bereft of hope.
“Faith raises the soul above the difficulty, straight to God Himself, and enables one to stand still. We gain nothing by our restless and anxious efforts...It is therefore true wisdom, in all times of difficulty and perplexity, to stand still – to wait only upon God, and He will assuredly open a way for us.” C.H. Mackintosh
“To the child of God, there is no such thing as an accident. He travels an appointed way...Accidents may indeed appear to befall him and misfortune stalk his way; but these evils will be so in appearance only and will seem evils only because we cannot read the secret script of God’s hidden providence.” A.W. Tozer
12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Cor 13:12 (NIV)
“Now” we suffer from incomplete knowledge it will only be when “now” becomes “then” that we shall know fully – when all of our questions will be completely answered. The “part” that we can now comprehend and hold on to is His faithfulness and love for us and that He always has our best interest at heart. Scripture tells us:
9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. Deut 7:9 (NIV)
Throughout our apparent devastation, God is in the business of making beauty from our ashes. Indeed, Jesus’ “job description” covers that very issue. We are told by the prophet Isaiah:
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV)
Jesus Himself reads these very words from a scroll handed Him in the synagogue proclaiming to His hearers that this Word was fulfilled in their hearing:
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Luke 4:16-21 (NIV)
Jesus came to bind up the brokenhearted, to free the captive, to proclaim God’s favor and the day of vengeance, to comfort the mourning, to bestow beauty instead of ashes, gladness instead of mourning, and praise in place of despair. He came for us to be oaks of righteousness, planted by Him to display His splendor - all of this coming our way through the cross of Christ. What appeared as devastation to these onlookers would in all actuality become life and life to the full. As Jesus tells us:
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 (NIV)
John also tells us:
30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:30-31 (NIV)
Lest we forget the cost to our Savior, I am persuaded that part of His sufferings on the cross included the fact that those closest to Him remained at a distance. I do not know about you, but when I am suffering I want those who love me close by – if for nothing else, their concern in itself is ministering. We must never forget that Jesus came to earth as both fully God and fully man. He experienced loneliness and isolation, pain, suffering and sadness. To not consider His humanity emotionally is to perhaps miss a great deal of His suffering on the cross. As David writes:
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away. Psalms 38:11 (NIV)