Having been in lockdown in one way or another for the last 12 months or so, our story to varying degrees has had moments of the heroic, tragic and comedic. A series of ups and downs, of good and bad fortune and with an eventual outcome uncertain. This reminds me of a few days spent in the wilderness last summer, climbing fells. There was the preparation, the ascents and descents over rocks and scree, the walking then scrambling, the pushing forward and resting until reaching the peak and looking back to recognise the preliminary peaks.
Jesus spent 3 years healing, teaching, training and debating in Galilee; there were many ups and downs. When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday it was reasonable to think that He had reached the ‘peak’. Not so, there were more ups and downs to follow; Jesus was still to be betrayed and killed and rise again on the third day – the peak of Jesus’ Divinity.
Back to the fells. Happy to have accomplished what was set out to do, enjoying the view unobscured and free to reach up to the sky; reaching the peak was good but it wasn’t the end. In fact this fell lead to another and then another, the journey wasn’t over; now at this greater height and enlightenment there was more ahead.
Jesus’ journey was not over when the stone was rolled away and the tomb was left empty. For the next 40 days He walked and talked in places where His ministry had been; He was seen in His restored body by thousands; He healed many; He continued to preach, and He continued to love before He ascended into Heaven.
Once again the story of Jesus and our time is not over, remember the words Jesus said on a mountain in Galilee before ascending into heaven,
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.
This Easter, as the body of Christ, let’s remember the journey is not over and to keep going through ups and downs, the fortune and misfortune; loving each other so we will be known as His disciples until that day we will smile and laugh with our Lord and Saviour forever.
Ben Sheridan
