Faith Venture

“It is finished.” He said that and died.

I’m not sure what all was finished. Jesus had just provided for his mother, entrusting her to John. Then John says to fulfill Scripture, Jesus said “I am thirsty,” tasted the wine and died. We know from Matthew that the way he died was unusual. But it was finished–his life, his ministry, fulfillment of prophecies.

Jewish leaders had won. They got the Romans to execute their adversary. But it was a short-lived victory. In 40 years the Romans had enough of the rebelliousness of the Jews and sent in an army big enough to crush them, destroy the Temple and disperse them. The Romans were not known for treating people kindly.

Life was much different in those days than we have it in western Europe and America. We are supposed to be much more “civilized” (although I’m willing to bet that there are peoples in the world who aren’t so sure about that). But their treatment of Jesus was not one of sympathy and understanding. They beat him (a common occurrence) and hung him in such a way that he would die slowly. In other words, an instrument of public torture.

This had all happened so quickly. The leaders were afraid of the crowds. They did the arrest at night and hurried his trials early the next day. The idea is get it done before anyone realizes it. Then it would be too late for a rebellion. So it took only a few hours from Jesus teaching his followers to Jesus being killed.

It’s amazing how life–and history–can change in such a short time. The changes were momentous. Within 50 years, Jewish leadership and the Temple were gone. Jesus was living with an increasing number of followers who lived throughout the Roman Empire. Even reaching into Rome, itself.

But it took an agonizing death to change everything.

I’m sitting on a private balcony overlooking the famed Doral golf course in Miami, Florida at daybreak. The fountains provide soothing background music. A few birds are beginning to speak. It’s peaceful.

No, it’s not Spring Break for me. It’s business. I’ve been meeting with people all day for two days discussing information technology relating handing over a new petrochemical plant (for example) from the engineers and contractors to the owner/operators. 8 am keynotes always mess up my schedule and my spiritual practices.

In the peace of the moment, my mind flits from quiet to hyper. I plan out everything in my mind. I’m thinking about checking out, getting a taxi to the airport, getting to the airport early enough to check baggage (I don’t usually, but as an Elite customer, my bags fly free and I don’t want to worry about overhead space), finding my way in a strange airport, where’s the United Club–you know the whole trip thing.

It’s silly. Jesus said to not be anxious. I fly probably 20 times a year. I know the routine. My stuff is organized for getting through security efficiently.

Then I thought–you ever wonder what Jesus was thinking this week? Did he plan things out? Or at least play scenarios in his mind going over various alternative outcomes? He knew if he died, then his followers would be saved from certain slaughter as the Romans cracked down on the movement. He knew about resurrection, but he’d never experienced it. So he was facing a new experience. Did he remember his advice about not being anxious?

We don’t get any first person narrative from Jesus in the Gospels. Except for the 40 days in the wilderness following his baptism, every other thing recorded was witnessed by someone and reported in third person descriptions.

But I still wonder what he played in his mind as the events of the week unfolded. And then how he could face the authorities with calm, assurance, confidence.

OK, this was poor scholarship. I didn’t write the name and author of the podcast talk I was listening to. I didn’t find the name of the person quoted. But a couple of months ago I noted in my pocket notebook (where I capture ideas whenever they occur):

“If my people understand me, I get their attention. If they trust me, I’ll get their action.”

This works in so many areas. It works with us individually as leaders–whether in business, in the church or in our families. It works with businesses as they build a brand–if you trust the brand, you will be more likely to buy their products. It works with churches if you are trying to lead the people somewhere. And it works with your relationship with God.

Trust? It means doing what you say you’ll do. Your words and your actions are congruent.

Paul, writing in Romans, says, “But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.” He’s writing here about Abraham (and people like him who followed) who trusted God first without trying to use following laws or doing rituals as a way to please God.

Trust takes a long time to develop but can be lost in an instant. Abraham found God to be trustworthy. He trusted God and God was worthy of that trust–He did what He said. In like manner, Abraham was trustworthy.

As inheritors of that faith, do we find God trustworthy? And are we to be trusted? To be trusted with leadership is an awesome burden, but worthy of a follower of God.