Scripture

“After I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.”

Observation

Jesus tells them that evening they will all desert Him, the Shepherd will be struck, and the flock scattered. At the end of this, God will raise Him from the dead. Peter says that even if everyone else abandons him, he will stay. Jesus says that Peter will deny even knowing Him.

Jesus takes the disciples to Gethsemane, where He asks them to keep watch with Him while He prays. He goes on a little farther and prays to the Father.

He returns to the disciples three times, finding them asleep each time. Finally, He tells them to get up as the betrayer has arrived.

Application

Even at this time of His impending death, Jesus is trying to point his disciples to His resurrection.

This is the Good News for each of us. Every follower of Jesus shares in His resurrection. Death is not the end of the story, but a new beginning, a portal into the new eternal life.

We still have to go through death to get to life, but we will get there.

Jesus endured the cross for the sole purpose of bringing us into right relationship with the Father. He paid the price, and we receive the gift of restoration.

Life on earth is messy, tainted at every level with sin and its consequences. Death is all around us, but it does not have the final word.

We have seen how the story ends. It is life not death, love not war, health not sickness. The victory is His. Hallelujah!

Prayer

Lord God, the victory belongs to you. Thank you for the promise of eternity. I put my trust in you today, knowing that at the last day you will raise me to eternal life. Amen.