And So I Read

So... I've had a lot to think about in the last few days. To the point where my sleep is inadequate, my chest is in a constant tightened position, and my brain has begun to smoke... in that my thoughts are literally starting to fry and burn my neurons! Attempting to organize- or rather subdue them- I turned to my Bible. And I went right to the passage that I've been meditating on throughout the Lent season...

'...we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know 

that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, 

character; and character hope. And hope DOES NOT disappoint us, 

because God has poured out his love into our hearts...'

'You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.'

~Romans 5:3-6~

'The right time'. It never occurred to me before that God PICKED 30 A.D. as the year of Jesus' persecution, death, and resurrection. Not the year before, the decade prior, or within the decade following it. But that specific long 'weekend' to have the people witness His miracle and act of love.

This precision is echoed through the gospels; Jesus telling his disciples multiple times that it 'must happen this way' (Matthew 26:54). A way that involved humiliation and mocking, brutal beatings and floggings. It was also one that Jesus did not turn from. Like God, He knew the end goal.

This is the time of year that we reflect on His choice. Maybe we can't answer the 'when' (Many of us are no doubt asking WHY NOW?) but we know the 'why'. The reason He pained, and allowed rejection and slaughter.

Because He would bear that before bearing our eternal separation from Him.

My take away from that is how God took a moment... and He made a decision...

My chest is still tight. But not as tight as it has been. I trust that it will be less tight tomorrow.