Jesus Felt Troubled Too

Scripture

John 12:27-29
[Jesus Said] ²⁷ “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” ²⁹ The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”  (NRSV)

Devotion

 If the coronavirus has taught me one thing, it is that I know a whole lot people who work or volunteer in helping professions.  Some are healthcare providers. Some are educators.  Many are pastors or lay leaders.   Each day, these helpers fill my news feed with potential resources, messages of hope, and invitations to share my sorrows with a safe person.  As the crisis has deepened and lengthened, another type of message has begun to gain prominence Every so often, some of the greatest helpers I know post soulful messages about how troubled they are.  They know that God has given them important work to do, and they are willing to keep doing it; but oh, what grief-filled and anxious work this is. 

Today's reading from John has Jesus expressing the same sentiment.  Jesus has recently entered Jerusalem.  Although he has to be weary from the journey (not to mention all the preaching, teaching, and miracles he's performed along the way) our Savior is already looking forward to the cross.  It is only natural for him to be deeply troubled that in just a few days' time, he will betrayed, mocked, tortured, and executed. With all that Jesus has already done, how can God expect him to die like that?   How can such a horrific act possibly glorify God?

Jesus doesn't ignore or hide his sorrows.  Instead, he publicly takes those feelings straight to God.  He explains that he knows that God has brought him to this particular point in time in order to carry out a hard job.  What he needs now is not be saved from his fate, but some form of assurance that his sacrifice will glorify God.  A voice from heaven responds by promising that God's name will be glorified.  Jesus will not die in vain.  That assurance helps Jesus continue down the path that God has laid before him.

Beloved, we are making difficult sacrifices right now.  It is natural for us to feel weary, frustrated, and full of grief.   Jesus teaches us that it is okay to admit that we are troubled.  When it all seems like too much to bear, we can go to God in prayer.  When we do so, God will find a way to reassure us.  And who knows?  When we are brave enough to be like Jesus and make our misgivings known in a public forum, our willingness to be vulnerable with one another may help someone else who is struggling.  However we go to God for reassurance, we can trust that, yes, we have been brought to this time and place for a reason.  Yes, God has sent certain tasks before us.  And yes, Christ will use our witness to glorify God's name.

Later today, I will publicly cast my burdens on God by sharing my own troubles on Facebook.  Like my friends and colleagues who have already been brave enough to take this step, I will await God's reply by reading the comments I receive and listening for the voice of the Holy Spirit.   I pray that when you are troubled, you are able to lift those feelings up to God and receive the answers you need.  Never forget that the Holy One is on your side.  God is here to ease be our bridge over these troubled waters.  And just as he did for Jesus on his way to the cross, God will ease our minds.
 

Prayer

Jesus, you know that we are weary and troubled.  Help us to be like you, casting our worries upon our Heavenly Father and trusting in his response.  May we ever stay by your side and follow your example as you journey towards the cross.  Amen.