Not Shrinking Back

Tuesday, April 5, 2011 Reading: John 18:1-11 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%2018&version=NIV Reflection: Two things strike me as I read this passage. The first is how Jesus never tried to run and hide from the consequences of his actions and his calling. When Judas arrives with a group of people to arrest Jesus, he steps forward and confesses that He is the man that they are looking for. He didn't hide hoping they would go away. He didn't use His disciples as human shields. He simply stepped to the front, identified himself as the man for whom they were looking, and willingly accepted His fate. In fact, in accepting His own fate Jesus actually tried to protect His disciples by asking that they be set free. So, rather than using His disciples to save His own life, Jesus offers His life to save His disciples. How different this is from what many leaders do in our day. The second thing that strikes me is that part of Jesus motive was the fulfillment of scripture. John, while recording this event, adds the comment that what happened in this incident fulfilled what was written in the scriptures. So, it would appear that Jesus' actions were not impromptu decisions made on the fly. Rather, Jesus did what the scriptures said He should do so that not only would God's will be accomplished through Him, but that it would be accomplished in the intended way. So Jesus does God's will God's way...He does the right thing in the right way. May it be that we know the word well enough so that when life comes at us, we can apply His word to our actions and end up doing God's will in God's way...moving forward in faith rather than shrinking back in fear.