In the Other Hand

Here, we stand at the threshold of Jesus' final steps through Jerusalem as He prepares to speak His last words before taking His last breath. We are blessed to be on the journey with Jesus, but it is especially difficult to stay by His side in the events of His death and dying. It's hard because we know at our core that He would look each of us in the face and say, "I did it for you." Sit with that image for a moment. Close your eyes, lean into His gaze, hear Him call your name, and feel His immense love for you. During this Holy Week, can you let go of worries, fears, and distractions and focus on that truth?

Look at your hands. What are you holding on to? Are you holding Jesus' hand? When we hold His hand, we don't want to let go. In fact, we may want to pull Him in the other direction, but then we would be missing the point ~ like Peter. So, let's keep walking with Jesus. As we hold His hand tightly, we feel the immense strength of His power and might despite the physical weakness of his beaten and bruised body. It is difficult heart work to walk with someone in such grave pain and close to death. We can do nothing to stop it. We can only trust that our companionship and love are enough. We hold their hand in deep sorrow of impending death, and in the other hand, we hold immense love and gratitude for their life.

It's like the extreme of emotions from Palm Sunday. We arrived holding a palm branch in our hand, eager to welcome Jesus with loud Hosannas and wide smiles. We shout, "We praise You! Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed are You, and Blessed are we who know You!" But, in the other hand, we hold a nail built from our sin, and we begin yelling, "Crucify Him!" only a few steps ahead! Though such intense feelings seem miles apart, any of us can quickly cross that boundary when fear and shame enter the picture. It is more comfortable to stuff down those feelings in a dark corner and join the loud crowd, even if we disagree with them. We can pacify our inaction by reasoning that it wouldn't do any good to speak the truth anyway because so few, if any, would stand with us.

How can we hold our love for Jesus in one hand

and our betrayal of His love in the other hand?

And, all the while, His love for us never changes. How can that be?

Two of the most important lessons I have learned in my life are:

1) There is nothing I can do to make God love me any less.

2) There is nothing I can do to make God love me more.

God's love is unconditional. We love with conditions; He doesn't. He is always ready to forgive us for the times when we, like Judas, turn away from Him and seek more money, possessions, and power. He is ready to forgive us for the times when we, like Peter, deny our close relationship with Him for fear of the crowds who don't want Him to be praised, honored, and revered. But, when we do turn away, deny, or choose something or someone else before Him, we can be like Peter and return to Him, seeking forgiveness again and again. God had big plans for Peter, and He has big plans for you and me, too!

That's why we've got to hold onto Jesus with one hand and try to never let go!

What do we hold in the other hand? Usually, we are holding onto a lot. Often, what we hold in the other hand seems impossible to hold together.

Grief & Joy

Sin & Mercy

Hurt & Healing

Greed & Gratitude

Poverty & Abundance

Loneliness & Companionship

Sometimes, we hold all of it in the other hand. With Jesus, we can continue moving along the mysterious path of life. We may feel stuck at times, and that's when we must pause and look deeply within. We ask ourselves, "What am I holding onto that prevents me from holding His hand?" Ask the Lord to help you see what you have still not let go of during this Lenten journey.

We are walking with Him among the critics and persecutors. What do we say to those who are mean and ugly and not following Jesus? How do we respond to the anger within and around us? In what ways are we still supporting the Cross with our sin?

We've got to own our part, confess our sins, and repent

in order to partake in the true joy of the Resurrection.

Take extra time to sit in Sacred Silence with God during this most Holy Week and ask Him what needs to be released in your life. Be open. Believe that He will reveal the answer.

Let us pray: Jesus, I want to be truly united with You during these days of Holy Week so that I feel Your presence more intensely than ever. I open myself to receive the blessings that await me as I take these final steps with You in the presence of Your Holy Spirit. Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve You as You deserve. To give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wound, to toil and not to seek rest, to labor and not to seek reward. Save that of feeling that I may do Your Holy will. Amen.