Road to the Cross: Come! → Allies Praise

Dear Reader, thank you for joining me on the road to the cross. My heart leaps to share the old, old story that remains new. Please accept my humble accounting of the treacherous path Jesus and His followers took to the cross, and gloriously beyond.

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I saw Him. I touched the nail holes in His hands, touched the wound in His side.

26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.”
27 Then he focused his attention on Thomas. “Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don’t be unbelieving. Believe.”
28 Thomas said, “My Master! My God!”
29 Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.”
John 20:26-29 MSG

He traded my arrogance, my skepticism for peace and acceptance. He gave me hope.

And yet, we seemed to be drawn back to the water? Were we reckless? Perhaps searching for the familiar when everything around us seemed to have turned upside down, and inside out?

2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathan′a-el of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zeb′edee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing.
John 21:2-3 RSV

How fruitless our labors! A full night of exhausting work, and for what? Is the Master still trying to teach us? Is our work for nothing unless He is the center of it?

4 Early the next morning Jesus stood on the shore. But the followers did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then he said to them, “Friends, have you caught any fish?”
They answered, “No.”
6 He said, “Throw your net into the water on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they did this. They caught so many fish that they could not pull the net back into the boat.
John 21:4-6 ICB

Peter and Andrew still talk about another day when they went fishing. The day the Master called them.

Jesus said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you a different kind of fishermen. You will bring in people, not fish.”
Matthew 4:19 ERV

My spirit mourns for not believing, and leaps at the Savior’s forgiveness and provision. Just as our Heavenly Father assured Joshua when our fathers stood on the edge of the Promised Land, our Savior beckons us to more. Are we standing on the verge of a new Promised Land?

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 RSV

He has not left us afraid, or hungry. Our Master has provided all we may ever need.

12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat.” None of the followers dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them. He also gave them the fish.
John 21: 12-13 ICB