Day 19 of 21 Day Challenge

Day 19 Shared by Tanner

I want to start by saying that this chapter is heavy. It’s the worst that Jesus had to endure so that you and I could have a relationship with him, but even in his darkest hour he shows us forgiveness. He doesn’t say to Pilot “why are you doing this to me.” When Pilot says he has the power to crucify him or set him free. Instead he says “you have no power over me unless it was given from above.” Even in the darkest hour Jesus is focused on the eternal. 

It also stood out to me that Pilot let others influence him and was swayed from what he knew was right. It’s so easy to give in and listen to the wrong people in our own lives and I pray that we don’t. 

In verse 26 and 27 we see the perfect picture of faith and what I feel like the church is called to be. 

When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Here is Jesus mother seeing her son die in the worst way imaginable and people came along beside her and helped her get through it. For those of you that don’t know I am a super nerd and my nerdy brain connected this with a quote from Gandalf from the fellowship of the ring. 

"Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay."

Let me end by saying what you do matters. It may not feel like much to you but it may mean the world to someone else. People go through dark, hard times. Meagan and I did early on in our marriage when her mom and dad passed away every day felt daunting but the TRC family came along side us and showed us love and compassion when we needed it the most, and if you are walking through the hard times in your life now there is light and hope on the other side.