This past weekend Liz and I went to the movies to see the “Son of God”.
It is a good movie and it remains fairly faithful to the gospel texts, without getting too carried away with poetic license (maybe here and there). It is a great reminder of what Jesus went through.
But what struck me was to observe the disciples faces as the story unfolds.
At one point these young men are lifting baskets celebrating the feeding of the big crowd by their rabbi. A few scenes later they are perplex with Jesus’ unorthodox interpretation of the law, and how harshly He deals with the pharisees. Then they see Him calling a friend back to life and again they are in a high moment.
It goes like that until the disciples watch their master being arrested, trialed, and condemned to death on a cross. That was something they didn’t expect.
Confused.
They got confused.
When He dies, some go back fishing! Fishing? After three years with Jesus?
Well, honestly I sympathize with them. I have walked with Him way more than three years. I have experienced His power numerous times. I have seen Him in action transforming people’s lives.
Yet, when something is not going the way I expect, when life is hard; I question why, I doubt…
Confused.
I get confused.
I go back fishing. Well not literally because I don’t even like fishing, but back to what I am comfortable with, what I can control.
I forget the supernatural life He invited me to live.
That is when I should remind myself of what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18:
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
The disciples were confused by what they were seeing, unable to see God’s master plan behind all that.
The man on that cross was the Son of God, and His apparent defeat was His victory.
Eternal victory!
