No matter your political views, your view of the pandemic or climate change, one thing is for sure Bob Dylan was right, “The times they are a changing.” Dylan wrote that song in 1963, and those were times when it seemed life as it had been being turned upside down. And today we find a lot of truth and anxiety in the repeat of history. But there has always been times of great upheaval and life taking off in different directions. Our parents and grandparents felt that a hundred years ago. Our society went from being mainly rural to a great flight of folks moving to cities. War seemed around every corner with the feeling that life as we knew it could soon be over. Yet out of those times came the greatest growth our country has seen.
The disciples themselves faced uncertainty and change. One of the greatest challenges they faced was seeing Jesus, their Lord, crucified. They believed that he would be here, if not forever, at least for a long time. They believed he would lead a great revolt against Rome and restore the greatness of Israel. Yet here he was hanging on a cross, dying. The evening before, in the upper room, Jesus had shared with them all of this and his plan for getting them through. They would receive another helper, the Holy Spirit, and he would be with them and guide them through all of this. At the time they didn’t understand and the next day I’m sure his words never crossed their minds. But over the next few weeks, as he appeared to them and reminded them, the message began to sink in. On the day of Pentecost they stood before the very people who had yelled “Crucify him” and proclaimed the gospel message. They then went on to preach their message across the known world.
Things may feel out of control these days, but don’t fear, God is still in control. His Spirit is still active today, leading us and strengthening us even in days of uncertainty.
Don
The disciples themselves faced uncertainty and change. One of the greatest challenges they faced was seeing Jesus, their Lord, crucified. They believed that he would be here, if not forever, at least for a long time. They believed he would lead a great revolt against Rome and restore the greatness of Israel. Yet here he was hanging on a cross, dying. The evening before, in the upper room, Jesus had shared with them all of this and his plan for getting them through. They would receive another helper, the Holy Spirit, and he would be with them and guide them through all of this. At the time they didn’t understand and the next day I’m sure his words never crossed their minds. But over the next few weeks, as he appeared to them and reminded them, the message began to sink in. On the day of Pentecost they stood before the very people who had yelled “Crucify him” and proclaimed the gospel message. They then went on to preach their message across the known world.
Things may feel out of control these days, but don’t fear, God is still in control. His Spirit is still active today, leading us and strengthening us even in days of uncertainty.
Don
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