Joyful Confidence.

A few weeks ago we talked about Mary and her alabaster box, pouring out her perfume, her most priced possession to anoint Jesus before the crucifixion. It is easy for us to miss that what Mary did was symbolic and a significant step towards Jesus heading to the cross.

In Mark 14:8-9 Jesus says, “When she poured the fragrant oil over me, she was preparing my body in advance of my burial.  She has done all that she could to honor me. I promise you that as this wonderful gospel spreads all over the world, the story of her lavish devotion to me will be mentioned in memory of her.” 

This happens within minutes of Mary pouring out oil on Jesus. In the next verse, Mark 10, it starts talking about Judas scheming to betray Jesus. So, on the one hand Jesus is being honoured, on the other He is being betrayed. By the time we finish Mark 10, Jesus has been arrested and Peter has denied Him three times.

Life is a little bit like that. On the one hand life is going well, on the other, things seem to be going downhill. One day people are celebrating Jesus in the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Matthew 21:1-11. A few days later the same people are yelling “crucify Him”, Matthew 26:66-68.

The cross is very much a reminder of God’s love for us. However, it is equally a reminder of how we are to respond to trouble in our lives. Romans 5:1-5 says, “Our faith in Jesus transfers God’s righteousness to us and he now declares us flawless in his eyes. This means we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, has done for us. 

Our faith guarantees us permanent access into this marvelous kindness that has given us a perfect relationship with God. What incredible joy bursts forth within us as we keep on celebrating our hope of experiencing God’s glory!

But that’s not all! Even in times of trouble we have a joyful confidence, knowing that our pressures will develop in us patient endurance. And patient endurance will refine our character, and proven character leads us back to hope. And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us!“

When we put our faith in Jesus, we are not afraid of trouble. There are things we can pray away. I don’t want to go through something God has not planned for me to go through. However, there are things which we are to endure. Growing in our relationship with Jesus and learning to discern His voice and His will, will teach us which is which.

As God’s children we don’t pull back from hard things. We tackle hardship face on because we know that we have the Holy Spirit living in us. We know that we are loved. We know our faith in God will never disappoint us. When our hope is in Jesus, we have nothing to fear. The outcome of every situation belongs to God.

Romans 8:28-29 says, “So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose. For he knew all about us before we were born and he destined us from the beginning to share the likeness of his Son.”

If we are to share in the likeness of Jesus and Jesus went through trouble, we can expect trouble to find us too. But like Jesus, we know that God does not waste anything, everything will be woven together to work for our good. The good, the bad and the ugly. God has a way of mixing unlikely ingredients to make the most delectable dish. God knows that He is doing.

Have a Good Easter celebrating our wonderful Jesus!

Love and blessings,

Melissa Tsingano.