A Life in Exile

We’re down to the last few posts before the end of our look into the importance of remembering, as it relates to the Lord and His Word. Today, we’re in the Gospels, and there is a lot that Jesus tells his disciples that they don’t understand in the moment but remember later on—sometimes when it’s too late.

His words and encouragement to remember are for us as well, especially when it comes to suffering, but also in the hope of his return.

Remember, all he did was in fulfillment of Scripture.

Though most had studied Torah and received the education of most Jewish boys of their day, the disciples struggled, as we often do, with connecting the dots and relating anything from Old Testament prophecies to their current situation. Without the Holy Spirit, it was hard to recognize that what they were hearing and seeing was all in fulfillment of the prophecies about the coming Messiah. John points this out in relating the story of Jesus’s clearing of the temple.

He told those who were selling doves, “Get these things out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!” And his disciples remembered that it is written: Zeal for your house will consume me. So the Jews replied to him, “What sign will you show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days.” Therefore the Jews said, “This temple took forty-six years to build, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. So when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the statement Jesus had made. (John 2:16-22 CSB)

Though they caught the connection in the act of clearing the temple, they didn’t understand the relationship with his words about the destruction of the temple. Only later did they realize he was talking about his death and resurrection, not the literal temple of Jerusalem.

Even as he entered the city on that great and glorious day before Passover, Scripture was being shouted by the crowds. His disciples joined in as well. They knew the prophets had mentioned a donkey in relation to the King of Israel. Still, it did not sink in until after his ascension when the Spirit gave them understanding as they remembered the events and words.

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written: Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion. Look, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt. His disciples did not understand these things at first. However, when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. (John 12:14-16)

Even at the resurrection, the angels reminded the women that all he said would come to pass, and it had.

They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. “He is not here, but he has risen! Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, saying, ‘It is necessary that the Son of Man be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’?” And they remembered his words. (Luke 24:3-8)

Jesus fulfilled words of prophecy in his every action and word. We do well to remember this.

Have faith in the moment, not just in remembering.

Jesus said some hard things. When he lashed out at a poor fig tree and cursed it, I’m sure the disciples were just staring and wondering what brought on such an outburst. The tree did not immediately wither before their eyes, but as they passed by it the next morning, it had indeed been sucked of life and was dead. Only then did Peter remember what he’d said the day before.

Early in the morning, as they were passing by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. Then Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” Jesus replied to them, “Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. (Mark 11:20-23)

Jesus goes on to give them a lesson in faith. Peter remembered his words about the tree, and by seeing the withered tree, he believed. Jesus wanted him to be a disciple who would believe without seeing. This was just part of a much bigger lesson about the lack of faith of the religious Jews.

Can you believe God without seeing? What has he caused you to remember after the fact to increase your faith?

Peter still must learn the lesson of faith the hard way.

Tried as he did, Peter was inconsistent in his trust in who Jesus was and in his own abilities. Through his failures, Peter would learn that Christ alone is worthy of our trust. We, however, are weak and fallen humans, unable to stand firm in the face of opposition. Three gospels share accounts of Peter’s fallibility the night of Christ’s arrest. They are similar, so I’ll only share that of Matthew. This is just as he is approached a third time in the courtyard.

After a little while those standing there approached and said to Peter, “You really are one of them, since even your accent gives you away.”

Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed, and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. (Matthew 26:73-75)

In his remembrance of the rabbi’s words, he faced his sin and confessed his failings. We know the Lord was gracious with him and forgave him. The beautiful scene by the sea in John 25 reveals how Jesus welcomed him back into the fold, not holding against him that which had already been forgiven. Instead of doubting and contradicting the Lord’s words, Peter should have recognized that Jesus knew him better than he knew himself—as he does us.

What Jesus wants us to remember.

Those who choose to follow Jesus identify with him in every aspect of life, including in his suffering. We do well to remember these words.

Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they don’t know the one who sent me. (John 15:20-21)

These words should not scare us, but instead, give us courage. He knows what we are going through, and he’s with us in the suffering.

Jesus wanted his words to be remembered by his disciples because he knew a time was coming when his Spirit would enable them to understand what was beyond their understanding at the time. Remembering would build their faith and trust in Christ and embolden their witness for him to the nations.

But I have told you these things so that when their time comes you will remember I told them to you. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you. (John 16:4)

I’m grateful we have the Spirit of Truth in us to guide us in all truth and to give us understanding of how in Christ all things come together from Genesis through the Prophets to Revelation. What a great thing to remember!

Grace and Peace

If you missed the last Friday Focus post, click HERE, or start from the Beginning.