Palm Branches and Late Night TV

Do you remember the days as a kid waking up in the middle of the night by the sudden surge of last  night's dinner rearing it's dreadful face?

Splattered on the floor because you couldn't tiptoe your way to the bathroom without your night light on, and all you knew to do was whisper, "Mom, I need you!"

Lights on. Hovered over the toilet. Cold damp rag now placed on the back of your neck. A couple of saltine crackers and a small glass of ginger ale. That nauseating feeling now at bay after several heaves into some porcelain bowl. "Lord, please let this cup pass from me!"

You make your way to the living room sofa with a new set of PJ's. Your mom turns on the TV with you favorite popcorn bowl resting by your side until you doze off to sleep again.

All you can hope for is, "morning is coming!" When all will be made right by cheese toast, a glass of orange juice, and a fading memory of last night's horrific scene that formed a trail of slightly used spaghetti noodles down the hallway.

My mom and sister still get a kick at reminding me how bad of a patient I was as a kid, moaning and whining and complaining about how bad I was feeling. I was a terrible patient. I showed a low tolerance for pain and discomfort.

Just to be clear, I hate pain and suffering. It's seems so emasculating. And to think that pain is sometimes necessary is despicable to me.

I prefer comfort and convenience. And, in most cases, I like to be in control. Every 'i' dotted and every 't' crossed. Writing out my story where I get everything I ever wanted and seeing the story through to the end.

Can you imagine the Sunday before Easter? Palm Sunday as they call it. Jesus entering the streets of Jerusalem far from sickness and discomfort. In effect, the complete opposite. People laying down palm branches as He comes riding into town on a donkey. He's being treated like a king.

Those are the days we prefer. Everything lined up perfectly, going as planned. Celebrations. Parties. The rent is paid. The power still on. Maybe even a promotion. The kids' report cards have great marks. A weekend getaway just around the corner.

But you see, Jesus knew Friday was coming. We call it Good Friday. But it was far from good for those standing by who had truly cherished His friendship and committed their lives to following Him.

Later in the week He would be wrongfully accused, arrested, beaten, and crucified. Before His arrest, He would pray, "If there be any way, let this cup pass from Me!" He understood the suffering that would soon be upon Him.

Not the suffering of some virus like the flu or chicken pox. Not the suffering of smashing His finger with a hammer on His latest carpentry project. Not the suffering of cancer or a terrible auto accident. But the suffering caused by separation from the Father's presence as He bore weight of the world's sins upon His shoulders on the cross.

One of the ways that makes His suffering different than ours is that He suffered well. He embraced the suffering when He concluded His prayer with "Nevertheless, not My will but Your will be done." More importantly than escaping the suffering, as we often attempt to do, He stood in the gap and accomplished God's eternal purposes that required His suffering for your sake and mine.

While hanging on the cross, instead of blaming others for false accusations or calling out judgment for their evil deeds, He graciously asked the Father to forgive them. His crucifixion was not only the atoning sacrifice for sins but it became the catalyst for reconciliation into the family of God.

You and I would do well to see the example of Christ as an opportunity to learn to suffer well. To embrace the struggle. To let God's hand complete His work in us. To trust that what He's doing will bring about His intended purpose. To ultimately give Him His due glory.

It's normal to become angry, to place blame, to cast judgment, to feel ashamed. Those are real emotions and responses attached to every person's sinful, fallen nature. And living life with others makes these feelings even more real. But suffering well is holding on to a promise beyond the momentary afflictions we face in this life.

In spite of all that seemed to go wrong on Good Friday, Jesus knew something that His followers failed to see; Sunday is coming!