When the Lord puzzles us is an experience all believers face at some time along their faith journey. While the Lord sees the bigger picture of what He is doing and where He is going, that isn’t always that clear to the sheep of His pasture. The night before His crucifixion, Jesus gathered His disciples to celebrate the Passover meal. During this time, Jesus told them many things to prepare them, but they failed to grasp what He was saying.
Several months before, Jesus had sent the twelve to share the Good News. Then they were free from concern about their safety. Jesus knew the times would be different after His death and resurrection.
Luke 22:36 “But now,” he said, “take your money and a traveler’s bag. And if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one! 37 For the time has come for this prophecy about me to be fulfilled: ‘He was counted among the rebels.’ Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true.” [1]
As Jesus spoke, the disciples were puzzled by what Jesus told them. Even when we follow God’s plan, it sometimes puzzles us because we can only see by the light that guides our path.
When Our Actions Confirm Our Confusion
The disciples must have been deeply puzzled by Jesus’s mention of swords. Luke 22:38 “Look, Lord,” they replied, “we have two swords among us.” “That’s enough,” he said.[2] Obviously, two swords would not have been enough to defend the disciples as they wrestled with Jesus’ comments. When Jesus says, “That is enough,” it is not the hour to think about swords, and He is done with any further conversation on this topic.
Jesus’ arrest heightened the disciples’ confusion. In the process, Peter took out his sword and cut the ear off the High Priest’s slave. Luke 22:11 But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?” [3]
As Peter put away his sword, Jesus healed the High Priest’s slave’s ear. If I were Peter, I would have been more puzzled regarding what Jesus said about swords. In time, Peter would understand. We experience something similar as we walk by faith but don’t completely understand what God is doing.
Turning to God When I Don’t Understand
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. [4] A lamp only lights our path as we walk along. As we follow the Lord, life is much like that. We may not understand what God is doing because we can’t see out that far. In God’s mercy, He does not overwhelm us but calls us to take one day at a time.
Peter may not have understood what Jesus was saying about the sword, but it would become apparent as he walked along the path of life with the lamp. Where is the Lord calling you to trust and follow Him even when you don’t grasp the bigger picture?
To learn more about the times when the Lord puzzles us, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/counted-among-rebels
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.