No one but Jesus knew what laid in store for Him as the disciples ate supper together on that Thursday night. He tried to help those followers understand what would be the end of His earthly life on several occasions. Even the one who left the meal early to arrange for the arrest of Jesus could not imagine all that his actions would set in motion. The remaining men expressed their loyalty no matter the circumstance with an arrogance soon to be shattered by soldiers with swords. How lonely must those hours be for our Lord? He not only carries the literal weight of the world on those shoulders but He lives the last hours reminded of humanity's frailty.

Even after the meal, there will be that time where Jesus searches the deepest part of the Father's heart. All week the prevailing opinion rested in Jesus' favor until now. Just a few days before the crowds celebrated His arrival in the city with a demonstration fit for a king. Somewhere during this Thursday night the tide would turn until the same crowd would cry out for His death. The voice of that crowd would drown out reason, logic and law to send Jesus to His death.

Thursdays often are just Thursdays. It is a day that goes without the anticipation of earlier in the week. It also lacks the hope of a Friday when the weekend is near. Eternal things occurred on that Thursday two thousand years ago. The lasting effect of Good Friday really is the result of Thursday. We see man at his worst in betrayal and denial. We read of God moving His purpose forward regardless of approval by those who could not understand. We live today as followers of Jesus because He chooses to do the will of God no matter the pain.

Pain comes in many forms. On Good Friday our Lord will suffer physical suffering that hopefully no other human needs to know. He also suffers that loneliness of those He called friends but who left Him in the hour of need. He also faces that pain of doing the will of His Father in a final act of sacrifice. Do not think His pain is limited to nails and wood. His pain includes the human dimension we all understand. His pain is our pain.

A grieving mother stopped by today to visit about her life in light of her loss. A young son lies in a grave miles from here. Her pain and that of her family is raw as well as real. Cliches are no real help in times like this. Religious recitation is no salve for her open wounds. What she needs is a God who not only cares but who understands. Jesus does that for us. He knows what it is to weep. He knows what it is to ache. He knows what it is to feel cut off from those He counts as His closest companions. He knows what Thursdays are like with its choices for life. We know on this Thursday before Easter what the rest of the story will be. But will we walk in His strength into the rest of life?

Bro. Trey