Worst Case Scenario

Child in medicine maskI usually try to prepare myself for the worse case scenario and then hope for a much better outcome. I can’t always control the outcome of most situations. I can sometimes control my response to certain situations that might happen.  In fact most people have “contingency responses” to certain situations without even thinking about it. When coaches prepare for game day, they have tons of contingencies and they even have plays for different scenarios that they face.  When Doctors treat cancer, they are hoping for certain responses from the body they are treating. Jesus disciples had no idea what was coming. I don’t think that they had prepared at all for what was about to happen. Check this out….

 44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. (Luke 23:44-56 NIV)

 I can only imagine how the followers and friends of Jesus must have felt. They had to be disillusioned and lost, wondering what would happen next. I imagine that Peter & Andrew began discussing going back to fishing. The timing of Jesus death was right on the Sabbath – a day of rest. They had tons of time to think about what just happened.  I’m aware that Jesus only stayed in the tomb Friday evening, all day Saturday and rose early on Sunday morning. I wonder what that Sabbath day was like for the followers – dealing with grief and confusion. Jesus had forever changed their lives and now it was over?  They could not have imagined what was about to happen the next day.  I guess preparing for the worst case scenario isn’t always a bad thing especially when the best case scenario takes place.

Pressing On!
Dwayne

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