Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now,
but afterwards you will understand.” ~ John 13:7
If you attended the Holy Week services, you’ll recall the context of this verse is Jesus washing the disciples’ feet at the Last Supper. ‘Afterwards’…at what point did the disciples understand? And specifically, what did they understand? Do we understand?
Initially, the disciples dismissed the ‘idle tale’ of the women who went to the tomb (Luke 24:11). Perhaps they still didn’t believe Peter when he said Jesus appeared to him (1 Corinthians 15:5), thinking he was distressed over denying Him in such a shameful manner. Perhaps understanding gained traction when the two men on the road to Emmaus happened to exclaim, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” (Luke 24:34), affirming what Peter shared.
But it was the Lord Jesus who enlightened them just as He opened the Scriptures to those two men (Luke 24:32, 46). Jesus told them, “Repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations” (Luke 24:47). Wouldn’t you have liked to sit in on that Sunday School lesson?
No doubt the Lord covered Isaiah’s prophecy. He was despised, rejected, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, and esteemed not, for He has borne our griefs, carried our sorrows, was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:3-6).
What we needed most, Jesus secured for us by giving Himself for us. What we were unable to do, He did for us. Therefore, God has highly exalted Him, that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11). Isaac Watts put it this way: Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all. In other words, Easter is the heart of stewardship.
Dan Gallagher, Stewardship Team