Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them,“We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”
Matthew 20:17-19
Every time I put on a pair of new prescription driving glasses, I feel like sighing a big "Ah..." What a difference it makes to see a few inches further! What relief to the eyes, strained and confused by the blurry distance. Sometimes, getting a new pair of spiritual glasses is exactly what I need to help me untangle a reality that gets too overwhelming to process.
Jesus was graced with perfectly clear vision, which allowed him to see the future. How horrifying it must have been to see his own undignified death as if in a crystal ball. Even before the pangs of physical pain reached him, he was already in great turmoil. No wonder he shed tears entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, no wonder the blood and sweat of Gethsemane.
Most people would rather NOT know the day and time of their passings. And consulting psychics is frowned upon by Christians(!) But occasionally, God does seem to grace certain humans with extraordinary vision into the future. A blind Bulgarian mystic (Baba Vagna), who allegedly predicted the death of Princess Diana and 9/11 among other tragedies, had made terrifying predictions for 2022, foreseeing Europe a wasteland and strife with Russia.
Turning to Scripture, what could be said about the author of the Book of Revelation, who shared his vision of the Apocalypse for no apparent self-interest? Does God reveal such stories to frighten us into obedience? How can He be the image of a loving Father when such terrible scripts are written in the plan for humanity?
I am not a theologian to answer this, but I can say that Jesus saw a few inches further beyond that incomprehensible pain… He saw a glimpse of Heaven on Mount Tabor, and he shared a piece of paradise with the thief crucified on His side. The prospect of death did not much change how He carried on the mission – sharing God’s gifts of mercy, compassion, and grace.
If I have gained some spiritual vision in the last few weeks, it shows me that no matter what happens in the world around me, my goal is still to wake up each morning and greet a new day with a bright smile. The promise of Heaven is real. The invitation is most warm and welcoming.
God bless you!
Edy
