"P"

Middle of the movie. Popcorn consumed. Effects of jumbo soda inevitable. But when to leave? Will the car chase be long enough to rush out and back? Or will there be an essential gap in the plot line in the 60 seconds I’m gone? And with the interruption, however brief, comes the whispered question upon returning, “What did I miss”?

Sometimes we miss out on things. The plot of a movie. A conversation. A fun activity. Vital information in a meeting. And it can be maddening to have gaps in knowledge or experience. When it can’t be helped, it’s one thing. When we choose to leave a situation and pursue something else, even if only momentarily, the regret can be palpable.

Take Judas Iscariot, for example. After the Last Supper, when Jesus reveals Judas as the one who is about to betray Him, we learn that “as soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night”. (John 13:30) Both figuratively and literally, darkness had fallen. But take a look at what Judas missed by following his fear or greed or whatever prompted him to sell Jesus out to the religious leaders of the day:

³¹When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. ³²If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.

³³"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

³⁴"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

³⁶Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" 


Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."

³⁷Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."

³⁸Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

¹"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God trust also in me. ²In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴You know the way to the place where I am going." (John 13:31-14:4)

What perspective Judas missed by leaving Jesus’ side! He missed hearing about Jesus being glorified. He missed Jesus’ loving words about loving each other as He had loved them. He missed Peter’s query and declaration of devotion that caused Jesus to reveal Peter’s future denial. He missed hearing how Jesus was going back to the Father and preparing a place for His followers. He missed so much by leaving Jesus to pursue his own interests.

In the chapters that follow Judas’ departure Jesus describes how the Holy Spirit will come (John 14:15-31), what it means to remain connected to God (John 15), and He prays for His disciples and the world (John 16-17). In essence, Judas didn’t have any of the perspective or information he could have used to keep him from making the mistake of a lifetime. Are we in danger of making the same error? We can miss out on some “P’s” when we walk away from Jesus, even briefly, because of difficulties, defiance, or distractions.

Perspective – Judas didn’t see the big picture because he was focused on his own limited perspective. Regardless of the fact that Judas’ betrayal was part of God’s ultimate plan, the application remains: Judas made the wrong decision because he was acting on his own conclusions. We are often tempted to do the same thing. My sinful nature dictates that I put all circumstances through a self-centered filter. When I don’t like my circumstances, the only conclusion I can come to with that perspective is that God doesn’t care or that His plan isn’t working well or fast enough. But God is God and we are not. His ways and His thoughts are not like ours. (Isaiah 55) We see things clearly from the right perspective when we consult Him and bend to His will. Otherwise, our response to life’s circumstances will be at best, limited in their effectiveness, and at worst, dangerous to us and others.

Purpose – With his limited view of the situation, Judas couldn’t see the reason for Jesus’ actions and teachings. Jesus’ purpose on earth wasn’t to establish an earthly kingdom or to put the leaders of the day in their place. It wasn’t to elevate Himself or His followers to positions of power. His purpose was to redeem creation. To liberate all of mankind from the power of sin and death and deliver them over to their Father and Creator for eternal fellowship. THAT was the purpose He fulfilled in doing what He did. That purpose was clear but Judas didn’t get to hear or see that played out because he left at a crucial time in Jesus’ interaction with the others. When we distance ourselves from Jesus, we don’t get to hear His unique and loving words to us, telling us the purpose for which we were created. And not having that knowledge whispered to us again and again, from the heart of our Savior, lets us question our worth and gives the enemy a foothold to lie to us and defeat us. Conversely, God would have us tirelessly persevere in the purpose to which He has called us to serve Him and bring Him glory.

Proximity – Finally, the most heartbreaking of the effects of distancing ourselves from Jesus is that we are far from Jesus! The one thing the psalmist sought was to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of his life and to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD. (Psalm 27) The sinful woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with her tears wanted to be near Him. (Luke 7) A desperate, bleeding, isolated woman just needed to touch His robe. (Luke 8) Crowds pursued Him. Beggars, blind and lame sought Him. And when the disciple Jesus loved asked who would betray Him, he was reclining next to Him, leaning against Him. (John 13:23, 25) Regardless of our circumstances, there is no better place to be than as close to Jesus as we can possibly get. It is the only place to find rest for our souls, comfort in our suffering, and affirmation about our identities. Not only is it possible to be close to Jesus, it is preferable. Even when we perceive Him to be the source of our pain, there is no comfort away from Him – only momentary distraction. But purposing to remain close to Jesus should be our highest priority. Apart from Him we can do nothing.

Father, would you remove from our lives anything that keeps us from living in close proximity to you. Give us your perspective and reveal your purpose to us. And bring us back to your side when we find ourselves far away. Would your Presence be real and full and bold among us. Amen.

• Your only challenge/assignment this week is to meditate on the following verses and spend time drawing close to God. Quiet yourself and listen.

“The LORD your God is with you,

he is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you,

he will quiet you with his love,

he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

“Come near to God and He will come near to you.” (James 4:8)

“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” (Isaiah 55:6)

“…and they will call him Immanuel – which means, ‘God with us’.” (Matthew 1:23)