A Promise Kept

Have you ever have someone break a promise? Was it a brother, sister or parent? Could it be a teacher or a friend? What about a promise that was made and it took years for them to fulfill it? Maybe a parent promising you a trip to Disney World when you get bigger? How big were you when it happened? How about when adults say to child “I promise, you’ll understand when you get older?” Was it a spouse promising that when you have money you’ll take a vacation or your child promising to clean their room? It’s disappointing when they don’t keep their promises, isn’t it?

Can you imagine waiting over 400 years for God’s promise of a Savior to come? The Jews wanted a hero and a solder. I’m imagining David leading his men into battle or maybe Samson, who was big and strong. Then to get a baby and I can hear the skeptical mind going “OK – let’s see how this pans out.” When the baby becomes a boy and then a man, I bet they were thinking “….waiting on the soldier to appear, come on… any day now.” Instead He is baptized by John the Baptist, eats with tax collectors, protects fallen women, heals the sick, champions the “unworthy” and his best friends are a group of misfits from tax collector to fishermen and everything in between. I wonder how many thought “And this is the promise that we’ve waited over 400 years for, seriously?” What about the gentiles that were waiting on His coming? DO you think they were expecting a baby? I think if I were there, I’d be more apt to not care but I’d wonder where I fit into all of it.  But Jesus came for the Jews and Gentile both. He spoke and ministered to both of them. There is a place in His kingdom for all who believe.  

For 33 years Jesus walked the earth, preaching, healing, bringing people the good news, and loving on all of them. All of this knowing what was going to happen to Him. What if He had gotten to that point and said to God “I can’t do it; it’s too much that you ask of me; or these people just aren’t worth it?” But He didn’t. He prayed for deliverance in the garden but when it didn’t happen, He did what was asked of Him. He kept His promise. How many of us would do the same?

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday he was fulfilling a prophecy – all those promises and even warnings all coming true. But I think it was a little glimpse of how it will be in heaven when we all are rejoicing and glorifying God. Easter is when He kept God’s promise and saved us all. Palm branches and singing His praises. I love it because those people in that moment glorified Him the way He should be glorified.

His death and ascension into hell, prophecy filled, yes but oh so much more. Can you imagine what His time in Hell was like? I don’t even want to think of it. The biggest torture chamber, the worst of the worst happened to Him – AFTER He suffered going and on the cross.  My heart breaks for the sacrifice He made. A sacrifice He made for anyone who believes. But it’s personal, it’s a sacrifice He made for me. Why, when I know I don’t deserve it? Because He thinks I’m worthy, even though I know I’m not. Mercy - yes, grace – definitely but without a doubt – love!

The biggest, the best, and the ultimate promise ever made came true on Easter. He didn’t stay in Hell and He didn’t stay dead. He ROSE, He came back, and He was alive. His time in hell was temporary but His love is everlasting; His time on earth was short but impactful, it changed everything; and all because of His love for us… all because He said yes. 

So as Easter approaches and we enter Holy Week, think of the promise made to us and how He kept His promise. And after Easter, when we feel as if we don’t hear God speaking or His answers aren’t what we want them to be, remember how He was silent for over 400 years but still kept His promise.