Grand stage productions don’t just happen.
Visit Broadway, and the lights flash along the street, drawing us in. Inside the theaters, we find glamour and polish. Nothing is left undone. When the curtain goes up, we expect perfection, for every actor to know his part, and for the lighting to add zing to every word uttered.
It is, too, an invention of amazing exquisiteness that leaves us breathless with wonder.
The magnificence doesn’t just happen. It is created, one stage set at a time.
So, how come we expect our Christian lives to just bang into being, all complete, with the wonder and glory we see in the lives of Christians who’ve walked with Jesus for half a century or more? If Christ wants our production to be exquisite, he has to take the time to set the stage.
John 6:17 tells us:
“And he entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus did not come to them.”
This is the set up for the story of Jesus walking on the water. We’ve all heard it. However, when the disciples were on the water and the winds began to blow, there was nothing reassuring about it. The lights of Jesus’ magnificence didn’t lead them along. It seemed they were forgotten, and they were afraid they would die.
Yet, Jesus was just preparing the stage.
First, he gave them directions: “Go to Capernaum.”
This is the same as a stage director pointing out where things should be to ensure a flawless performance. Alone, each part makes no sense. It’s when it comes together that the magnificence will come into its own.
Next, Jesus sets the stage: He doesn’t show up.
This is exactly what he knew would bring out the amazing truth of who he was. If he was with the disciples, they’d never have the chance to see their fear turned into belief. Jesus had to appear on stage at just the right moment, and that was at the height of impending disaster. Nothing else would have brought the stunning ending to these events that we understand today.
We know the words Jesus speaks a couple of verses down in John 6:20:
“It is I. Be not afraid.”
Our lives are the same. Jesus wants the events that play out around us to be magnificent. However, he has to set the stage and appear at just the right time so that our story becomes perfection to the world. He wants every moment of every day to add zing to the message we share with the world.
One stage set at a time.
When things don’t go the way we want, remember, God is simply setting the stage for a magnificent performance by our coming Lord and King.
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