Facing pain

Traditionally many Christians remember on the Tuesday of Holy Week how our Lord is pained by the unbelief around him. I know this will surprise many - it doesn't seem a Passion reading yet it takes us to a deeper place.  John 12:37-40 is read.

         Although he had performed so many signs in their presence they did 
         not believe in him. This was to fulfill the word spoken by the prophet 
         Isaiah: 
         "Lord who has believed our message, 
         and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?'
         And so they could not believe because Isaiah also said,
        "He has blinded their eyes
         and hardened their heart,
         so that they might not look with their eyes,
         and understand with their hear and turn-
         and I would heal them."

It is a deep spiritual mystery why so many do not believe and why Jesus facing his death, he who is the Way, the Truth and the Life, is ignored, despised and hated by so many.  On this day we remember his sheer courage walking ahead with love for the world in face of all the unbelief around.  I say courage because it's not only physical courage to face death, but mental courage to face the hostility and disbelief all around him. He must have endured some pain. What courage it takes to keep going when people will betray, deny, spit, beat and then crucify him - him of all people!  Yes, spiritual courage to keep going because of the mission to reconcile the world to God through his own sacrifice.

And because he goes there for us never forget that Jesus has enough courage and love through conquering sin and Death itself to spare some for you and me today.