When the Path Looks Illogical: What Would You Do?

...[I]t is always right to step in the direction of obedience as best you can discern it and trust Jesus for the results. This is true even when some things do not make sense. Often, we only connect the dots and see what God is doing, when we look in the rear-view mirror...

Our calling is to step in the direction of obedience as best you can discern it and trust Jesus for the results… even when obedience does not make sense.

I have shared from Michael Sprague’s wisdom before. It’s rare for me to read his writings without being moved or challenged by his message.

Well, as we approach Good Friday, I want to share Michael’s cut on the story of how the upper room where Jesus would share His last Passover with His disciples was secured. This message about following the path God has marked out, no matter how illogical it may seem, until or unless He reveals more, struck me afresh - pertinent to my life today even though the events happened over 2,000 years ago.

As I allow myself to be curious, I am challenged to consider if there is a God prompt I am minimizing or ignoring because it doesn’t align with my logical mind.

What about you?

COUNTDOWN TO RESURRECTION DAY: BACK-STORY ON THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS UPPER ROOM

Passover week was always a crazy time in Jerusalem. The city swelled up like Times Square on New Year’s Eve. Every house was full. Every bed, cot and couch were spoken for. Every gathering room was rented for Thursday evening Passover meal. Reservations had to be made months in advance.

Jesus uses an unconventional approach to securing a room. He goes all cloak and daggers… with counter-intelligence and secrecy, he sends Peter and [John] out on a Mission Impossible assignment to get their little platoon a room. Little did the team know that Judas was looking to betray Jesus whenever he could identify the right tactical apprehension spot.

Jesus’ instructions to his most trusted pair of disciples (Luke 22:7-12):

1. Go into the city.

2. Look for a man carrying a pitcher of water.

3. Follow him.

4. Walk into the house he enters.

5. Say to the owner of the house, “The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”

6. Set it up for Passover.

What would you do? The old “Look for the guy with the Water Pot Approach” in the city with a million people. Now understand, waterpots were women’s jobs in the first century. (Sorry ladies.) Peter and [John] saw dozens of ladies with waterpots. The pair thought, “What self-respecting guy is going to have a waterpot?” Wait. Look. There is a guy. They trail him. They are thinking, “Should we follow him right into the house?” Indeed! That was what Jesus said. It all worked like clockwork. The upper room was perfect. VOILA!

The take home message is that it is always right to step in the direction of obedience as best you can discern it and trust Jesus for the results. This is true even when some things do not make sense. Often, we only connect the dots and see what God is doing, when we look in the rear-view mirror.

Peter and John probably thought this plan was stupid, but they obeyed anyway by faith. Likewise, Judas thought Jesus’ enfolding plan was idiotic. He disobeyed thinking he was a whole lot smarter than Jesus. He handed off Jesus’ itinerary to the Religious Leaders, they high-fived each other, exchanged 30 pieces of silver and felt the thrill of victory. They lost. They were so lost they could not see it. Jesus won.

Our calling is to step in the direction of obedience as best you can discern it and trust Jesus for the results… even when obedience does not make sense.

Is God asking you, today, to look for the guy with the waterpot?

 May this Holy week move you to curiosity about where God is speaking and leading in your life right now that you may be overlooking due to its lack of logic.

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