Then after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “This night all of you will have your faith in me shaken, for it is written: ”I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be dispersed.” But after I have raised up, I shall go before you to Galilee.” (Mt 26:30-32)
Jesus undoubtedly sang many times, but this is the only time it is mentioned in the Gospels – on the night before his death.
The conversation on the way to the Mount of Olives gets heavy. Jesus tells them that before this night ends, all of them will have their faith in him shaken.
At times our faith is shaken too. It comes down to the fundamental problem that God doesn’t live up to our expectations. The true God should:
• Prevent natural disasters (e.g. tornadoes, earthquakes),
• quickly straighten out injustices,
• eliminate sickness and suffering,
• Protect everyone from accidents, especially children.
If God is all-powerful, and God is good, then evil should not be. But evil does exist – everywhere.
We’ll never figure it out this side of the grave. All we can do is look at the cross – as evil and ugly a thing as we could think of – and say, “God help me to trust as Jesus did, that you can bring goodness out of evil.”
Spend some quiet time with the Lord.
