Finding The Prize Egg
I watched as my great nieces and nephews scattered across the yard collecting eggs. Few really had to be hunted because they were simply strewn across the yard in full view. Some were carefully tucked away with a bit of a challenge for the older ones. Hidden for each child was one really large prize egg with their name written on it. Of course these were not quite so obvious, but took a little extra time to find. I watched with anticipation as I saw each child discover their personal treasure. There was much laughter and delight surrounding these candy-filled eggs.
My Easter readings caused my heart to overflow with gratitude like plastic eggs spilling out jellybeans. Year after year, I had read all four gospel accounts of the last week of Christ’s life, but this year there was a surprise with my name written on it. There it lay hidden for my discovery. I had quickly read and treasured all the details of the most amazing event in all of history, but there always seems to be little treasures tucked away for us as we grow and mature in our walk with Him. It had always been there, but this year it leaped off the page and seemed to shout to me. I grabbed hold of it and tucked it into the bucket of my heart where faith exploded.
I read of how Jesus closely journeyed this last week with his disciples telling them all that would take place. Of course they heard His words, but they could not hear the meaning. We read scripture with the knowledge of what happened, but they heard the words of what was to come. It made no sense to them at the time, but looking back they saw His preparation in all things.
The first surprise was hidden in Luke 19:28-32.
After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' say, 'The Lord needs it.’”
Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.
And there it was again in Mark 14:12-16.
On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”
The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them.
If you look closely you will find this truth hidden throughout scripture. Step by step Jesus had told them what to do. Go here and you will find a colt. Go hear and you will meet a man carrying a jar. Follow him. It all sounds crazy and very uncomfortable, but as they obeyed, scripture says they found it just as he told them. The same is true for us. As we obey His every word, we too will find things just as Jesus tells us.
Will we believe?
Will we follow His voice?
Will we obey the craziest of instructions that always lead to the right way?
This is the amazing and beautiful thing about this personal relationship with Jesus that we have been invited into. He knows all things and He will direct all of our paths. As we walk with Him and talk with Him, He will give us specifics just as He did the disciples.
We have been conditioned and trained to make our own decisions--to weigh the pros and cons and decide how to do something. We go our own way and then wonder why life has turned out to be such a mess. He waits to instruct our every step enabling us to obey Him in all things. He is a personal Lord that speaks and guides us into all truth.
Listen…Obey…You will find it just as Jesus says.
Lord, open my spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear the hidden treasures that you have for me. Enable me by your spirit to obey all of your ways. Give me faith to believe that as I follow you, I will find it just as you tell me.