He is Faithful

It’s hard to believe there is anything consistent in this crazy world. Even right now as I write, the second hurricane in the past few weeks is ransacking the United States and people are losing everything. With things in such upheaval, how can we know or continue to hold on to our faith believing Jesus is faithful?

These thoughts take me to the night that Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane and in anguish He sweat drops of blood, knowing the torture He was about to face. I imagine the next few moments, hundreds maybe even 1,000 romans soldiers marching in on one side, the religious leaders all decked out in their religious gear charging up on the other side, both gazing angrily at Jesus for causing them trouble. These men Jesus had created coming so ferociously they could have killed Him on the spot. And Jesus looking through the torment in their eyes realizing yet again, that after all He had said and done, they still didn’t get it. They didn’t believe He was the Messiah.

“Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to Him, came forward and said to them, ‘Whom do you seek?’ They answered Him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ Jesus said to them, ‘I am He.’ Judas, who betrayed Him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” —John 18:4–6

If Jesus admitting He was “Jesus of Nazareth” caused the men there to fall down on the ground, then He absolutely had the power right then and there to save Himself, yet He chose not to. He chose to show the Roman guards and the chief priests and Pharisees and us just how much He loved us by sacrificing Himself—giving them the authority to beat and crucify Him. If Jesus could be faithful in this, it proves He is here and faithful to us now.

When all of this went down, I’m sure the disciples were very confused. They felt threatened. They didn’t understand. I’m sure they even questioned if they believed. But still, even in this, Jesus came back, rose from the dead, appeared to them, and sent the Holy Spirit. He was ever so faithful to them despite their unbelief and fear. This shows us that Jesus’ faithfulness doesn’t rely on us, on how we feel, or what we see. Jesus’ faithfulness relies on and is proven through Him—His sacrifice, continual love, forgiveness, and grace towards us.

The truth of what happened in the Garden of Gethsemane and the hours after helps me remember He is faithful no matter what today looks like.

I don’t know what you’re going through—whether you were part of the storms that have caused much pain or if there is an inner hurricane stirring in your heart today. Maybe it’s the opposite for you. Maybe you are in a place of abundance and peace. No matter what the circumstance, it is good to be reminded that our Jesus is constant, loyal, reliable, and unchanging.

He is here with us. He gave His life for us even when we didn’t want Him and couldn’t understand. He is faithful.