Lagging Behind

Luke 24:9-11 And having returned from the tomb, they reported all these things [taken together] to the eleven apostles and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who reported these things to the apostles.But these reports seemed to the men an idle tale (madness, feigned things, nonsense), and they did not believe the women.

From the Garden to the Crucifixion, from the Crucifixion to the Resurrection men seem to be lagging behind women. Eve met satan as tempter in the Garden. Where was Adam? Right there beside her not saying a word. At the cross of Christ’s crucifixion the women stood at the foot of Jesus’ cross, while the men – Jesus’ Disciples, except one, ran away and hid behind closed doors. At the resurrection the women got up early and went to the tomb, only to find Jesus resurrected from the dead. Where were the men? Back at home, behind closed doors. When the women came and reported Jesus had risen from the dead they thought the women were outside their minds. Why? They did not believe. From Adam, to the Disciples at Jesus’ Crucifixion, to His Resurrection, till now – men lag behind women in belief. Men lag behind women in action. Men lag behind women in follow through. What’s the solution?

Leonard Ravenhill: THERE’S NOTHING MORE transfiguring than prayer. People often ask, “Why do you insist on prayer so much?” The answer is very simple – because Jesus did. You could change the title of the Gospel according to St. Luke to the Gospel of Prayer. It’s the prayer life of Jesus. The other evangelists say that Jesus was in the Jordan and the Spirit descended on Him as a dove – Luke says it was while He was praying that the Spirit descended on Him. The other evangelists say that Jesus chose 12 disciples – Luke says it was after He spent a night in prayer that He chose 12 disciples. The other evangelists say that Jesus died on a cross – Luke says that even when He was dying Jesus was praying for those who persecuted Him. The other evangelists say Jesus went on a mount and He was transfigured – Luke says it was while He was praying that He was transfigured. There’s nothing more transfiguring than prayer. The Scriptures say that the disciples went to bed, but Jesus went to pray – as was His custom. It was His custom to pray. Now Jesus was the Son of God – He was definitely anointed for His ministry. If Jesus needed all that time in prayer, don’t you and I need time in prayer? If Jesus needed it in every crisis, don’t you and I need it in every crisis? The story goes that a group of tourists visiting a picturesque village saw an old man sitting by a fence. In a rather patronizing way, one of the visitors asked, “Were any great men born in this village?” Without looking up the old man replied, “No, only babies.” The greatest men were once babies. The greatest saints were once toddlers in the things of the Spirit.

Jesus, as a man never lagged behind anyone. He made the way for us to follow. But like Jesus’ disciples who chose to go to bed while He was transfigured with Light – are you sleeping in the “Light?” Are you sleeping in the Light – while the Lord is calling for us to fight? It’s time to seek the Lord to be transfigured by prayer, and His Presence. Will it cost you? Absolutely. Remember, it cost Jesus His life – what’s a little lost sleep?