Now Jesus has experienced the view from the top of a cliff, and he has experienced the rage of those close to him. And what was his response? To strike them down, to forsake them, to disown them? No, Jesus passed through the middle of them – he endured their rage, staying as close as possible... and then Jesus went about his business – bringing salvation to ALL HUMANKIND as the Messiah. And the salvation Jesus brought didn't come through the power and glory the Nazarenes tried to claim. It came through Jesus' humiliation, through his work on the cross.
So when we find ourselves angry at God – in a rage because it seems God's glory is missing from our lives – Jesus passes through the middle of us. He endures our rage, staying as close as we will let him...and then Jesus goes about his business – bringing us salvation through his work on the cross. In our sufferings, we are not struck down, or forsaken, or disowned – in fact, we are sharing in the sufferings of our Messiah, linked to him in baptism. And, in due time, along with ALL the followers of Jesus, we WILL share in the resurrected glory of our Messiah, as he returns to bring a new heaven and new earth - a new reality without suffering or death. Now that WILL be glory, and not just for a day, but for eternity!
Gracious God, we thank you for not abandoning us during the times we were angry with you. Remind us always of your love for us, even when our circumstances are tragic. Keep us strong in faith, and keep us free from Satan's deceptions, in Jesus name we pray, amen.