Hidden significance. Four years ago, in the final days of his life, my father kept asking if he could “go home now?” He asked this question daily for a week. And each day, I would tell him he had to stay there until he got better. I would ask if he was eating and doing his physical therapy. He would say yes, but the nursing staff said otherwise. It was July 2020, COVID 19 protocols were firmly in place, and no visitors were allowed at the rehab center he was sent to after his hospital stay.
Day after day, as his body continued to shut down, his plea, “I go home now?” grew more persistent. Like a parent speaking with a young child, I repeatedly reassured him that when he got better he could come home. But I didn’t get it. His words frustrated me, and I tried my best to make him understand. I thought he meant the house my brothers and I were raised in. Turns out he meant heaven.
The Power Of Words
Words have the power to inform, encourage, wound, heal, comfort, intrigue, or even bring delight to our senses. Words of significance are to be mulled over and pondered. But we often don’t realize their significance until it’s too late.
Awe gripped the people as they saw this majestic display of God’s power. While everyone was marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, “Listen to me and remember what I say. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies.” But they didn’t know what he meant. Its significance was hidden from them, so they couldn’t understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about it. Luke 9:43-45 NLT
Hidden Significance
How do we grasp the magnitude of Jesus’ words? How much do we miss because we don’t understand what is happening? Jesus tried to inform His disciples what would happen to Him, but they didn’t get it much like me, trying to make sense of my father’s words.
As I studied and pondered the Word this week the sentence, “Remember what He told you back in Galilee.” came to mind. These words were spoken when the women went to the tomb to take care of Jesus’ body. But Jesus wasn’t there because He was not dead. The women were reminded that Jesus had told them He would be betrayed, crucified, and would rise again.
Remember What He Told You
Have you ever had a remember what He told you moment? Take some time this week to ponder what significant words He wants you to remember. And as always, pray for me, as I pray for you.