There’s always something different about the Easter story that strikes me each year.
One year it was the deep betrayal of Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples who slammed a dagger to His back.
The other was the intense love for Jesus possessed by John, who was the only disciple who didn’t run away and hide. He was there when Jesus was crucified, front and center.
This year, it’s the fleeing disciples.
Twelve men, hand-picked by Jesus to be His teachers. Men who were ordinary. Men who didn’t necessarily have a lot of power or money. Men who didn’t see their call to follow coming but dropped everything to do so nonetheless.
All but one fled as soon as He was arrested.
They ran away from Him.
Yet three days later, after His resurrection, it was the disciples He wanted to see first. He asked them to meet Him in Galilee.
They ran away, He ran to.
And so begins the dance, this running away and Him running to.
I’ve done it more than I wish to admit.
And I see it in the everyday . . .
running away from preschool and naps but running to reading and recess,
running away from the active puppy with endless energy but running to the winded senior with a white face,
running away from the dead but running to the new growth,
running away from the brown and shriveled fruit but running to fresh blossoms,
running away from the dull and brown to the vibrant and green,
running away from Bob books and Magic Tree House to The Giver and A Wrinkle in Time,
running away from the cross then running to in desperation.
And He finds us. Oh, how He finds us.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
– Psalm 139:7-12
