There's a phrase I've probably read hundreds of times in the Gospels, but it recently jumped out at me: "Just as Jesus had said."
When Jesus and His disciples were traveling to Jerusalem for Jesus' "Triumphal Entry" into the city He loved, He sent 2 disciples to go into a village where they'd find a young donkey tied. His instructions were to untie the donkey and bring it to Him, also adding that, if the owner of the donkey asked what on earth was going on, all the disciples had to say was, "The Lord needs it," and he'd let them have it (Luke 19:31, NLT).
Do you realize how bizarre this scenario is? I certainly wouldn't have wanted to be one of those disciples! What owner would willingly give up a young donkey that had never been ridden before to complete strangers? But when the disciples went to the village, found the donkey, and met the owner, everything happened "just as Jesus had said" (v. 32).
A couple chapters later, Jesus sent Peter and John to go prepare the Passover meal for Him and the other disciples. "Where should we prepare it," was their question. And listen to Jesus' response: "As soon as you enter Jerusalem, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house he enters, say to the owner, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?' He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal" (Luke 22:10-12, NLT).
Again, this is quite a bizarre scenario. But guess what? "They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said" (v. 13, emphasis added).
And last but certainly not least, early on the most glorious Sunday morning in history, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to visit the tomb where they expected to find Jesus' lifeless body. But when they got there, the women were met by an angel who told them, “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here!" (Matthew 28:5-6). And why wasn't Jesus there? Because He had risen... "just as he said" (v. 6).
We have a whole Book of things Jesus has said, promises that He's vowed to keep. And we can be sure that He's already made a way to fulfill those promises, even it seems impossible to us. "Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you" (Deut. 31:8). Our Savior personally goes before us to make a way where there seems to be no way. He is an eternally faithful Promise Keeper, and we can be sure that He will be true to His word in our lives, "just as He has said." Our job is to trust and obey, and His job is everything else. I love how Samuel Rutherford puts it:
“Providence hath a thousand keys to open a thousand sundry doors for the deliverance of His own, when it is even come to a [desperate case]. Let us be faithful and care for our own part, which is to do and suffer for Him, and lay Christ’s part on Himself, and leave it there; duties are ours, event are the Lord’s.”
Do you need provision? He'll provide, just as He has said (Matt. 6:31-33; Phil. 4:19).
Do you need peace? He'll give you peace, just as He has said (Isa. 26:3; Phil. 4:6-7).
Do you need help in an overwhelming circumstance? He'll help you, just as He has said (Ps. 46:1; 54:4; 121:2; Heb. 13:6).
Do you need Him to come through in a seemingly impossible situation? He'll fight for you, just as He has said (Exod. 14:14; Ps. 46:10).
Jesus will do what He has said He will do. We can trust Him.
“My word that comes from My mouth
will not return to Me empty,
but it will accomplish what I please
and will prosper in what I send it to do.”
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