08 Mar “You’d be Surprised What You Can Live Through”

“Return of Jafar,” the 1994 sequel to  “Aladdin,”  contains one of my all-time favorite movie lines. Jafar, now a genie, is pursuing the heroes when he is reminded that genies can’t kill anyone. He responds with: “You’d be surprised what you can live through.” I can’t help but wonder if Jesus didn’t share similar words with the Apostle Paul from time to time. I am thinking specifically of a moment in Acts 23, which we covered recently in our weekly Bible study:

9 There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks. 11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” Acts 23:9-11 (NIV)

The Spirit locked me into verse 11 and I couldn’t get past it. There are a couple of things. First: “The Lord stood near Paul…” Other translations say “appeared to Paul,”  and “stood by him.” Paul had faced trials before this moment, and he would face more. For reasons we can’t be sure of, Jesus felt that He had to make a personal appearance to Paul to get him through what he was facing in this moment.

Then, Jesus tells him “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” Other translations say: “be of good cheer,” and “be encouraged.” Perhaps Jesus knew that Paul was fearing for his life. Jesus assures Paul that he will live to see Rome, but that’s all He assures him.

We now know the trials Paul faced after this visit from Jesus.

• A plot to kill him
• Trials before various officials
• Imprisonment
• Shipwrecked
• Bit by a poisonous snake

Jesus promised him that he would live to see Rome. He didn’t say it would be easy. Clearly, it wasn’t. What about you?

Can you look back in your faith life where Jesus came to you and said, “I’m here with you, and you’re going to live through this, but it won’t be easy. But I will be here with you every step of the way.” I didn’t recognize those moments as they happened, but I do now! Lost jobs, lost relationships, persecution as a pastor from those who wanted to harm the church. I can see now that God was telling me that we would get through the trials and that there would be much difficulty before we did.

Paul’s story reminded me of those moments and will help me remember them the next time I’m in the middle of a difficult trial.

If you’ve accepted Jesus into your heart and you’re going through a difficult trial right now, let me encourage you. Whatever you’re going through, know that Jesus is there. Know that He is with you every step of the way, especially when the steps become difficult.

If you haven’t accepted Christ yet and you’re going through an extreme trial where you feel alone, we pray that you will turn to Him soon!

Pastor Jerry Bader