September 20, 2024
266 Days Without You
Last night I dreamt about you. You were right there, standing in front of me, but I knew you were about to leave. I didn’t know if you were going to die, but I knew I would never see you again. We were looking at each other and you were smiling. I went to hug you, and I knew it would be the last time. I didn’t want to let go, but you knew we had to. You didn’t seem as sad as I was; you seemed calm. I was begging you not to go, and you didn’t say anything. You just smiled and held me. Then I woke up.
I read verses from Hebrews this morning—4:15-16 and 6:13-20. The first set says that we serve a high priest, Jesus, and that he empathizes with us. He knows our struggles, our feelings. he doesn’t just sympathize with us, he empathizes (fully understands and identifies with our emotions). The second set of verses says that Jesus is our forerunner who enters into God’s sanctuary on our behalf.
When I considered these two sets of verses and how I feel so lost without you, a very clear picture came to my mind. I see Jesus running towards God’s throne room. He is excited and ready and is running ahead of a group of his people. I’m in the group, but I’ve fallen down and start to cry, like I’m overcome with grief and can’t go any farther. Jesus stops, turns around, and comes over to me. Instead of telling me to keep going or even encouraging me from afar, he kneels down and weeps with me. He wraps his arms around me and cries with me until I am okay enough to stand. He picks me up and walks me to the throne room with him.
That is my high priest. That is my kind and savior. The one who puts his desires aside to come weep with me. And then, picks me up and walks alongside me.
