Get Up and Let's Go

   Jesus has washed the disciples feet. He has talked with them on this Passover night and given them the Last Supper to remember. They don't fully understand what is going on, but they listen and participate in Jesus last hours.

   At the end of the meal, after Jesus has talked with them about keeping the commandments that He had given them so as to show their love for Him and His Father, He tells them to "Get up, let's get out of here". (John 14:31). So, they leave and go toward Gethsemane, toward the betrayal, toward His death and toward Easter.

   All they knew when they responded to Jesus and left that upper room, was that He wanted them to leave. They did not have any idea of what was waiting out in the night. If they had, they might have held back and tried to stay in the relative safety of the place, but they obeyed and went. They did not know how their world was about to change and how their emotions would run the gamut from fear to despair to joy in the space of a few hours. They only knew to go.

   As I sit here this morning, and the world outside is dark and still, I see the words written down for me by John in his gospel, "Get up and let's go". Questions may arise as to where and why and how, but these are not answered in the moment. The simple command is to get up and go.

   But the key to the whole process is to look at the words of Jesus closely and notice that He says "let us go". Not just you get up and get out of here, but that we are going together from this place and from this time. If I am obedient to His command, He goes with me, and that makes all the difference.

   God, help me to get up out of my rut and move out with You.