The Power of a Routine Task

I was looking for something in one of my old Bibles this morning and ran across a paper which was dated April 16, 1995. The date immediately caught my attention as it reminded me of my mother’s passing on April 1 of that year. What was recorded would have been written a couple of weeks after her death. My mother’s death was sudden and unexpected. An aneurysm in her brain was found which required surgery. The surgery was very lengthy, and the outcome was not good. A few hours after surgery she suffered a major stroke. The doctors informed us that her brain suffered irreparable damage, and she was alive only by means of life support. What we thought was to be a procedure which would bring healing had a very different outcome. Our family was shocked and devastated. We faced the heart wrenching decision to stop life support in accordance with her Living Will. We knew she would not want to just exist on life support, never knowing anyone or anything. 

In the days that followed, I faced a grief like I had never known. The sudden loss of my mother was indescribable. Twenty-six years later as I looked at the paper, I was eager to read what was written. What were my thoughts? What prompted me to write them down and keep them? Why did I find this paper today?   realized as I read the words written all those years ago that I wrote them when studying the resurrection of Jesus, because Easter was on April 16 that year.   

The thoughts are based on Luke 24:36-53 which records Jesus appearing to the disciples after His resurrection. Now think about this setting. The disciples had just witnessed the betrayal of Jesus by one of their own. They had witnessed the mock trial, the scourging, and the trip to Golgotha with Jesus carrying His cross on His bloody back. They had watched Him suffer on the cross. They witnessed the death of someone they loved. Surely it must have felt as if all their hopes for the Kingdom Jesus taught about were gone. They were grieving, discouraged, and disappointed. Was His message not true after all? Was He not truly the Son of God? If He was, why did He die?  

Jesus rose from the grave on the third day after his death, so this appearance to the disciples would have happened soon after. He knew their thoughts and their grief. He knew their questions and doubts. I think it is worthwhile to consider what He told them in those moments, and by looking at it, what He says to believers when we are faced with hard things. I know it helped me deal with the grief of my mother’s death back then, and still does today.

Luke 24:36 - He brought them peace.

38-40 - He comforted their doubts and fears with tangible proofs, asking them to touch his scarred hands and feet.

40-43 - They thought it too good to be true that Jesus was really alive, so He gave them a routine task to do.  He asked for food which he ate in their presence.

44 - He affirmed the Scriptures, and reminded them He had previously told them about His death and resurrection while He was with them.

45-48 - He opened their understanding of the Scriptures about His death and resurrection which would provide cleansing and forgiveness of sin.  They were to be His witnesses of these things. 

49- He promised them power from on high.

50 - He led them.

51 - He blessed them.

52 - He inspired them to worship with great joy.

52 - The result was continual praise to God. 

So what did these thoughts mean to me? Well, I remember perusing this passage back then and realized Jesus showed me concern when I was grieving.  He gave me peace and comfort (36-40).

He gave me a routine task to do (40-43). A friend asked me to alter a dress for her daughter, and sewing was something I usually loved to do. The time frame was short, and I wanted to refuse to help because of my grief. I questioned in my mind why she would ask me to do this so soon after the funeral. But then Jesus’ request for food came to mind. Just as the disciples had to find and prepare some food, I needed to do the sewing task my friend asked. Doing something routine enabled me to feel ‘normal.’  Through this routine task, Jesus showered me with comfort and let me know it was going to be okay.

He used Scripture to remind me of His promises about heaven and eternity (44-48). The day before my mother’s surgery I was with her in the hospital. We talked about many things, including eternity. She shared with me her salvation experience as a teenager during a revival meeting, and assured me she knew Christ as Savior. Knowing we would spend eternity together helped my grief.

Through His promises of power to live my life (49), His daily leading (50), His blessing on my life (51), and the inspiration to worship in spite of grief (52), I was enabled to live joyfully and praise Him even in the middle of my grief and pain.  

So, as we approach Easter Sunday, may we be ever mindful that because of His resurrection He is able to bring peace and comfort to our lives.  No matter what we are facing, no matter the circumstances, He is able. The disciples watched Him die a horrible death, then were encouraged and challenged by His resurrection to be witnesses to the world!  May our lives be comforted and challenged in a like manner. May our lives be a continual praise to Him who lives forever, and intercedes for us even when we are unable to express our prayers.  And in the middle of our routine tasks may we realize His power is all sufficient for our every need.

Author: Clara NeSmith

Clara NeSmith has taught Bible study classes in her local church for over 40 years, and is currently working on her first book. She enjoys sharing from God’s Word the truths gleaned in her daily study, along with her hobbies of reading and sewing. Clara worked at her dream job of being a stay-at-home mom for many years. She then did Social Work in an elderly care setting for 20 years. She has four grown children and 9 grandchildren. She currently resides in Brandon, FL.