Remember those days when we could travel? I wouldn’t say that I love the flying part, particularly if I was assigned the middle seat. For me the middle seat is the worst.

And generally the middle seat is not a hot commodity.

There are window seat people on airplanes, and there are aisle seat people on airplanes.

I am a window person - Brian prefers the aisle but it is essential that he have the ability to lean over and describe all the geographical features below. That works well if we are in a two-by-two configuration, otherwise someone is not happy.

I dread the middle seat. I was once travelling myself and I was sitting between two people who were clearly a couple. So I offered for them to sit together and they politely said in unison, “no thanks”. She wanted the window, he wanted the aisle and I spent the next several hours between them as they passed snacks and pens and glances to one another. I hate the middle seat.

Isn’t it true that it is in the middle where we feel stuck?

Whether it is the middle seat of a plane or the middle of a situation.

When I began my doctorate the beginning was exciting, and the ending was a celebration. Oh but the middle —- right?

It’s in the middle, where it is equally as far from where we started as it is to the ending. It’s in the middle is when we’re most tempted to give up. It's in the middle that our fears can also overtake us.

But Jesus shows up in the middle.

Jesus showed up in the middle to calm the raging storm. Jesus showed up in the middle when the disciples were afraid for their lives, huddled in the upper room, after he was crucified.

Jesus showed up in the middle.

And John 19:18 says, Jesus is in the middle:

There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

The picture at Golgotha is quite striking. There were three crosses, and yes, Jesus is in the middle. Of course, our salvation could have been accomplished if Jesus had died alone. But that’s not how God designed it.

Jesus died between two criminals. They died as punishment for their crimes. And these two criminals really represent our condition, don’t they? They had sinned against God, like each of us — separated from God because of our thoughts, words or deeds. They picture what all of us deserve apart from faith in Jesus. Then there’s Jesus.

Innocent.

It’s important that Jesus’ cross was in the middle. Why? Because Jesus’ cross proclaims salvation. It shows us the one who carried our sins. The cross is at the centre of God’s work of salvation.

Throughout the bible that is exactly where Jesus is. Jesus is always in the midst. Jesus is always in the middle.

And as you read this, my prayer for you is that you are reminded today that right in the middle of what you are facing; right in the middle of what we are all going through; right in the middle, is where Jesus wants to show up.

As we approach the cross this Easter “What will you do with Jesus?”