“And Jesus sent Peter and John saying, ‘Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.’” (Luke 22:8)

Twelve disciples made up the posse that surrounded Jesus. Ten of those twelve got to party with Him on the Passover, but two were sent away. Singled out for kitchen duty.

I doubt Peter and John high-fived at their banishment to the kitchen. It’s like me asking one of my boys to empty the dishwasher or start a load of whites. “Why do I have to do it? Why not him?” It was a week of celebration and remembrance. Rumor had it Jesus would make himself king soon. I doubt Peter and John wanted to be away from His side for even a minute. But their Savior spoke. A chore needed to be done, and Peter and John complied. My guess, reluctantly.

Years later, after the horror of Jesus’ death, the shock at His resurrection, and the wonder of His ascension, only Peter and John would say these words:

“For you know that it was no with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” ~ 1 Peter 1:18-19

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” ~ Revelation 5:12

Over the past year I’ve endured experiences that I would have rather avoided. Some were simply irritating chores, exercises I could’ve lived without. Others were painful intersections in my life, ones I would’ve done anything to avoid. Honestly, at times it seems God is singling me out, giving me an unfair allotment of circumstances. I’m relegated to kitchen duty while others get to party with the Master. I want to cry and whine and point my finger: “Unfair! Why not her?”

Perhaps, however, there is more going on here than simply kitchen duty. Maybe hidden within some of my distasteful experiences lays a message of extraordinary measure. The eternal often hides in the midst of the mundane.

God is not random or wasteful. Look for his activity in even the most unlikely places. There may be a truth of great significance lurking in the middle of the kitchen.