Water and Wine, Part Two

I'm sorry; I guess I fibbed a little about when I was going to be able to post again.  The good news is, the distractions were pleasant ones: two great Easter services at my church and a wonderful family dinner at my grandma's apartment.  But it doesn't need to be a holiday in order to celebrate what Christ did on the cross, so we'll continue exploring Holy Week anyway!

The Cup

Going a little farther [from the disciples], he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.  “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” - Mark 14:35-36

When He was in the garden with His closest friends, Jesus prayed earnestly to God that the cup of judgment be taken away from Him.  I've heard it preached that Jesus was more concerned about being separated from the Father than from the physical pain of the crucifixion.  This may be so, but let's not allow it to detract from the fact that He knew what was going to happen to His physical body.  If Jesus was fully man, which is of course the crux of our faith - then He surely, surely must have experienced horrible anxiety and fear over His upcoming beatings and death.  How could He not?

I imagine that He must have been deeply conflicted.  He had made the choice to leave Heaven behind Him and live as a man in order to complete the perfect plan of redemption.  The God who created the universe could surely have chosen to rescue mankind another way - yet he did not.  He allowed his innocent Son to be beaten, mocked, attacked, harassed, persecuted, abused, accused, betrayed, rejected, and bullied.  This is still beyond the comprehension of many Christians - and most non-believers.  To be honest, I don't know that God wants us to ever fully understand his decision - because it means that his ways are above ours.  We cannot fathom the idea of sacrificing a beloved child in order to rescue worthless sinners - but that's how God works.

Jesus knew that, of course, but I maintain that it certainly didn't mean that He was looking forward to the physical and emotional mauling He was about to endure.  But I love that He still represented for us the perfect example: even when we are bearing a heavy load and are facing great fear, worry, or terrible circumstances beyond our control, we can trust that God has a perfect plan for us.  It's okay to believe something you cannot see.  He never promised to take away our troubles, but he did promise that we would never be alone in them.

The Cross

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. - Hebrews 12:1-3

This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible.  How can it not be?  I'm mentioned in it!  My salvation was part of the joy set before Jesus on the cross.  When He was suffering there - and I certainly don't think that the word "suffering" can possibly define the misery and agony He endured - He saw through the generations to the people who would come to accept His sacrifice.  He saw that men and women again could freely come to the Lord as his precious children - because they were bought by His blood.  He saw that the curtain in the temple would be torn, allowing access to God.  He saw that millions would believe in His name and that demons would be made powerless, and that thousands would receive the embrace of the  Father.  And although I don't think that such beautiful promises lessened the physical pain of the cross, I believe that He was deeply comforted by the hope they provided.  Yes, what He did would be remembered, and cherished, and revered.  

Therefore, I am humbled and grateful.  I am not perfect in my own right, but I am made spotless through the veil of His blood.  I am a Christian.

Water and Wine, Part One

It's Holy Week.

For many people in the world, this week represents the last few days agonizing of Lent - and, for Pittsburghers, it's the last chance for a really great fish fry until next year.  It's the last chance to grab the good Easter candy (yes, I'm talking about those amazing Sarris meltaway eggs), and the last chance pick up a dozen extra eggs to boil and dye.

For many people, that's all this week represents.

I admit that I haven't really been in "appreciation and reflection" mode this week.  I had five (FIVE!) interviews lines up this week with different local companies, and I've been directing the youth group's play, as well as helping prepare for tonight's Seder dinner at church.  But the Lord led me to a short but intense and beautiful devotional for Holy Week, and it's definitely forced me to rethink a lot of the images we associate with Easter.

The Crowds

The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.  A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,  “Hosanna to the Son of David!”  “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”  “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”  When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” - Matthew 21:6-10

In ministry, we often site the crowds that followed Jesus as fickle and flighty.  Well, yes, they were.  They cried "Hosanna!" one day and "Crucify Him!" a few days later.  But I don't want to focus on that aspect of the multitudes.  I want you to imagine with me, just for a moment, being in that throng of people who watched as Jesus entered into the city.  How exciting it must have been!  Really - compare it to the Olympics being hosted in your hometown, or an international celebrity stopping by your neighborhood.  This was so far beyond "exciting".  For the people who believed He was the Messiah, this was a prophesy fulfilled!  They were living out the very words of the Old Testament prophets!  They must have felt joyful, and humbled, and grateful - and maybe a little intimidated!  After all, people must have heard stories that this Jesus could see right into the very heart and soul of a man, gauging his intentions and attitude.  Kinda scary.  But incredible.  

For the people who did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God, or who had not yet decided what they believed, it was still a time of great anticipation.  Regardless of who they believed Jesus to be, there was no doubt that he was a controversial figure, a bold preacher, and a man of unusual character.  Anything could happen once He met up with the religious folk.  A good old-fashioned scandal would have been just as juicy and intriguing in ancient Jerusalem as it is today.  Of course it would be thrilling to have Him visit their hometown!  If nothing else, it would boost the economy and give everyone something to talk about over dinner!

Yes, the crowds later turned on Jesus.  But right now, in this moment, in the picture that Matthew paints for us, they are zealous, alive, full of excitement, wonder, and hope.  The environment must have been electric with anticipation.  Would today be the day that another lame man walked?  That eyes born blind would see?  Would this be the day that a barren womb was healed, or that depression was lifted?  Miracles aside, the ancient prophecies could not be ignored; if this was the promised King and Savior, then the people's freedom from Roman rule was fast-approaching.  The way they saw it, a great rebellion was literally bubbling up from within their ranks.  Their freedom was so close at hand it was almost tangible.  Excitement must have buzzed through the crowds, all the way from the old-timers who had to be supported by stronger friends, down to the children who had recited the prophecies as they learned to read.  

The day of salvation had come!

The Communion

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”  Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.  This is my blood of the  covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.  I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” - Matthew 26:26-29.

At my church, we celebrate communion once per month - usually on the first Sunday.  It is a time, for us, of reflection, and appreciation.  We do not believe that the wine (juice) and bread are the actual body of the Lord; we believe that they represent Him only.  However, as such, they are reminders to us of the great sacrifice Jesus made in laying down His life for us.  His body was broken and His blood poured out for our healing, wholeness, and salvation.  For our strength - that we may be bold for Him.  For our peace - that we may know His promises are true.  For our hope - that we have a place in Heaven because of Him.

As the disciples were eating with Jesus that evening, I wonder if any of them - other than Judas - knew how true His words really were.  Did they think that He was talking about dying in a battle against the Romans?  Surely most of them still thought that Jesus was going to mount a valiant horse and march on Rome for their freedom.  Did they think He was speaking poetically?  Could it even be that some of them were thinking of other things entirely?  

So often we pick apart the actions of the disciples and criticize them.  We nail Peter for denying Jesus.  We shake our heads at James and John and their mother for trying to bargain their way to the right hand of Christ.  And of course, we gasp in shock at Thomas's inability to believe that Jesus could actually be resurrected.  

But they were men - everyday, ordinary men - who were hand-picked by Jesus not because they were anything extra-ordinary, but precisely because they were like us - those whom He saw before him on the cross as His great prize.  He chose these men - laborers, uneducated, hard-working - to represent us.  We can relate to them, their confusion and bewilderment, even if we would prefer to think that we would never have betrayed Christ, or denied Him, or doubted Him.  Truth is, most of us are lying to ourselves!  

And here, they shared a final holy meal with him, representing the time, centuries before, when the Lord spared his children during a dark time of slavery and oppression.  He rescued their lives, then loaded them with wealth and began to lead them to their new home.  

Did any of the disciples have the slightest clue that their friend Jesus was in the process of doing the same for them?  Once He rose from the dead, he unlocked the riches of Heaven, access to the Father, and the promise of a glorious home forever with Him?

Would we have had a clue, had we been sitting there with Him?

I'll continue this train of thought with The Cup and The Cross, later this week.