This Sunday in worship, I shared with the congregation my struggle with Holy Week. Looking at Palm Sunday, and the week that ensued, I expressed my desire to rewrite the plot. Seeing the week as though it were a film, it contains all the necessary elements for a great story: a compelling protagonist, a believable supporting cast, a vivid central scene, and plenty of drama and tension.
Jesus is the compelling protagonist, and he is a perfect one. He is the Messiah who is laying claim to his city, coming into Jerusalem on a donkey (fulfilling Zachariah 9:9). He is a Savior without pomp. Jesus also displays an uncanny knack for foreknowledge: he knows what is going to happen on Palm Sunday (Luke 19:31-34), and he knows that he is going to Jerusalem to die and be raised up.
The supporting cast of the disciples is very convincing! They honor Jesus by setting him on the donkey, and understand that Jesus is the king, saying ""Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!"
On Palm Sunday, Jerusalem provides for a vivid central scene. Coming from one side of the holy city, there must have been an imperial procession coming (leather, gold, shimmering armor, horses, banners...)...one that would make clear who was in charge as many came to the city for Passover. From the other side, a peasant procession, which included Jesus, a donkey, some disciples, peasants, palms, and cloaks, came rolling in to the holy city. This set the stage for the week to come.
The week was full of drama and tension. The words uttered by the disciples: ""Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven!" were spoken because that was what Jesus sought to bring to this world. This did not exist in Jerusalem, as made apparent by the Roman occupants there. The Pharisees tell Jesus to "Order your disciples to stop." Drama. Tension.
Later in the week, Jesus goes into the temple to turn the money changers tables. More drama and tension. He even changes the meaning of the Passover meal as he instituted the Last Supper with his disciples. He was betrayed, tried, shamed, and crucified. Drama and Tension.
All of these things make for a great story, and I wish I could change the plot. I wish I could take away what happened to Jesus. I wish he did not have to suffer the shame and the pain of his final days here on earth. I wish I could rewrite the plot....
...But that is exactly what God did. God raised Jesus up from the tomb, giving us the hope of eternal life and relationship with Christ. We have been raised up with Christ. When we seek to follow Jesus and have faith in God through the Holy Spirit, we are living as Easter people. To be Christian is to live a life where Easter is happening all of the time. God is constantly raising us up from something. From death, to life. From fear, to hope; from hate, to love; from violence, to peace; from pain, to comfort.
Let us be raised with Christ. God has rewritten the story.
In Christ,
Jack
No comments:
Post a Comment