Highway is jam packed with cars. Duh, this is Atlanta after all. You see vague images of items flying across the back seat. A loud "OW". "Mom, he hit me. Mom, make him stop looking at me. Mom, his feet are on my side. Mom, make him stop!" And then, a loud, raucous "AM NOT!". I love my children, but I do not miss those days. What's even worse is that I can remember being the kid in that back seat and saying some of those things. What comes next? Well, if you have children, you should know (and don't try to pretend that yours are perfect and have never done this. We all know better!). Well, what comes next is this, THE LOOK, THAT "MOM" STARE INTO THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, and then, wait for it, here it comes, "DON'T MAKE ME PULL THIS CAR OVER". Oh, she didn't just go there. Yes, she did! We all got in trouble when we got home. It was inevitable. Oh, and as far as the look, well, my mother had it mastered, I''m not to bad at it myself and my daughter, well, she doesn't even have children yet, and she is working on perfecting "that" look! It works, really, really well, at least until the "next" round.
This all came to mind this morning as I was making my Wednesday jaunt to Woodstock. I couldn't help but notice the children in the SUV next to us at a light. Obviously, Mom was delivering their precious little souls to school, but at that very moment, there was nothing precious about them. I couldn't hear them, but I could tell by the flying school book and lunch bag, that there was mischief abounding in the back seat of that Honda. And then, it happened. With one instantaneous reaction, those 2 kids fell still and I'm assuming quiet and as I changed my glance to the driver's seat, I saw the Momma with the pointed finger shaking over the seat back and eyes with fire in them as she threatened those two little darlings with their very existence! Yep, she went there too! I bet those kids are going to have a serious Sunday school session when they get home from school. Bless their little hearts and God bless that Momma for having mastered the Look, the Point, and THE PHRASE - Don't Make Me Stop This Car!
How many times have we reminded our own children about that Big #5, the Commandment that says "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you." You know, there is no disputing it, those words and all the ones before and after, from God's lips to Moses to cast in stone and pass down to all of God's children forever.
How many times have our children disobeyed and not done their chores or cleaned a cat pan, or argued with us about unloading the dishwasher because they hadn't reached a saving point in their game? How many times have we all disobeyed God and done our own thing because that is what we wanted to do?
Obedience, honor - two relatively simple words, but they pack a punch for everyone of us, every single day of our lives.
We are not perfect, and there is but one before us that is, and that is Jesus Christ. Just imagine, one day he rode into town and people were cheering and waving palms and bowing at His very presence. Just a few short days later, he shared the Passover Meal, The Last Supper with His disciples. Jesus is the Passover Lamb and He reveals to His disciples that the Passover is "fulfilled in Him". He knows that it is His Father's will that He offer Himself up for redemption and deliverance. Remember that tiny babe in the manger - born to wear a crown of thorns? God was soon to offer up His only Son as a sacrifice for us, for our disobedience, or dishonor, or sins. The most incredible gift ever and it was and is for us.
The first Passover is described in Exodus, Chapter 12. A lamb was slain for every household. The lamb's blood was washed over the door frame so as to let the Angel of Death know to "passover" that household and not claim the first born son of a Jewish home but instead, those children in Pharoah's temple. God warned the Pharoah, but he did not listen and went about his business, only to find that his own son was claimed by death. After the lamb was slain and the home protected by the blood of the lamb, God commanded that the children of Israel make a meal of the lamb and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, but to do so in haste as they were to soon start their journey out of Egypt and bondage in slavery to the Pharoah. God commanded the children of Israel to commemorate this day every year by celebrating with the Passover Feast or the Seder meal.
So here sits Jesus, centered with His disciples. After He washes their feet, he begins the Seder meal and tells the stories of the 4 cups in the meal and the meal concludes with the feast of the lamb, but it is what He did after that that has become a part of our faith ritual in the Christian church. Jesus explained the meal and its meaning. He told His disciples that He was Himself, the Lamb of God. He offered them bread and wine telling them "this is My Body, My Blood" Do this in remembrance of Me." Jesus knew of the forthcoming betrayal, He knew of the fate that awaited Him, and yet.....He was obedient.
Before the meal concluded, Judas left the feast. He went to meet the priests and accepted 30 pieces of silver
in exchange for his betrayal of his Lord.
Jesus made the journey to the garden at Gethsemane at the base of the Mount of Olives. With a heavy heart and an overwhelming sadness, He knelt in the garden and wept and prayed. He knew of what was to come. He prayed three times and He prayed so hard that He sweat profusely. Jesus had to make the choice as to continue with His earthly ministry with so many things He wanted to still do, or to obey His Father and accept death on the cross for our sins. Such an incredible choice to have to make, but, He chose obedience to bear our guilt and the sins of the whole world. He put His wishes aside and obeyed His Father's will.
In Luke 22:42-44 (King James Version), 42Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
As Jesus ended His prayer, there was noise and commotion in the garden and He was soon surrounded by a large group of soldiers and priests who were there to arrest Him for a crime that He didn't commit. With a simple kiss from Judas, He was exposed the the soldiers. He could have run, He could have performed a miracle and saved Himself, but yet, He loved us so much, that He offered Himself willingly to the soldiers when they told Him they were looking for Jesus of Nazareth. Without hesitation, He courageously answered "I AM HE". His answer was so strong that the Bible tells of the group being knocked off their feet by the power of His simple words.
With a kiss and three simple words, He was betrayed, surrendered and bound over to the soldiers. The priests of the temple had already condemned Him to death, but they knew they had to take Jesus before Pilate before they could follow through with the death sentence. Jesus was dragged into Pilate's court. Pilate questioned Jesus as to who He was, He asked of His crime, He asked of His title of King. When Pilate asked Jesus if He was a King, Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this, I was born; and for this, I have come into the world to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears My voice." Jesus had already endured countless hours of torture, beatings, being kicked, and floggings with a cat of nine tails 39 times. But His time in court was not over. Pilate found that Jesus was a preacher of truth and a teacher, not a criminal. Pilate knew the Truth on his heart, but wanting to have this out of his hands, he had the soldiers take Jesus to King Herod for sentencing. Herod was also in Jerusalem at that time and as Jesus was dragged before him, Herod also knew that Jesus was guilty of no crime, and as a sign of respect for this condemned King, Herod had Him wrapped in a fine cloak as a sign of His innocence and Jesus was sent back to Pilate.
Before Pilate, was a known criminal named Barabbas. Barabbas had committed such crimes that the penalty for his crimes was crucifixion. As Pilate stood before this ever growing crowd of people, he knew only that he did not want the fate of Jesus on his hands solely and with Barabbas, a true criminal before him, and Jesus the Christ, guilty of no crime, Pilate looked at the throngs of people and told them it was up to them to chose which prisoner would be released and which one would suffer death on the cross. With fervor, the crowd screamed over and over, release Barabbas, crucify Jesus. Crucify Him. Crucify Him. And so it was.
Beatings, the regal cloak ripped and torn, a crown of thorns thrust onto his already bleeding brow, Jesus was led away. A heavy, rough-hewn cross was laid upon his bloody back and He was commanded to bear the weight of that cross as He made His way back through town on the path known so well as the Via Dolorosa. His back, gashed and ripped open, blood running down His face and body, Jesus struggled under the weight and pain and carried His ultimate fate to Golgotha. He fell three times. He saw His mother in the crowd as she wept for her Son. The Soldiers ordered Simon of Cyrene to help Jesus bear the weight of the cross. Jesus stopped and offered comfort to the weeping daughters of Jerusalem. Before He is uprighted on the cross, the Roman soldiers bid for His clothes and they were stripped from His body. His "cross to bear" was uprighted after He was nailed at hands and feet. His already bleeding side was pierced with a sword. The weight of His body hanging from His nailed hands and feet, made it difficult for Him to breathe. A rugged sign was made declaring Him as King of the Jews - INRI. With each breath that He took, He drew closer and closer to death, yet in His last moments, He found the strength, the love, the passion, the forgiveness to speak one last time to His Father and simply say "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do". And then, He offered up His last breath and died on the cross. The four Gospels differ in what is told of Jesus' last words. But in John 19:30, "When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."
God didn't have to snap His fingers and point. He didn't have to give Jesus "the look" or threaten to pull over the car. He told His son of His will and Jesus obeyed, He prayed and prayed again. He gained strength from the Angel that appeared to Him. He submitted willingly to His father's will and not His own - Thy will, not my will. And, He did it for us. It was written in red.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life...
Written in red, for you and for me. God loves us all and Jesus loves us so much that He willingly obeyed His Father for us...
This past Sunday, the Chancel Choir at our church presented their Easter Cantata, Written In Red. It was beautiful, but the song itself is powerful, and to close this today, no more stories, no more conversations, just listen. Remember, by His stripes, we are healed. We serve a Risen Lord! Christ is risen, Allelujah!
Happy and blessed Easter to you all,
Love,
Kaye
Happy and blessed Easter to you all,
Love,
Kaye
