Easter Is Coming!

It won’t be long now. Just a few more days, and it’s the most holy time of the Christian year – the week of Jesus’s passion. We remember his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, ponder over his final public teachings, share in a holy meal. We’ll betray him, deny we even knew him, abandon him when he is arrested, but we can’t stay away. We’ll witness his trial, follow him to Calvary, watch as the nails are driven in. We’ll mourn as the stone is rolled over the entrance of the tomb we laid him in. And we’ll huddle confused, broken, afraid as we wait for Easter. 

For Easter IS coming!

We do this every year, this journey into death and the grave. We do this because we know Easter is coming. Easter Is Coming! Every day, resurrection happens. Every day, new life bursts forth from death. Every day God says “No” to sin, “No” to death, “NO” to the power of evil in this world! Easter is coming!

I’m reminded of the House Stark motto in the book “Game of Thrones” –Winter is coming! In their world, winter isn’t just a season of the year, it’s a period of years when cold winds howl, deep snow covers the ground, life perishes. The Starks are always prepared for the worst: Winter is coming!  It seems like the world around us has adopted this motto – “Winter is coming” – terrible things are happening and it won’t get better, so better prepare for the worst.

In contrast, the House Christian proclaims “Easter Is Coming!” Yes, the forces of evil still rage. Completely defeated by the cross and the empty tomb, they haven’t given up. But it’s a losing battle. It’s a lost battle. Christ is risen! Christ reigns! God’s kingdom has come! We testify to both the brokenness in the world and to God’s presence in those broken places. Easter is Coming! Christ has died! Christ has risen! Christ will come again! And again, and again – to each of us, to the world, coming in love, in mercy, in grace. Coming to those places where the shadow of the cross looms large, walking with us through the valley of the shadow of death - never abandoning, denying or betraying us. Shedding light on our confusion, calming our fears, making us whole again. Easter is Coming!

It won’t be long now. A few days and we’ll shout “Hosanna”, “Crucify”, “He is Risen!” A few days and we will once again marvel at God’s amazing love and grace poured out through Christ for us. Easter is Coming!  

I can't say "Easter is coming!" without linking you to this great video by WorkingPreacher

Maundy Thursday: Washing the Feet of the Unfaithful Faithful

Reading for Maundy Thursday:  John, chapter 13

Having loved his own who were in the world, Jesus loved them to the end.

All of them.

Even Judas.

in whose heart, Satan and the power of evil was moving.

Judas who walked with Jesus, shared meals, shared life.

Judas who sat at his feet,  followed him, called him master and teacher.

Judas who paired with another disciple, was sent out, two by two, to go ahead of where Jesus was going, proclaiming the good news, healing and casting out demons.

Judas.

Who loved Jesus.

But somewhere along the line, sin got the better of Judas.  John tells us that his objection to Mary using that very expensive perfume to anoint Jesus’ feet, was because he was a thief and stole from the common purse.

The one who was trustworthy enough to keep the common purse, began to embezzle from it - maybe it was love of money that was Judas’ downfall.

Or maybe it was a misguided attempt to get Jesus to claim his kingdom.  Some think that Judas was disappointed that Palm Sunday procession and clearing out the marketplace in the temple didn’t grow into Jesus openly declaring himself to be king, raising the people to fight against Rome.  So Judas’ actions were a way of forcing Jesus to assume his kingship.

What ever it was, Jesus knew what was going on.  He knew what was in Judas’ heart, what his plans were - most of all Jesus knew that it was time.

And knowing this, he had one this last meal with his disciples.

Gathered around the table, telling stories, joking. Remember that time when....

Even Judas.

And after the meal Jesus got up and took a towel and started washing their feet.

I think he probably prayed as he did. I think each name was a cry.

Father,

James, John, always seeking advantage. Help them understand what I am doing, that to lead is to serve.

Phillip, Nathanael- will they be able to see through the fear of the next few days?

Thomas, Simon, James, Thaddeus, Andrew, Matthew, give them courage Father.

Peter needs your love and peace so much -he will be so ashamed that he denied me.

Judas, oh, Judas, Father, walk with him down this dark path he’s choosing.

Father, help them all remember that I did this, that I love them  - no matter what.  Let this act give them strength to seek forgiveness.  To forgive one another.  To care for one another.  

After this example of loving service, Jesus announced that one of this beloved group is going to betray him.

The disciples looked around the room - disbelief, shock, surely not!  Who could it be?

But they can’t ask - what if he says it’s me?

Finally, Peter nudges John who’s beside Jesus - ask him who it is.  John asks.

Jesus says, “The one who I give this bread dipped in oil.”  

A gasp of disbelief - when the host of a dinner gives someone a morsel of bread that he himself has dipped in oil, it’s a mark of honor.

Even then, the disciples can't believe it when Jesus gives bread to Judas.

As clear as Jesus was - the bread is going to the one who betrays me - here Judas, take the bread and do what you have to do - the others don't understand.  Maybe Judas is going to give alms, going to get something needed for Passover.

Judas takes the bread, that mark of honor, and gives into the darkness in his soul, and leaves.


Jesus then begins his long good bye.  To give his friends, these ones he loves so dearly something to hold on to in the days ahead.  Something to give them strength, give them hope.  To explain.

What's going to happen is God's doing,  God's glory will be shown, God's power will be revealed.  I am going - I have to do this alone.

I know you don't understand.  You'll look for me, but won't find me.

Just do this- love one another as I have loved you.

As I have loved you...

washing the feet of those who will shortly abandon me,

showing honor to the one who betrays me,

giving a look of compassion to the one who denies me,

forgiveness for those who set this in motion, and perverted justice, and 

mock me and who will nail me to the cross, and for those who just stood by and let it happen.

Wash one another’s feet.

Do as I have done to you.

Love as I have loved you.

This is love beyond warm fuzzy feeling, beyond passion, love greater than mere emotion. This is love in action -loving regardless of feelings, loving despite long-held grudges, loving through fears.

That’s the kind of love we’re called to - to forgive and care for those who betray us, abandon us,deny us, wrong us in any way.  

Loving as Jesus loves us - this is what these three days are about- a love that knows no bounds: 

Love that is patient, 
kind,
not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude, 
does not insist on its own way,
not irritable or resentful,
does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth,  
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  

Steadfast, unconditional, self-giving love.

Having loved his own who were in the world, Jesus loved them to the end.

Palm/Passion Sunday - It Wasn't Supposed to End Like This- Or Was It?

Reading for Palm/Passion Sunday John 12:12-50 and 19:23-42

It wasn’t supposed to end like this.

Just five days ago, they crowded around him, cheered into him as he rode into town triumphantly.  Crowds waving palms and shouting, as the prophet Zechariah foretold:

Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9)

Now five days later they are now they were scattered and silent at this unexpected end of his journey.

One by one they had abandoned him:

Judas leaving their final meal together, leaving early to betray him.

The rest of them running for their lives from the garden where he was arrested.

Peter, following to the high priest’s house, but denying he was a disciple

Now just a few are remain with him as he hangs on the cross,

The women standing, at the foot of the cross,

with his mother Mary,

and the disciple Jesus loved-

   some say this was John, some say Lazarus.

Imagine Mary’s pain watching her son die-

every parent who’s lost a child knows that pain.

She wishes it was her instead of him,

each stroke of the hammer driving the nails into his hand, his feet,

-the trusting hand she held, the baby feet she kissed -

was a sword piercing her to her very soul.

The women there share Mary’s a pain.

This is a woman’s lot -to stand watch in the dying hours,

to wash and prepare him for burial.

A bit further away are the chief priests and religious leaders,

witnessing this death, satisfaction on their faces.

They have done their duty -

the threat to the faith and the people is dying on that cross.

Joseph of Arimathea is with them,

Nicodemus is there too,

their faces saddened and puzzled.

It wasn’t supposed to end like this.

One by one, the disciples (except for Judas)

made their way back to the upper room,

an ordinary room now sacred to them

because it’s the last time they shared a meal with him,

It was their last happy hours together.

Peter, comes in last.

He’s unusually quiet,

remote.

They don’t know he’s filled with shame

filled with guilt.

They begin to talk.

He said he was going to the Father’s house

to prepare a place for them (John 14:1-6), 

- surely dying on a cross was not what he meant,

was it?

Could it be?

He said he would come back and take them to the place prepared for them.

How does someone come back from such a death?

What kind of place does his death prepare for them?

And would they even want to go?

He said they couldn’t follow now,

but that they would know the way,

because he was the way, the truth and the life.

He said that no one had greater love

than to lay down his life for a friend.

And now he was dying. (John 15:13)

He said to love one another

as he loved them. (John 15:12)

How could they love each other like that?

He promised the Holy Spirit would come,

and remind them of all he said,

and teach them everything. (John 14:26)

Where is that Spirit?

They want to make sense of this.

He told them to not be troubled, (John 14:1)

that he left his peace with them,

that they should not be troubled or afraid. (John 14:27)

They have no peace.

They are troubled,

They are very afraid.

How could they not be so?

It wasn’t supposed to end like this!

But having loved his own, Jesus loved them to the end. (John 13:1)

Even while hanging there on the cross, he loved them,

cared for them.

He looked at his mother,

and the disciple whom he loved.

Woman, here is your son.

Here is your mother. (John 19:26-27)

It wasn’t necessary for Jesus

to make arrangements for someone to care for his mother

after his death -

he had brothers,she had other sons, to care for her.

This giving is intentional,

it’s the beginning of something new,

something birthed in the water and blood

that flowed from his side that day.

At the foot of the cross,

our eyes are on Jesus,

and then we look around

and see we aren’t alone.

There is a new family formed-

Woman, here is your son,

Here is your mother,

Here is your brother,

Here is your sister.

It’s a new family, a community flowing

through water and blood,

a community that surpassed any other on earth -

the family bonds of flesh and blood,

the loyal bonds of friendship,

         the allegiance to tribe and nation,

         or any other earthly tie.

Through the blood of Christ

and the waters of baptism

we become the daughters and sons of God-

loving each other as Jesus loves us,

sharing each others joys and sorrows,

figuring out how to live and love as Jesus taught.

This new community begins to come together

at the foot of the cross -

the women sharing grief at the cross,

bearing witness to Jesus suffering,

watching him being buried,

not being able  to prepare the body themselves,

planning to come back on Sunday morning.

The beloved disciple

gathering the mother of Jesus to his heart,

walking away together,

taking her into his home.

Joseph, no longer a secret believer,

boldly facing governors and powers,

professing his commitment

by claiming Jesus’ body for burial.

Nicodemus,no longer in the dark,

professing his faith in the perfume

of a hundred pounds of spices,

an extravagant, abundant offering of gratitude.

This new community begins to come together

in that upper room,

where they comfort each other,

share their grief,

trying to figure out what it all means.

Why did he die?

When will he come back?

How can a man defeat death,

only God can do that…

does that mean

they have been in the presence of God?

During Lent,

our eyes are turned to the body of Christ,

broken for us, the blood of Christ shed for us.

And at the food of the cross,

we also discern the Body of Christ

here on earth

this community of believers

entrusted by Jesus care for one another,

commanded by Jesus to love one another.

lean on each other in times of  trouble,

bear each other’s burdens,

support each other in those times when we can’t see any hope

     and all  we have are promises we don’t fully understand.

We are the beloved disciple-

Some say that John didn’t give this disciple’s name

so that the beloved community could see that

this most loved disciple

is them,

is us.

We are the beloved disciple,

    whom Jesus

knew fully as God’s good creation,

    beloved sons and daughters of the Father.

forgave

even in those moments when we betray,deny or abandon him,

         in those moments when we run away in fear

         in those moments when we have no hope

and can’t begin to understand his promises.

         loved us

to the end

by laying down his life for us.