Saturday, March 31, 2007
The Stone Face by B Shelburne
He was walking ahead of the disciples. This says a lot about Jesus. Their destination was Jerusalem and the cross. Some of God's commands are a joy but some are extremely hard. In his place I would hang back, finding all kinds of loose ends to deal with first. But Jesus knew that if you give the flesh an inch it will take a mile. Our souls depended on his being faithful. So, as Luke records, "Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem" Literally, in the Greek, "He set his face like a flint stone toward Jerusalem."
Reading between the lines of Hebrews, you can eavesdrop on a conversation between Christ and his Father. God: "The humans I created have fallen into sin. Justice says they deserve destruction, but I love them and want to save them." Christ: "The animal lives they offer on the altar cannot really redeem human souls and satisfy your justice." God: I have prepared a human body for you. Will you go to earth and be the redeeming sacrifice?" Christ: "Yes, Father, I will go and do your will."
Jesus never lost sight of his Father's will. At age 12 it was on his mind. During his desert temptation and throughout his ministry, he would not let himself be sidetracked. "I have not come to do my will but the will of him who sent me." But being human as well as divine, he struggled. "He learned obedience from what he suffered." All his obedience in lesser matters prepared him for the ultimate obedience.
Jesus arrived at Jerusalem five days before his death. Always before, the cross had been somewhere in the future. Now he was in its shadow. Then it was the night before. He ate the last supper with the disciples he loved. He retreated to Gethsemane. His humanity cried, "Father, if it is possible, let this cup of suffering pass from me! But if I must drink it, your will be done, not mine." He walked out to meet his betrayer and on to the cross. With his last breath he cried, "It is finished." He had been faithful. What an example he has set for us!
Reading between the lines of Hebrews, you can eavesdrop on a conversation between Christ and his Father. God: "The humans I created have fallen into sin. Justice says they deserve destruction, but I love them and want to save them." Christ: "The animal lives they offer on the altar cannot really redeem human souls and satisfy your justice." God: I have prepared a human body for you. Will you go to earth and be the redeeming sacrifice?" Christ: "Yes, Father, I will go and do your will."
Jesus never lost sight of his Father's will. At age 12 it was on his mind. During his desert temptation and throughout his ministry, he would not let himself be sidetracked. "I have not come to do my will but the will of him who sent me." But being human as well as divine, he struggled. "He learned obedience from what he suffered." All his obedience in lesser matters prepared him for the ultimate obedience.
Jesus arrived at Jerusalem five days before his death. Always before, the cross had been somewhere in the future. Now he was in its shadow. Then it was the night before. He ate the last supper with the disciples he loved. He retreated to Gethsemane. His humanity cried, "Father, if it is possible, let this cup of suffering pass from me! But if I must drink it, your will be done, not mine." He walked out to meet his betrayer and on to the cross. With his last breath he cried, "It is finished." He had been faithful. What an example he has set for us!
