03272021 – Sunday of the Passion
Mark is the best. Hands down. Historically closest to the actual events. Traditionally, he is writing the memoirs for Peter – so that the historical record is not lost…but retained.
Peter was present for all the most important events in Jesus’ life and ministry.
Like in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was very human. He was vulnerable. He was courageous. You get the feeling – in the garden – things could have gone either way. It is a moment of decision. Yea or Nay.
We know this…Jesus spent his life and ministry teaching about love…embodying love.
So, he fed the hungry, because they were hungry. He healed the sick, because they were ill. He met peoples needs, where they were at. He invited women and children, tax collectors and all kinds of sinners to come to his table. Those considered to be “outsiders” were always welcome.
Almost without thought, he crossed the boundaries of race, nationality, ethnicity, gender and class…and just so we are on the same page that was more than 2,000 years ago.
HELLO! What’s wrong with us?
Jesus broke bread with the least and the lost and shared the cup of righteousness with them all.
Again, seemingly without a great deal of thought he challenged the religious authorities, scoffed at their pomposity and their self-absorbed granduer.
He routinely called out hypocrites. He had no problem admonishing the Scribes and the Pharisees because of the hardening of their hearts.
He always taught a very simple lesson – Love God and Love one another. It is enough. It is more than enough. As a matter of fact, it is everything.
For whatever reason, he threatened the comfortable and the powerful. In an honor and shame society he was so far below them in the pecking order…and yet, daily HIS HONOR was growing.
He stood tall.
He did not back down.
He was certain of his position.
He stood up, for all that he lived for, for all whom he lived for…and he had a strong belief in God, blessed be he.
He trusted.
He believed with all of his heart that he was following the WILL OF GOD.
He was not afraid.
He would not back down.
He knew that following God…
As the prophets before him had done…
Might lead to his death.
So, he knelt there in Gethsemane and he prayed. He prayed his little heart out. He prayed that there might be another way out.
He prayed in anguish. He prayed as you or I might. He prayed as one, who has felt pain in his life, who has been hurt by personal betrayal, who would be scarred and bleeding by the scourging, and who would bleed like crazy from the rough hewn nails…tearing apart his flesh.
He prayed as a guy who was going to follow God’s will – no matter what…NO MATTER WHAT…all the way to the end…wherever that took him.
He felt humiliated and abandoned, convicted and mocked, before they ever laid hold of him.
He knew he would stand up for all that he lived for. It was WHO HE WAS and WHAT HE WAS ALL ABOUT.
The Sanhedrin (the Jewish Council) and Rome could not deter him. The elite of Jerusalem could not deter him. Knowing all of this, feeling all of this, having experienced all of this and MORE, he prayed, not MY WILL, but YOURS.
Strengthened by his prayer. He stood. He knew what he HAD TO DO. There was little wiggle room here. He stood tall. He stood for all that he had lived for…
He was a man who followed God.
He would forgive and love to the very end…for that is, HOW HE LIVED. He had a choice. Each of us has a choice, as to HOW WE WILL LIVE OUR LIVES. Will we live it for God…or…for ourselves…for our own gain. You simply cannot look out for yourself, ignore the outcast, condemn the poor, tread on the orphan and widow, take advantage of people, judge others and call yourself a disciple of his…Daily you too, have a choice.