¹⁷ Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). ¹⁸ There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.  ¹⁹ Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: jesus of nazareth, the king of the jews. ²⁰ Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. ²¹ The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”  ²² Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”  (John 19:17 – 22, New International Version)

Theme:  The Wisdom of Discipline

Context:

During Passion Week we are using objects in Scripture to preserve our memory of some of the key lessons about love that Jesus taught His disciples during Passion Week.  So far we have focused on tears, overturned tables, perfume, and a basin of water.   Today, we focus on the cross.   

Reflection:

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross; the emblem of suffering and shame.  And I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain (from the hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross” penned by George Bennard in 1913).  The cross is clearly one of the most iconic symbols in human history.  Unfortunately, it is sometimes misappropriated by organizations and individuals who do not comprehend the love it represents.  For example, the Ku Klux Klan use a burning cross, and many people wear the cross solely as a fashion statement.

What should the cross remind us of?  We should be reminded of God’s love and justice.  We should be reminded of God’s love because according to Romans 5:8, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” We should be reminded of justice because according to 1 Peter 2:24, “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

Without Jesus in the picture, the cross would have historical significance only as an instrument that was used for executions.  With Jesus in the picture, the significance of the cross is transformed.  Not only does it symbolize God’s love and justice, it also symbolizes what Jesus requires of His disciples.  In Matthew 16:24 Jesus says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”  

Response:

As a symbol, the cross is inspiring, humbling and demanding.  When we remember the cross, we remember how much Jesus loves us and how costly His love was.  When we remember the cross, we also remember how much Jesus expects of His disciples.  Good Friday is a great day to express our gratitude for God’s love.  If you have words of gratitude in the form of a prayer, song, or poem that you would like to share, please do so. 

¹It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.  ² The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him…¹² When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³ “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶ Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13:1 -5 and 12 – 17, New International Version)

Theme:  The Wisdom of Discipline

Context:

During Passion Week we are using objects in Scripture to preserve our memory of some of the key lessons about love that Jesus taught His disciples during Passion Week.  So far we have focused on tears, overturned tables, and perfume. Today, we focus on a basin of water.   The passage above from the Gospel of John captures the story of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples.

Reflection:

The very first verse of the passage lets us know that what is to follow is about love. Usually, when reference is made to this love story about Jesus washing the feet of His disciples, the towel is the symbolic object.  As a symbolic reminder, I think the basin of water is also worthy of consideration.  Jesus was explicit about the reason why He washed the disciples’ feet.  He gave the disciples a model of servant leadership that they were to follow.   The basin of water helps to illustrate this model because it is a reminder that while feet washing can be a messy undertaking, Jesus did it anyway.  Throughout His ministry, Jesus loved when the situation was “messy.”  For example, He was not afraid of lovingly communicating with a Samaritan woman, even though such an act was taboo.  He lovingly defended a woman who was about to be stoned for adultery.  And, Jesus showed love to a tax collector by eating with him at his home even though tax collectors were despised by many. 

We are tempted to love only when it is convenient.  If the situation gets messy it’s time to look for an exit.  I once heard a theologian say that Christians often express their love for ministry until the reality hits home that their ministry is to people with all their flaws.  The basin with water reminds us how Jesus loves and how He has asks us to love.    

Response:

If we are to lead effectively as Christians, we must love even when it is messy.  The “dirty water” of people’s lives should not cause us to stop loving them?  What inspires you to keep loving even in unpleasant circumstances?  I would love to hear your thoughts.

 ³ While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.  ⁴ Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? ⁵ It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.  ⁶ “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ⁷ The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. ⁸ She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. ⁹ Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” (Mark 14:3 – 9, New International Version)

Theme:  The Wisdom of Discipline

Context:

During Passion Week we are using objects in Scripture to preserve our memory of some of the key lessons about love that Jesus taught during Passion Week.  So far, we have focused on tears and overturned tables.  Today, we focus on perfume.

Reflection:

As Jesus predicted, the story of the woman with the expensive perfume has been preached worldwide.  There are many lessons to be learned from this encounter in Bethany, but we will limit our focus to a key lesson about love. 

The love displayed by the woman in Simon’s house was noteworthy because it was costly, risky and prophetic.  Her love was costly not only because it was expensive but also because she subjected herself to shame. Her love was risky because it was public and defied convention.  Proof of the risk was the negative response she received before Jesus came to her defense.  Her love was prophetic because it pointed to Jesus’ imminent burial.  No wonder Jesus called the experience “a beautiful thing.” 

What prompted this beautiful act of love, which stood in such stark contrast to the attitude of some attendees at the event?  The woman’s love appears to have come from a deep understanding of who Jesus is and how comprehensively He loves.  Her anticipation of Jesus’ burial highlighted the extremes to which Jesus would go because of His love.  Her actions bring to life 1 John 4 verse 19: “We love because he first loved us.”  If we don’t come to terms with the depth of God’s love for us, we rob ourselves of the reservoir of love we can draw from to love God and others.  The perfume was a symbol of appreciation and gratitude for the deep love Jesus always exhibited.    

Response:

Costly, risky, prophetic love comes from an infinitely deep source. That source is God.  The more we understand the depth of God’s love for us the more capable we are of loving.  This is a great week for reflection on God’s love for us.  There are many songs that have been written about the love of God.  Please share the words from one of your favourites.

¹⁵ On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, ¹⁶ and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. ¹⁷ And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” ¹⁸ The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. (Mark 11: 15 – 18, New International Version)

Theme:  The Wisdom of Discipline

Context:

During Passion Week we are using objects in Scripture to preserve our memory of some of the key lessons about love that Jesus taught His disciples during Passion Week.  Yesterday we focused on tears.  Today, we focus on overturned tables.   The passage above from the Gospel of Mark captures the story of Jesus in the temple courts the day after his triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

Reflection:

On the surface, the tears we focused on yesterday and the overturned tables we will focus on today represent contrasting emotions.  Scratch the surface though, and it is evident that both events are acts of love.  They way Jesus treated the people engaged in commerce in the temple courts is certainly dramatic. The overturned tables were exclamation marks punctuating the love Jesus had for His father. Because of this love He could not tolerate the abuse of the house of prayer.  The overturned tables were also a declaration of love for those who were being denied the opportunity for true worship because of the negative influence of money (a problem that is still prevalent today).  This is a potent reminder from Jesus that love isn’t just a feeling.  It encompasses emotions and actions consistent with a deep commitment. The overturned tables are a reminder that we are expected to love as Jesus did.      

Response:

By overturning the tables, Jesus teaches us that love sometimes demands emphatic action.  Of course, not all circumstances require “overturned tables.”  We need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to act with love.  How do we guard against complacency/passivity when love demands action?  I would love to hear your thoughts.

⁴ Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ⁵ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4 – 9, New International Version)

 ⁴¹ As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it ⁴² and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. ⁴³ The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. ⁴⁴ They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” (Luke 19:41 – 44, New International Version)

Theme:  The Wisdom of Discipline

Context:

Traditions such as Passion Week ensure that important historical events are not forgotten.  In the Old Testament we observe that certain objects were used to preserve memories (see the passage in Deuteronomy above).  Over the next five days, we will borrow from that tradition to preserve some key memories of Jesus demonstrating love during Passion Week. Each day we will make a symbolic object our focus.  Today, we focus on tears.        

Reflection:

Palm branches are traditionally the symbolic object for Palm Sunday, but tears are also a significant part of the story.  In the Luke account, Jesus wept because He cared about the spiritual condition of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. They were lost because they did not recognize Jesus as the source of their peace.  Jesus’ tears showed how much He cared for them.    

The story is told of a young married couple.  Often, when they had a heated argument, the same person would always be left in tears.  The one who never cried confided in an elderly friend that it would be good if the crying partner would stop crying.  The response from the elderly friend was unexpected.  The elderly friend said, “be careful what you wish for because it is possible that when the crying has ended, so too has the caring.” 

Jesus’ tears are a reminder to us of the love of God!  He cared enough to cry.

Response:

How much do we care about the spiritual condition of those around us?  How can we avoid becoming numb to the spiritual condition of those who do not recognize Jesus as saviour.  I would love to hear your thoughts.