Passover

“It’s time for the Passover,” Jesus said to his disciples on a cloudy afternoon as they were walking through Jerusalem.

It was time for the sacrifice of an unblemished lamb.

At that time many of His disciples didn’t really understand the significance of the feasts and celebrations that were built into the Jewish law. They knew that the Passover feast was instigated to remind the Jews of their deliverance from their bondage in Egypt.

God sent a plague to smite all the firstborn in the land. The Jews were spared from death because God told them to put lamb’s blood across the doorposts of their houses. “And when I see the blood I will Passover you, and the plague will not destroy you.”

The disciples knew that God had always used blood as a symbol for atonement throughout the Scriptures. They didn’t understand why. Then Jesus started talking about His own death. And He was so casual about it, as if it was an inevitable fact of history.

It all started when one of the women broke a very costly alabaster flask filled with expensive oil and poured it on Jesus’ head while everyone was sitting around having dinner. The disciples, especially Judas, became very indignant. They saw it as a tremendous waste. “That oil could have been sold and the money given to the poor!”

And Jesus said, “Don’t criticize her. She has done a good work for Me. For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body she has anointed Me for My burial.”

Several evenings later, in the candlelight of an upper room, Jesus’ hands broke bread, He blessed it and handed it to His disciples as He said, “Take, eat, this is My body which is broken for you.”

Then He lifted a cup filled with crimson wine, gave thanks and said, “Take this cup and drink from it, all of you; for it is My blood of the New Covenant which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

In the same candlelight He bathed their feet, humbling them with His submission. “Whoever will be greatest among you, let him be your servant.”

In the candlelight He could see through to their very hearts, and He spoke of betrayal as Judas left the room in silence. And when Peter vowed his undying devotion, God spoke to the fragility of human strength, “You will deny Me three times at the sound of a cock’s warning.” And Peter winced in the light of the searching fire.

They followed Him to a garden, a quiet place where poor men are want to find shelter beneath the trees. And these men who had given up everything to follow Him, in His final hours turned their faces to the ground and fell asleep.

“Can you not watch with Me one hour?” He sighed. Then He wandered away into the ever watchful presence of Heavenly eyes.

“Abba, Father!” the wounded Child cried as He fell to His knees weeping. “If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me.” His soul writhed in agony as great bloody droplets poured from His being and spilled onto the ground.

He suffered so in the misery of not wanting to do what He must and what was right; could we all shed the same blood to restrain ourselves from wanting to do what was wrong? In the clearing in the garden those who are awake suffer with him for different reasons and writhe in a holy flame.

“Not my will but Thine be done.”

The wind blew an ancient song through the trees, bowing the branches gently with its melody ad the Child sang along.

“For some I have been their entertainment, like a singer who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument. And they came to listen to the words, but they do them not. Have they known that God has been among them? Now I am a worm in their eyes and despised. Don’t be far from Me now for trouble is near.”

He heard a battalion of footsteps coming toward Him in the darkness and He prayed for His sleeping ones, that when they finally awakened they would all be one in holy love – for there is no greater miracle.

Then He moved His gaze from heaven rose to His feet and looked into a dark tunnel in the trees as the voices and the footsteps grew louder. He could hear their angry swords rattling against their bodies, yet, He did not move.

Later His disciples would wonder, “Why did they send an entire army just to capture one unblemished Lamb?”

copyright 1998 by H.D. Shively