Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

On the edge of it

Saturday, March 24, 2018

From John 11
Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews, but he left for the region near the desert, to a town called Ephraim, and there he remained with his disciples.

Three years earlier Jesus took the scroll of Isaiah in Nazareth's synagogue and called himself the Messiah: "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." His friends and neighbors were amazed. But a moment later Jesus said, "No prophet is accepted in his hometown." His friends and neighbors did not take well to his words and furiously pushed him out of town to the edge of a cliff. Would they have thrown him off? Would they have stoned him for his blasphemy?

Jesus "walked right through the crowd and went on his way."

Now Jesus is near the desert, where three years ago he spent forty days immediately after his baptism. How long will he be there this time?

Jesus is in a liminal space. In these days as in Nazareth, as on the day of his baptism, an already-now-not-yet sense charges the air.

In Gethsemane Jesus will decisively move from being the subject, in charge of what happens, to the object, letting others (us) take charge of him.

He has led the people of Israel through the desert into the Kingdom of God. He has held them up and encouraged them with words and miracles. He has chastised them and called them to repentance. In his three years of ministry Jesus turned Jewish theology and ethics around from legalism toward wholeness, healing and love. Jesus has fulfilled his human potential.

But now ... what? Is there any more? God's Messiah is not violent. He who lives by the sword dies by the sword. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God. Jesus is God's son, and he will not strike a blow, not the first blow or any other.

Jesus sits on the edge of things and listens for what his Father is doing. While he listens, others are talking. Excited about what he'll do next. Afraid of what he'll do next. Plotting what they will do next.

"It is better that one man die instead of the people." O Caiaphas, you know not what you say!

We wait too, for tomorrow's parade, for Jesus riding a donkey, when it will become clear that he is coming to Passover after all in spite of all warnings and all threats. Leaving the temptation of the desert, he will walk right into the midst. We join those who praise him, shout and call him king. We will shout too, louder even than the rocks, for our friend and savior.

All hail King Jesus, all hail Emmanuel! King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Bright Morning Star.

And throughout eternity, I'll sing your praises, sometimes with words but mostly with my breath, with my hands and feet, with my intentions to love and not hold back. Lord, your way of living enriches mine. Your death has freed us all from the Forces of Sin and Death. Your spirit breathes into us and makes us whole.

Devotions Archive

On the edge of it

Saturday, March 24, 2018