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Hands offMonday, March 29, 2010
Isaiah 42:1-7 I the Lord call you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. And you will open eyes that are blind and release from prison those who sit in darkness.
John 12:8 God does not let us see his son through a single lens; we are instead shown a kaleidoscope of traits and moods and results and words that force us to watch without labeling or evaluating or comparing. If I will only let him, God allows me to be with Jesus and let Jesus be in charge. Social action is not Jesus' agenda, as I imagine it would have been. He loves the poor, but he understands that there is no healing of the inequities and selfishness of men and women of the world without his presence and his sacrifice. So he tells his disciples to change their priorities, to focus on worship and surrender rather than fighting to right wrongs. He insists they follow him down his path of descent into suffering and death. God waits for men to stop acting on their own. He is the creator; I am not. Jesus knows that truth during every moment of his life, and he will stop at nothing to help me know it too. You are my light and my salvation, o Lord. So I will fear no one. You are my life's refuge, and I need fear nothing. I know I will see your goodness here on earth, give me courage to wait for you. |
Isaiah describes the coming messiah as a humble servant and then as a strong leader. Jesus was both. In the week leading up to his crucifixion he preached and healed with power, stymieing every attempt to interfere until the moment when God said, "Stop." After that he did not shout or cry out, or raise his voice. He would not break even a bruised reed. While he was mocked and whipped, he was silent. On the cross he shivered in pain and rejection but also looked with compassion and generosity on both his mother and a stranger being crucified beside him.