Like many of us that write a blog every year at this time it’s a struggle maybe to find something new to write about, but that’s really the story. You just can’t find something greater than Easter Sunday. This is the first year and I will not bore you with the number of years involved, but this is the first year that the wife and I have not been able to attend the Maundy Thursday or if you prefer Holy Thursday. It is the Christian way of commemorating the last supper in the washing of the disciples feet and the institution of the Eucharist. When I sat down and started to work on this this afternoon on Good Friday, I didn’t really know what I was going to write. I know it appears that this particular time that the wife and I won’t be able to physically attend Good Friday services. Going back to last night it was approximately 1993 years ago at least that’s what the scholars are dating it to Thursday evening that Jesus celebrated the final meal with his apostles before his crucifixion. Now they’re a lot of different thoughts about the exact date. We don’t really know most people think, by people I mean scholars, biblical scholars, believe it was 1993 to 1996 years. That would’ve placed it in about a AD 30 or AD 33. Luke 22:7–38 is widely considered the most detailed account of the Last Supper. It focuses heavily on the institution of what most of us today referred to as communion and something that is overlooked when we speak about this time of the year, the inauguration of a new covenant. Now I’ve written several blogs about covenants, but this strangely enough is the first time that I’ve ever thought about the covenant within this Easter story. I have a lot more details, but that’s exactly what they are details. The sign to remember here is that the last supper is a foundational presenting the final Passover meal which Jesus connected to his impending sacrificed of the Passover lamb, bringing old traditions to fulfill it.

Jesus Christ was known by a number of names and titles in the Bible and Christian tradition highlights different aspects of his role in divinity and humanity. What we have come to think of Jesus reflects his mission as Savior,Teacher, and Divine figure. Some of those were interesting biblical titles that we are all familiar with. Christ, Messiah, meaning the anointed one, Christ is the Greek translation while Messiah is a Hebrew translation. He was referred to at times as Lord originally a title of respect it became an assertion of divine status overtime. Son of God says all that needs to be said and emphasizes a unique relationship with the Father and his Divinity. The Son of Man is sometimes referred to as Jesus’s favorite designation, it highlights both his humanity and his role as a divine figure. Then there’s a word we don’t really use too much logos. When we turned to the descriptive roles and metaphors that were used for Jesus, we read about the savior redeemer, the one who rescues humanity from sin. The good Shepherd, focuses on his care, protection and guidance of his followers. Lamb of God, symbolizes his role as a sacrificial offering to remove sin. And of course, thread of life he is the source of spiritual substance. And it goes on. We’ve also referred to Jesus as the light of the world. He provides spiritual illumination in the darkness. He is known as the way the truth and the life, Jesus defines himself as the only path to God, and of course, the true vine, he is a source of spiritual life and growth. There are many more additional titles, Rabbi,Teacher, Lion of the tribe of Judah, root of David. The first born, last Adam second Adam, theological titles, focusing on his role in the new creation. He had authority over death, the resurrection and the life. And he was the Mediator or the one who reconciles God and humanity.

Well, I’m back at the keyboard again after taking time away in order to watch the Good Friday services from our church. Here again I along with my wife find ourselves in a new situation. This is one of the first years in a long, long time that we haven’t been at the Good Friday services. The service traditionally includes scriptures and hymns that tell the story of those final hours leading up to the crucifixion itself. Like I wrote earlier there’s not really a whole lot more you can write about this event in our Christian history. I wrote a blog some years ago about the people closest to the cross when Jesus died so I thought I might share that with you this year. There was his mother Mary, her sister Mary of Clopas, Mary Magdalene, and the disciple who Jesus loved which scripture identifies as John. Jesus had a lot of followers and sometimes we don’t really realize that, but I have often used the term that when he was traveling in his ministry, there was a time it would probably have looked like a a caravan. So we know that those I have listed were there, but there were also so many other women who followed him from Galilee and watched from a distance along with Roman soldiers and there was always as usual, a crowd of taunting bystanders. So wrap it up one more time Mary the mother of Jesus, remained close to the cross until the very end. The apostle John was the only male disciple recorded to be present at the scene. It was Mary Magdalene, a devoted follower present in all gospel accounts. And John 19:25 is where Marry the wife of Clopas is identified. There are also records of Mary, the mother of James and Joses, Salome, and Joanna. There were the Roman soldiers who were in charge of the crucifixion, including a centurion who later recognized Jesus’s divine status and the two thieves, each crucified on either side of Christ. There was a crowd of Chief Priests, Scribes, Elders, and onlookers, passing by the crucifixion site.

I’ve tried my best to be as accurate as possible, going out and getting as much information as I possibly good from as many reliable sources as I possibly could. That being said there is one thing about the crucifixion that I find not unsettling, but rather what we don’t always talk about. You know how people are always saying they want to have closure…well with the crucifixion, there is no finality. Because three days later, Jesus Christ rose from the dead and and so began our journey to salvation. They, the disciples had shared their Last Supper with Christ, and yet they had not been able to grasp fully what he was trying to tell them. That covenant of the bread and the wine, for 1999 years the people and followers of Christ have kept that promise and that covenant. You may read all the commentaries and blogs that you wish but if you want the story straight, then do this…go to scripture…read God’s word, read the Bible.

Life is Good

jk