Devotional 3-25-13

Please read Isaiah 42: 1-9, the First Song of the Suffering Servant

It is Monday of Holy Week, and already the palms of yesterday’s procession are beginning to dry out. The cries of “Hosanna, blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord” have faded in volume and enthusiasm. The Cross of Calvary is coming into view and we would prefer not to look. We thought that God’s justice would come through power and might, but the Suffering Servant’s song reminds us again that true power comes through Christ’s sacrifice and service.

You met Heather Murray Elkins a couple years ago at your Convocation. Heather has told a story from her family’s time in North Carolina. Someone told them of a deserted monastery which was far off the main highways. They had been tempted to make this journey by an offer of religious relics. This long abandoned retreat center was being destroyed after being bought by a corporation. The architect was offering any of the statues and carvings to anyone who would carry them off. They found the right spot then traveled on foot like pilgrims to a shrine.

It was a mistake from the beginning. The statues that were left would have required a crane, not two adults, a small child, and an older Volkswagen Beetle. They decided to call it an adventure. Bill (Heather’s husband) began to unpack their picnic basket and prepare lunch. Heather and her young son, Daniel, did a little more exploring.

In the center of what had been a garden, they discovered a crucifix. Even in its abandoned state, it dominated the garden. Heather looked, judged the size and weight and dismissed it as too big, too heavy – too bad. She lifted Daniel, ready to carry him back to lunch.

Heather then told, “The stiffness of the child stopped me. He had turned to stone. His eyes were like x-rays, restlessly scanning the body there on the cross. From the shock on his face, I realized that he had never seen one of these before. Every cross he had ever seen had been empty. This one was not empty. This one was filled with the dying agony of a good, strong man.”

“Jesus?” Daniel questioned, his eyes still on the form. Heather answered, “Yes, it’s an image of Jesus.” Suddenly Daniel exploded into action and sound, “Take him down!” he shouted. He began pushing against her crying out loudly, “Take him down!” Bill came running, prepared to defend his son from any danger. It was comfort that was needed—comfort and the telling of the story.

When did we learn to take this action of Christ for granted? We make our crosses pretty and sometimes forget that the cross was not always empty. Who taught us to see this text of the Suffering Servant without seeing the blood, the agony, and the hurt?

Here is the gift of this week: God’s Son journeyed through this week and made his way to the cross so that we are able to believe. No matter how much we have heard about the cross; no matter how many crosses are around us in our lives, the one big need remains that we find in Christ’s death the gift of forgiveness and life. We cannot take Christ down because that is his gift to us. The Suffering Servant gives his life to give us life.

Prayer: We thank you, God of life, that your grace and forgiving love is based not on our excellence, our good works, or our piety, but on the work of your Son, Jesus. Help us that we may walk faithfully with you in in the journey to the cross. Amen.

Rev. Mark Connor