Jesus Arms
Matthew 26:14-27:66
Today's gospel is one of the oldest part of our story….did you know this? This is the report that went out that changed the world. It comes to this…Jesus who was executed as a common criminal, died, but was seen later alive!
We will get to the "alive" part next week in a big way, but for now let's look closely at what we have heard today.
Jesus enters Jerusalem as a superhero, and ends the week crucified. This is a story that you would almost think that the fledgling Christian church would want to cover up. But it doesn't. Not at all. If you look in Acts 2, Peter 's very first talk on Pentecost…he tells everyone about how Jesus was nailed to a cross. The report that went to the ends of the earth highlighted the shameful criminal death he died.
We need to be clear on what it means. Make no mistake.
We are NOT, like little Johnny who was failing all his exams in the public school until his parents decided to send him to a Catholic school. At the end of the year Johnny came out on top of the class. And when his parents asked him what made him change so dramatically Johnny replied, "You see, the moment I walked into that new school and saw that guy hanging on the cross, I knew I better shape up. Those people here were darn serious; so I decided not to take any chances."1
This Crucifixion is NOT about how we are to be punished if we don't shape up. It's not about a God who is looking to punish and destroy. It's not about a serious headmaster God. It's about freewill, and it's about Love. God is reaching out to each and every one of us, and he has reached down to rescue us in the best way possible.
An article in National Geographic several years ago described an amazing scene. After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings. She could have flown to safety, left them stranded in their nest, to be torched when the fire blasted through, but she had refused to abandon her babies. Instead she moved them to the ground, to the coolest place. And when the blaze arrived and the heat scorched her small body, the mother remained steadfast. Because she had been willing to die, those under the cover of her wings lived.2
It says in Psalm 91: "God will rescue you from the fowler's snare, from the destroying plague, he will shelter you with pinions, spread wings that you may take refuge; God's faithfulness is a protecting shield." (Psalm 91: 3-4)
When confronted with the people of Jerusalem, Jesus talks of how he longs to gather them like chicks, under a mothers wings.
As we walk through Holy week this week, let us remember that Jesus arms are spread wide on the cross, to gather us all into his arms. When he cried out "why have you forsaken me", an answer, an answer that would have been good enough for Jesus, would be, "Steve". Jesus, you are here, going though this, to gather into your arms, a very unworthy priest Steve Timpson. And to embrace you Bob, and to embrace you Joy, and you Helen. And you, and you,….All of us.
Let us respond to this holy embrace, in the words of Thomas when he was confronted with Jesus:
MY Lord, and MY God. My LORD and my GOD.
Everything else follows…
Amen
©2005 Steve E. Timpson
1Johnny Shaping Up is quoted from a homily for Palm Sunday, by Fr Munachi E. Ezeogu, cssp, and is available at http://www.munachi.com/
2This story from National Geographic, is quoted in a sermon preached by Sil Galvan entitled "Under His Wings"
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