Easter for any follower of Christ is a very emotionally charged time. Compressed into these three days we come across times of love, betrayal, mystery, loneliness, fear, wonder, pain, loss, joy and bewilderment.
I talk a fair bit about the need to be transparent, vulnerable and authentic and I think that some of my fervency about these attributes comes from this final week of Jesus. From Palm Sunday on Jesus was always under surveillance. His disciples must have picked up some of the ‘vibe’ but could not put their finger on just what it was. Behind the scenes plots and sub-plots were bubbling up. As Jesus spoke openly around the temple mount he would have seen or sensed the whisperings going on around him. At the Last Supper he called the disciples together knowing full well that a betrayer was in their midst. Yet, in the middle of all that was going on Jesus remained centred on what he was called to be and do.
I always enjoy a giggle when reporters are trying to get answers out of politicians. They ask a question and the pollie just gives the party line; no matter how hard you try they have to stay on script.
No matter what was happening on the periphery of Jesus’ life that first Easter week Jesus stayed on script – ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done.’
What amazes me in this is that Jesus did not harden himself to get the job done? I know that there were times in industry when I had to do something that was particularly hard and often this involved people, I would almost step into another persona and tough it out. Jesus never did this. His authenticity, vulnerability and transparency never diminished. To the betrayer Judas – ‘Do quickly what you are going to do.’ To the three time denier Peter; ‘But I have prayed for you Peter that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’
On reflection I think that we have a major problem in our affluent (I always get the temptation to put an e rather than an a as the first letter) society and that is that we don’t have a script of our own and so – mixing metaphors - we dance to whatever tune happens to be playing at any given time.
Perhaps one of the reasons that I find the Easter season so spiritually, emotionally and physically wearing is not so much connected to my somewhat distant birth-date as it is to the fact that what is going on here is so anti everything that we are conditioned to believe for the other 362 days of the year. Let’s face it, even the message of a child born in a stable in the back yard of a pub is overwhelmed by mountains of presents, parties and tinsel.
As I have wound down from the Easter reflections this year I have found it useful to remind myself of the script to which I am committed:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’ Matthew 6:9,10
‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work.’ John 4:34
Cheers - John
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