Becoming more than "active"

In my reading to get ready to preach in Holy Week, I came across a curious little note. The note suggested that in today’s Church, an active Christian is someone who goes to worship about twice out of five Sundays and is never seen at a Maundy Thursday or Good Friday Service. Such a claim made me stop and think. Is it possible that we need to have a bit more pain and suffering in our Christianity to get people to understand just who Jesus is. After all that’s the question that is asked in the city of Jerusalem when Jesus comes in to make his claim on humanity. He comes riding not an animal of war (i.e. a great white stallion) but a humble honest and peaceable animal in riding a donkey. And it should be noted that in coming on such a beast and in such a manner, Jesus was making a pointed if silent claim to his kingship over the house of David and thus over Israel.

As Scott Hoezee puts it: Jesus' entry into Jerusalem is like a flashbulb going off in a dark room. Most of us know what that's like. You are sitting in the middle of a very dark room when suddenly, maybe as a prank, somebody pushes the test button on a camera's flash. Just before the flash, the room is so dim you can hardly make out what is what. But in the instant of the flash, you can see everything with vivid clarity: the chairs, the curtains, the pile of papers on the end table. For just a moment you see it all. But then, as your eyes reel from this shock of illumination, it all fades and the room seems darker than it was before the flash.

Many figured that it was time for the great showdown; that Jesus would finally confront all the wrongs of the nation and would usher in a new and great and glorious age. There is no doubt that had to be on the minds of some, including Judas Iscariot and the Twelve. Jesus’ entry into the city reminded the people of what happened in the days when the city was captured by the Greek Antiochus Epiphanies in 175 BC and how Judas “The Hammer” Maccabeus and his family became heroes of the people for standing up to their oppressor, freeing the city and reconsecrating the Temple after it had been so badly desecrated. Flipping tables, scattering money and driving out animals and people might seem mild by comparison in terms of a ‘real revolution’.

Jesus shows and makes his claim upon all of us. Most people like to stake their claim, make their fortune and have their fame. This is what others expected of Jesus. He would initiate a war to liberate the oppressed, create a class struggle dividing people into friend and foe and thus make a revolution. The problem is they didn’t and I think we still don “get it”. Jesus has no money, on political power or ambition. People have not listened to the message or to the heart that has brought them a message from God. They are still trapped in their own hearts, ways and thoughts of personal gain and glory.

We see this in Peter and Judas. There were many similarities between the two men: they were both of the 12. Both had been in ministry with Jesus and for Jesus for a length of time, since the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. They preached and taught; they healed people of their sicknesses and drove out demons. Both were there at the last meal, had their feet washed and watched everything, heard everything Jesus said and did.

Yet when their faith is tested, when the cost of being his disciple is at its highest, both failed to follow. Judas perhaps thought that he could force Jesus into using some of his power to do what he wanted – to get rid of the Romans with one powerful “zot” and fire from heaven. Use violence to rid themselves of the oppressor. It is only later that Judas realizes that Jesus will not fight back, will not use his power to claim an earthly kingdom that Judas begins to understand the depths of his betrayal. His grief at not seeing what he wanted and Jesus not fighting back plunge Judas into hopelessness and eventually death.

Peter wanted to be bold and strong too. He professed to be willing to be there right a Jesus’ side, all the way; even if it meant going to his own death. He was warned that he would not be faithful, that he would fail and yet he pressed on. And perhaps that is what made the difference. Peter kept his eyes on Jesus and how he lived for Jesus in the days after his failure to be faithful. Jesus reached out for Peter and restored him to a healthy relationship not only with himself but also with the rest of the Church. And Jesus did this through not only his words but even more so his actions.

What does that have to do with us? Jesus makes the same appeal for us to join him in his great parade into the kingdom. Have you fallen short? Have you walked or wandered away? Have you been willful and demanded that you get your own way? First, remember that with God there is mercy and that mercy triumphs over judgment. Then come and join us. Come celebrate the glory of the king and find that there is something more to the Christian life than just being “active” that you might really live in Jesus’ name.