8/7/2019 MMW Giving to Others
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Giving to Others
The season of the Cross tends to lead us into all sort of
religious introspection; Iguess it is most likely because of the
drama of the event. I also get reflective duringthis time again
because of the drama that started when two disciples were sent
toget a donkey that had not been ridden because the Master had a
need of it.
This event in my thinking is a type of what was coming up for
Jesus. A donkey thathad not been ridden to my way of thinking is
quite possibly worse than a horse thathad not been broken but the
owner apparently was quite happy to go along becausethe Master
needed it.
Jesus rode that unbroken donkey into Jerusalem through a crowd
of people whowere waving palm leaves at Him and the donkey never
tried to throw Him off. Foranyone who has an understanding of these
animals and horses for that matterknows that an unbroken animal can
be spooked by even the littlest event and eventamed ones are little
better.
Because Jesus needed that donkey the owner released it. In a
similar way a weeklater Jesus gave His life so that we might live.
This is the type I spoke of. Jesus wasnot someone who one day rode
into town to the adulation of a great crowd and aweek later gets
carried away in the hype of His entry and overwhelmed
whenauthorities decide enough is enough. He is not a victim of the
Roman/Jewishconspiracy although that is often the way it is
portrayed.
He went to Jerusalem knowing what lay before Him. He decided
that we were worththe abuse that He was going to have to accept,
not endure. This was His fulfilmentHe chose to go through
everything without reacting because He loved us that muchand He
lived the Father to the same extent.
In Gethsemane He prayed repeatedly for the Father to find
another way. After all ifyou recall it worked for Abraham he took
his son, his only son to Mount Moriah to
sacrifice the son of his old age according to Gods instructions
but before Abr ahamdid the deed, Jehovah Jireh provided a ram
caught in the the bushes instead.(Genesis 22)
Jesus knew this tale from childhood and before so it was not
improper for Him to askFather if it was possible to take this cup
from Him. But there was no reprieve thetime came and Jesus walked
resolutely to His destiny. I sometimes wonder if, whenHerod asked
Jesus to walk across the swimming pool, what would have
happened.Herod might have been so impressed that he would have sent
Caiaphas to theCross. But no Jesus stood before Herod and said
nothing, did nothing to makeHerod do anything but order the
execution of the King of the Jews. Truth be toldJesus did impress
Herod that is why he ordered the sign that was on the Cross ofthe
Christ.
So what has this ramble been leading to? Christ Jesus chose to
die on that woodencross not for any other reason that it was what
Father asked Him to do and that Hedid it for each of us. This was
His gift that we might enjoy a full life but it was alsoHis example
for us.
As a Follower of the Way of Christ we are to live in and with
Jesus for the benefit ofothers. During this season of the Cross can
we decide to be available to others togive to them as Jesus gave to
us? The thing is we have to live it not to die for them.
