Remember!

In an Upper Room, Mystery encounters us: the mystery of our pursuing Lover, tenderly approaching us, His betraying Beloved…this is the overwhelming awe: the Mystery of Jesus.

Each of us who eats with Christ at some point betrays Him. Sometimes our betrayal is bold and brassy, like Judas. Or perhaps our betrayal is initially more subtle, like Peter slinking at the edges in hushed denials.

Every day, no, make that every moment, the choice beckons. Will I act on my own initiative, or will I act on the initiative of the total will of my Father? Do I even pause long enough to enter the conversation with Christ to ask His thoughts? What is Your will, Lord, for me, this moment, in this situation, this relationship, this point in time?

The choice remains. If I choose my will over His, well then, I sin. Not a very politically correct word in our day and age of tolerance as the current idol of all actions. But really and truly, sin is simply put: when I act apart from God. I go off willy-nilly, making an idol of myself, rather than staying stilled in worship alone of the One True God.

And yet, this is the crazy wild part....even as I repeatedly ready myself, whether thoughtlessly or intentionally, for some act that betrays this Wild Lover of my soul, this same Jesus comes washing my dusty feet, even dustier heart, even as my betraying heart prepares yet again to deny Him and do life my very own individual, right-this-minute, way. Who is this Jesus?

Join me today. Reflect on His body, His blood of the covenant, given with Jesus’ deep thankfulness, from the heart of the Father, with the invitation of the Holy Three-in-One...to me, to you.

Think of how we wine and dine, then scatter our depths so far from the heart of His love.

Ponder the Passover Lamb. Ponder the Upper room. What does He have to say? How is He displaying winsome love to us, His Beloved? How is He moving in my life this day? This season?

See His eyes meet yours and mine as He offers the bread, the cup. Wonder at this Jesus who washes straying feet with such tenderness. Bread. Bathing. Betrayal. Beauty.

Mystery. The pursuing Lover. The betraying Beloved.

Remember. Remember. Remember.




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Copyright © 2008 Lane M. Arnold. The content on these pages, both words and images, are the sole property of the author and may not be used or reproduced in any manner without consent. All Rights Reserved.