A time to reflect
Commentary
Object:
Jimmy Carter, in his memoir An Hour Before Daylight, recounted the number of tramps that frequented their home in depression-era Georgia. He admired his mother who never turned one away, always providing food and water for the unexpected guests. Equally admirable, in the eyes of the future president, was that most of these men were polite, honest, and educated, sincerely on a quest to find gainful employment. Confused by the unusual number of visitors she received, Mrs. Lillian Carter inquired with the matron of the neighboring farm as to the number who frequented her residence. "None," replied the neighbor.
The next time a vagrant visited, Carter's mother asked why they came to her home and not others along the dirt road. The gentleman replied that they placed a symbol on the mail posts of households that would not mistreat them. After his visit mother and son went to the post and discovered some unobtrusive scratches, and "Mama told us not to change them." The Carter household would always be one of hospitality.
Hospitality, friendliness, and the fellowship of the flock have always been associated with sheep. Perhaps this is one of the reasons they are an endeared animal at a child's petting zoo. The lamb has always been a symbol of innocence, meekness, lowliness, kindness, and gentleness of life that would never cause hurt to another. It is these distinguished attributes of a lamb that readily avail themselves to symbolically representing Christians. In Christian writings the symbol of a lamb has been weaved into the life of Jesus. The word "lamb" has in it all the mercy, purity, and innocence which belonged to the life of Jesus of Nazareth.
This calling should not escape us as followers of the Lamb. On the doorposts before our hearts there must be inscribed the symbol that friends and strangers alike are welcomed, that none will be turned away. Humbly, we extend ourselves in service administering to the most basic needs, be they physical or spiritual. Companionship becomes our byword.
The three lectionary readings this Sunday all speak to the same message -- we are forgiven. The blood of the Lamb is upon our doorposts, the blood of the Lamb is heard in our sermons, the blood of the Lamb is found on our communion table. It is the blood of redemption, forgiveness, and new life. It is present, but we must first be able to see it, we next must be able to comprehend it, and lastly we must be willing to accept it. At that moment -- at the moment of acceptance -- we realize and actualize our redemption.
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Jesus has been crucified, resurrected, and finally ascended to heaven. Peter is left as the keeper of the keys -- the de facto leader of the church. The story of Jesus could have ended at this point, but Peter was convinced and overcome with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to allow this not to be the last chapter. With the departure of Judas and the selection of Matthias, the church moved forward into the world. Though Peter directs his sermon to the Jews, it is really a global message that Jesus is the Messiah. Though Peter is strong in speech he is not antagonistic, for those who heard him were "cut to the heart" and became believers. They became believers only when they accepted the invitation to "repent and be baptized."
1 Peter 1:17-23
Peter writes that the final assurance for the forgiveness of our sins has come upon us. We no longer hold to the legalism of Judaism but accept for ourselves the free gift of salvation that comes through the death and resurrection of Jesus. The blood of the Lamb no longer needs to be smeared on our doorposts but now is on our hearts. From the beginning of creation we had waited for this moment, this place in time, for our final redemption. Through the rituals of Judaism we have been preparing for this moment, and now it has come upon us. We now have in Jesus the perfect lamb, the perfect sacrifice without blemish, for the forgiveness of our sins. What is required of us is "obedience to the truth."
Luke 24:13-35
It was three weeks after the ascension and people were still dismayed, in disbelief, and questioning. Could Jesus possibly be the chosen messiah for the people of Israel? Two men, accompanied by a third, a stranger, were on a seven-mile walk to the village Emmaus. It was a long walk at a leisurely pace, which allowed for much discussion. It seems that day the conversation consuming them was the same that was being discussed throughout Jerusalem -- was Jesus the messiah or should we look for another? It was only when they took the time to pause at the table, to seriously look at the guest among them, and to break bread with him that they came to understand. Their realization did not come from a dialogue or a theological discourse, but rather when they paused and entered into a meaningful fellowship.
Application
Why Jesus had to be crucified is often asked and debated. The discussion can now end, for John provides the answer: As the priests were making sin offerings in the temple square, God was making the conclusive sin offering on the cross. As blood was shed to avenge the Angel of Death of the firstborn, blood was now shed for the ultimate deliverance of all God's children. Jesus was being executed at exactly the same time as the Passover lambs were being slaughtered in the temple. The priests who haughtily enforced the death of the Lamb of God recessed to the temple to commence the legalistic sacrifice of the paschal lambs. Beyond question, the symbolism is that Jesus is God's Passover Lamb, sacrificed for the deliverance of God's people. Jesus is the culmination of the sacrificial system, never to be repeated, only to be remembered and revered. This is why Peter could confess that we were ransomed from our sins as the new revelation. It was for this reason that Peter could preach to the Jews and the entire world community to repent and be baptized. It is the reason why two men recognized the stranger among them. It is the same timeless message that we are to share this day.
An Alternative Application
Though Jesus did come as our Savior and his sacrificial death did redeem us from our sins, there is still a personal responsibility associated with the event. We must listen to the sermon and repent and be baptized. We must be obedient to the new truth and be born anew. We must be willing to walk, listen, pause, and believe. The gift of salvation is before us. We must be willing to accept it.
The next time a vagrant visited, Carter's mother asked why they came to her home and not others along the dirt road. The gentleman replied that they placed a symbol on the mail posts of households that would not mistreat them. After his visit mother and son went to the post and discovered some unobtrusive scratches, and "Mama told us not to change them." The Carter household would always be one of hospitality.
Hospitality, friendliness, and the fellowship of the flock have always been associated with sheep. Perhaps this is one of the reasons they are an endeared animal at a child's petting zoo. The lamb has always been a symbol of innocence, meekness, lowliness, kindness, and gentleness of life that would never cause hurt to another. It is these distinguished attributes of a lamb that readily avail themselves to symbolically representing Christians. In Christian writings the symbol of a lamb has been weaved into the life of Jesus. The word "lamb" has in it all the mercy, purity, and innocence which belonged to the life of Jesus of Nazareth.
This calling should not escape us as followers of the Lamb. On the doorposts before our hearts there must be inscribed the symbol that friends and strangers alike are welcomed, that none will be turned away. Humbly, we extend ourselves in service administering to the most basic needs, be they physical or spiritual. Companionship becomes our byword.
The three lectionary readings this Sunday all speak to the same message -- we are forgiven. The blood of the Lamb is upon our doorposts, the blood of the Lamb is heard in our sermons, the blood of the Lamb is found on our communion table. It is the blood of redemption, forgiveness, and new life. It is present, but we must first be able to see it, we next must be able to comprehend it, and lastly we must be willing to accept it. At that moment -- at the moment of acceptance -- we realize and actualize our redemption.
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Jesus has been crucified, resurrected, and finally ascended to heaven. Peter is left as the keeper of the keys -- the de facto leader of the church. The story of Jesus could have ended at this point, but Peter was convinced and overcome with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to allow this not to be the last chapter. With the departure of Judas and the selection of Matthias, the church moved forward into the world. Though Peter directs his sermon to the Jews, it is really a global message that Jesus is the Messiah. Though Peter is strong in speech he is not antagonistic, for those who heard him were "cut to the heart" and became believers. They became believers only when they accepted the invitation to "repent and be baptized."
1 Peter 1:17-23
Peter writes that the final assurance for the forgiveness of our sins has come upon us. We no longer hold to the legalism of Judaism but accept for ourselves the free gift of salvation that comes through the death and resurrection of Jesus. The blood of the Lamb no longer needs to be smeared on our doorposts but now is on our hearts. From the beginning of creation we had waited for this moment, this place in time, for our final redemption. Through the rituals of Judaism we have been preparing for this moment, and now it has come upon us. We now have in Jesus the perfect lamb, the perfect sacrifice without blemish, for the forgiveness of our sins. What is required of us is "obedience to the truth."
Luke 24:13-35
It was three weeks after the ascension and people were still dismayed, in disbelief, and questioning. Could Jesus possibly be the chosen messiah for the people of Israel? Two men, accompanied by a third, a stranger, were on a seven-mile walk to the village Emmaus. It was a long walk at a leisurely pace, which allowed for much discussion. It seems that day the conversation consuming them was the same that was being discussed throughout Jerusalem -- was Jesus the messiah or should we look for another? It was only when they took the time to pause at the table, to seriously look at the guest among them, and to break bread with him that they came to understand. Their realization did not come from a dialogue or a theological discourse, but rather when they paused and entered into a meaningful fellowship.
Application
Why Jesus had to be crucified is often asked and debated. The discussion can now end, for John provides the answer: As the priests were making sin offerings in the temple square, God was making the conclusive sin offering on the cross. As blood was shed to avenge the Angel of Death of the firstborn, blood was now shed for the ultimate deliverance of all God's children. Jesus was being executed at exactly the same time as the Passover lambs were being slaughtered in the temple. The priests who haughtily enforced the death of the Lamb of God recessed to the temple to commence the legalistic sacrifice of the paschal lambs. Beyond question, the symbolism is that Jesus is God's Passover Lamb, sacrificed for the deliverance of God's people. Jesus is the culmination of the sacrificial system, never to be repeated, only to be remembered and revered. This is why Peter could confess that we were ransomed from our sins as the new revelation. It was for this reason that Peter could preach to the Jews and the entire world community to repent and be baptized. It is the reason why two men recognized the stranger among them. It is the same timeless message that we are to share this day.
An Alternative Application
Though Jesus did come as our Savior and his sacrificial death did redeem us from our sins, there is still a personal responsibility associated with the event. We must listen to the sermon and repent and be baptized. We must be obedient to the new truth and be born anew. We must be willing to walk, listen, pause, and believe. The gift of salvation is before us. We must be willing to accept it.
