An Open Door...

Prayers of the Passion…”Into Your Hands”…Luke 23:44 – 49

Jesus’ words from the cross in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34 are ones of despair coming from Psalm 22. His words from the cross in Luke 23:46 are ones of trust in God from Psalm 31:5. Throughout the ordeal on the cross Jesus looked to God and remained close to God trusting the hands of the Father.

 

Prayers of the Passion…“He Gave Thanks”…Luke 22:7-23

Jesus had eagerly looked forward to celebrating the Passover with his disciples…his friends. He was glad to be there with them. They were his friends. They were a gift in his life. The wonderful aromas of the meal surrounded them. The sounds of their conversation and laughter drifted out into the night. They celebrated together the events of the first Passover remembering God’s faithfulness in delivering them from Egypt’s slavery centuries ago.

An oasis of celebration and ritual surrounded Jesus during the Passover meal. The evening’s traditions rooted him to the people, the land and to God. I believe this meal with his friends helped to steady him as he focused on the night’s ritual. He gave thanks…grateful for bread, for the celebration itself, for all he had been given, for his friends, for God’s provision and care.

And, the disciples…how often had they watched Jesus give thanks at meals? Did they remember other times on hillsides…in the middle of great crowds…by the sea shore…in their own homes? The familiar voice pausing to give thanks as work-worn hands blessed the bread…how often had they experienced this simple, normal act by Jesus?

Prayers of the Passion…"Jesus Remember Me"…Luke 23:32 - 43

Even though Jesus’ followers fled when he was arrested, we find them following him and being mentioned as he is taken from place to place. At the cross, some of them are directly mentioned as being there and others are there but nameless. Jesus had people there for him at the crucifixion.

But what about the other two criminals? Did they have friends or family there as they died? Or, had they alienated everyone? It is easy to think of the criminal who mocked Jesus being alone…he was mean. But it is harder to think of the criminal who turned to Jesus and defended Jesus as being all alone as he died. I hear his final request differently when I think of him dying alone. I hear him say, “Jesus—I am alone—remember me.” And, Jesus did.