“Father Forgive Me”
“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
Today is Palm Sunday. I find myself a bit annoyed that we are not together in church. Recently, we have been told to remain at home for another four weeks. I need a new perspective. Father, forgive me!
The Lord heard my cry, and He answered my prayer!
Many of our government leaders have told us that this will be the hardest week of our lives. I have received my orders. My great sacrifice is to “stay at home”. Really? Remaining in the comfort of my own home is the great sacrifice that my nation is calling me to? Yes, that is the call and I gained some helpful perspective this morning- maybe you can relate.
While I am restrained from running around as I normally do, is that really a significant sacrifice? What about the person stocking shelves each night so people have food on their table? What about the checker who stands toe to toe with people all day long not knowing who might be a carrier of the virus? What about the bus driver who could be coughed on at any moment by any passenger? What about the delivery drivers who transport products to customers who never have enough? What about the police officers, firefighters and EMT’s, whose jobs will not allow for safe distancing? What about the people handling the logistical nightmares for government agencies? What about those serving food and supplies for the poorest of the poor? What about the restaurant owners who are packaging meals “To go” to keep afloat, or the distilleries making hand sanitizer and passing it out for free? Dare I mention the doctors, nurses, medical staff and health care professionals who are on the front lines, picking up their crosses DAILY and sacrificing for their deathly ill patients?
What cross am I being asked to pick up? Stay at home!
We have been told that we are in a war. Yet unlike World War 2, where people were called out to work in factories and do whatever is necessary for the war effort, I’m asked by our government to remain at home. I am not asked to recycle rubber, glass or nylons. I am not asked to ration butter, sugar or canned milk. No, my great sacrifice is to stay at home. I have to take a hot shower and eat a warm meal. I have to snuggle under warm blankets and listen to the birds in the morning. I have to eat breakfast in bed if I want to and drink that fourth cup of coffee. I have to sip a glass of wine and watch the sunset reflect off of Mount Baker. I have to decide whether I will bake brownies or cookies at 10:00 p.m. I have to take a walk, feel the breeze on my face and look at the beautiful tulips emerge from the ground. I have to sit in front of a warm fire and watch the rain fall. Are gray clouds really that bad? I have to choose from thousands of television shows to watch and hundreds of good books to read. I have to play my guitar and sing songs to the Lord. I have to read the Bible and receive a Word for the day and then write about it. I have to Facetime a friend, or a small group or my children. I have to clean up the garage or clean out my closet, or not clean at all. I have to mow, weed or trim – or not. I have been told that I am free to eat from any tree in the garden, just stay at home. And do I consider this challenging duty? Father, forgive me!
Interesting timing, for this week to hit and be considered the hardest week of any – it certainly was the hardest week in Jesus’ life. Jesus’ travels from Palm Sunday to Easter incurred great sacrifice and cost. Jesus lived on the front lines and paid the price. It was as if he was one of those soldiers taking the beaches at hard hit Normandy on D Day, June 6, 1944. But Jesus’ frontal attack on the enemy of sin was without reinforcements. Jesus was alone. He faced the battle and the fierce enemy, Satan, by himself. He had to maneuver around the myriad of troops and plans on both sides of the line and still end up on the proper beach, in the proper place – at the proper time – which he did – on the cross – at great sacrifice.
Jesus accomplished his mission. He took that beach!!
Jesus entered Palm Sunday to the cheers of the Passover crowd. He knew he would soon feel the jeers of the crowd screaming, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him!”; he went anyway. Jesus knew the religious leaders would try to trap him and plot to kill him; he went anyway. Jesus knew a friend would betray him and others would deny him; he went anyway. He knew soldiers would scourge him and beat him; he went anyway. He knew a criminal would taunt him and passersby would ridicule him; he went anyway. He knew he would be flogged and a crown of thorns would be pressed upon his head; he went anyway. He knew the religious leaders would cast disparaging lies about him; he went anyway. He knew Pilate would wash his hands of him; he went anyway. He knew his hands and feet would be pounded to a cross and a spear would pierce his side; he went anyway. He knew he would hear the ignorant words, “He saved others, he cannot even save himself”; he went anyway.
This week, between Palm Sunday and Easter, sin gave Jesus its best shot. He shed his blood and breathed his last. But thank God we don’t need Paul Harvey to tell us the “Rest of the Story”.
This week is going to call on many throughout our land to make great sacrifices. Me, my sacrifice; stay at home. If you are like me, let us make a pact to not dwell on minor inconveniences. May God give us a fresh perspective. Let us honor ALL those in our nation and in our communities who are paying such a great price to provide hope, healing and a harvest for those in need! Let us pray for those who are serving on the front lines. And let us proclaim the Good News of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who willingly sacrificed his life on our behalf, and on Easter, arose to give us a hope and a future.
Father, forgive me!
Pastor Mark