Monday, April 03, 2006

The Last Word on the Journey

Matthew 20:17-19

17 While Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, 18 "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death; 19 then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified; and on the third day he will be raised."

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I don’t know about you, but I’m tired. Tired of waiting. Tired of the journey. I’m ready for the destination. For those of you who are observing the period of Lent, traditionally a period of some form of self-denial, forty days can take a while. Of course, we don’t have to be observing Lent, or even recognizing it, to feel weary and lonely on life’s journey. Anyone know what I mean?

In our reading today, Jesus is on the move, heading towards Jerusalem, despite the fact that, as our reading tells us, He knows what lies ahead. It is while He is going up to Jerusalem, “on the way” there that He pulls His disciples aside “by themselves” and tells them the rest of the story. Listen to it, as if you are hearing it for the first time: “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified; and on the third day he will be raised."

In just a few words Jesus has told them the shocking news of what will happen to Him, and the wonderful, miraculous news of how it will end. And, what I find striking is the way He tells them. Here He is, on His way to Jerusalem, where He knows that He will be tortured and crucified, without any justification. And, while He was going up to this terrifying moment, He just calls them aside on their way, and tells them , matter-of-factly about His death and resurrection. He doesn’t call a press conference; He doesn’t stop and ring His hands and draw unmistakable and dramatic attention to His plight. He doesn’t seem to shout or find a way to mark this conversation out in red letters. Think about this. Those of us who know the Lord know that His death and resurrection is the only way to our new life, is the way that death has been conquered, the way that light has overcome the darkness, the way of our – and the world’s -- salvation.

And, yet, this most important of all news is not shouted from the mountain tops for maximum effect.

I think that those of us who are His disciples, have a lot to learn from this. This is the way that God works with us. This is His way: the way of intimacy, and personal sharing of news, as we go with Him on His journey. They are going with Him to Jerusalem. It is on their way there (and, significantly, I think, not before they begin) as they follow Him, that He tells them a remarkable truth, intimately, calling them aside and talking to them. Notice that while Jesus was going to Jerusalem, He says to His disciples, “See, we are going…” It’s like Jesus doesn’t make a distinction. Perhaps that is how it is (or should be) with His disciples: That our journeys are His journeys, because we are one with Him. In this reading, certainly, the disciples aren’t doing their own thing, or going their own way, they’re not even choosing the destination. No. This particular truth is revealed as Jesus takes the lead to Jerusalem, and they follow Him.

I know that on my own journey, I often find that I am frustrated at the lack of clear (read "dramatic") revelation. You know, if He sent the Angel Gabriel to speak to me in my home, well, it would be so much easier to know that it is a divine message. But, in looking out for the dramatic angelic visit and, in its absence, despairing of a word from the Lord, am I missing an intimate conversation with the Lord Himself? How tragic that would be! Much like those twelve disciples, I have a prior relationship with the Lord, so He could take me aside and say, “See, we are going...”

I don’t want to miss that: the intimate, soft-spoken, “just-between-you-and-me” conversation with the Lord.

Notice, too, that Jesus is heading towards Jerusalem. He really hasn’t asked them where to go. And he pulls them aside during the journey. As disciples, it is worth remembering who is Lord, and who is not. Our Lord doesn’t need (or ask) our permission to do what God needs to be done. But, He doesn’t force us to follow Him. If we do, however, if we embark on a journey with Him, then during that journey, He will confide in us. He will. We can trust Him to tell us the truth.

Ah! But what of the journey’s destination? He gets to choose. We only follow. It might well be Jerusalem (instead of Paris, for example); a place of tragedy, and heartache, and despair, and darkness. Still, we don’t lead. But this defines a disciple. A follower; a follower who listens to His Lord, who goes where He goes, and does what He does.

So, why follow? Why would anyone want to follow to Jerusalem of all places? Well, you wouldn’t, if you weren’t a disciple. It doesn’t make sense, if you don’t know and love the Lord Jesus, and put Him first, knowing that you can trust Him with your life.

So, what if we follow? What is the end of this story? “See,” Jesus says. And, then He doesn’t try to sugar-coat the awful truth. There is no escaping that in real life. But, take comfort in this journey, you disciple of Christ: you are not alone. “We are going,” Jesus says. And, some terrible, life-altering things might well happen. The events of this life – whatever form the “chief priests” and “scribes” and “Gentiles” of our life may take -- may well be the death of us, in one way or another. But, that will not be the end. “And,” Jesus, says, finally, “on the third day he will be raised." And He will be raised. This will be done. Who raises Him? God. God has the last word. God, in our Jerusalems, will still have the last word. And what is it?

Resurrection.

So, where are you, disciple of Christ, on life’s journey? Are you with the Lord? If not, you’re on the wrong road. If He is with you, He must lead. And He might well take you places you don’t want to go. But, if you are following the Lord, He will be able to pull you aside, and confide in you, and tell you about where you are heading together.

And God will have last word on your journey. It will be:

Resurrection.

Amen.