We are in the midst of the three days of celebration and reflection leading up to Easter Sunday. They are my favorite time year, and the most significant, for me, in the Christian calendar. They capture the heart of Christ's message of humility and obedience, which Jesus demonstrated perfectly. In how many other religious, political, or other traditions does the leader, (in this case, the Son of God) take on the role and duties of the servant? Jesus, whose entire mission was to reveal more of the Father to us, takes on the guilt of all of us, and becomes the perfect sacrifice. His sacrifice replaced the annual Jewish sacrifices at Passover, where the unblemished yearling lamb or goat was offered for the sins of the household. That first Passover was a bloody affair. All that killing and blood... it's disturbing to me to read the account and imagine the scene. Jesus fulfilled, completed that offering, and became the perpetual sacrifice, the perfect, unblemished offering. Crude and bloody, barbaric really, his crucifixion, his death, was the price of our freedom.
It wasn't easy for Him to bear it, but it was the Father's will.
"In the days when Christ was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him." Heb 5:7-9
He sets the example for us when it comes to obedience. We are to obey as He obeyed, so that the Father's will be done.
The Servant's Song:
Brother let me be your servant
Let me be as Christ to you
Pray that I might have the grace to
Let you be my servant, too.
We are pilgrims on a journey
We are travelers on the road
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load.
I will hold the Christ light for you
In the night-time of your fear
I will hold my hand out to you
Speak the peace you long to hear.
I will weep when you are weeping
When you laugh I'll laugh with you
I will share your joy and sorrow
Till we see this journey through.
When we sing to God in heaven
We shall find such harmony
Borne of all we've known together
Of Christ's love and agony.
Brother let me be your servant
Let me be as Christ to you
Pray that I might have the grace to
Let you be my servant, too.
There are a variety of versions of this hymn on YouTube. I prefer a quieter version but couldn't find it. This one is nice.
