Of all the times for this to happen. Passover is my favorite holiday: a week of recalling God’s mercy on His enslaved people, envisioning the death angel examining the doorposts for lamb’s blood and passing over those who had it as their protection. And, of course, since it was close to that time, we remember about them escaping through a sea that God actually parted. A sea! Split! You might as well expect a boulder to break apart or a dead man to live again. It just doesn’t happen. And to top it off, the army chasing them got stuck. Run aground in the sea. It’s as hard to envision as – say – an evergreen growing in the desert. It can happen, sure; but it’s hardly likely. The Red Sea event can give you goosebumps if you close your eyes and imagine it.

We are painfully acquainted with the Roman method of torture and execution. Sometimes we see crosses planted along the road with criminals in various stages of dying hanging from them. It’s a form of torture for us, too, in a way. A reminder of who’s in charge and what could happen if you say or do the wrong thing. Pax Romana is peace at the point of a spear. Don’t worry. I wouldn’t say that in public. But I’m not the only one who thinks it.

Jesus was – well – he was perfect. He was funny and creative and compassionate and strong and smart and a deep-thinker. Perfect. He had a way of teaching us that made us feel like God was right there with us. He said that, you know. That he was God’s son. And some of us actually believed such an unbelievable claim. I would’ve followed that man to the ends of the earth.

And as his following was increasing exponentially, they pounced. Those Pharisees. Those law teachers. They paid one of the guys who were with him all of the time to turn him in. And that scum of the earth did it. For money. For MONEY. Jesus didn’t care about money. He cared about a larger than life mission. He wouldn’t have done something just for money. For love, maybe, but not money.

And now? He’s dead. They took him and gave him a bogus trial and whipped him and hanged him! On a cross! It was brutal. I won’t describe it. Some things are better unspoken. But I’ll see it for the rest of my days. I’ll dream it for the rest of my nights.

Passover: A lesson in obedience despite fear. A tutorial in trust. God’s amazing rescue plan. But now? Like I said. Of all the times for this to happen.

Images: fanpop.jpg; Pixabay-cc-cross-78000_640.jpg