Dear Faith Family,
"The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, but whoever loves less his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."
(John 12:23-25)
These are the words Jesus spoke not long after having transformed death into life eternal through the raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-44). Words spoken by Jesus after the crowds had sung their "Hosanna!" at his prophetic and meek arrival (John 12:12-18), but before they shouted "Crucify, crucify him!" (Luke 23:21).
In other words, these words were spoken by Jesus on his way to the cross, to the paradoxically named "Good Friday," before those time-altering events of Easter morning. Words spoken by Jesus to those who had come a long way, "some Greeks" (John 12:20) to see him. Words spoken in preface not only to Jesus' death but first, to an invitation to follow where he was going:
"If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also." (John 12:26)
For most of the Western Church worldwide, the season of Lent begins a week from today. Lent is a journey of "bright sadness" that involves following Jesus to and through the cross, into the tomb, and up again into life eternal.
The spiritual journey of Lent is a downward movement, a choice to take Jesus up on his invitation to die with him, to let his death be our death so that we also might take up his life. "Great Lent," as one Orthodox scholar contends, "is a school of repentance to which every Christian must go every year," allowing us to experience (enter) the reality that "Death is no more! Christ is risen, and life reigns! Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave!" [1]
Yet, before we embark on such a journey, it would be wise of us to prepare. To ready our hearts, minds, souls, and wills for the days ahead through the words of Jesus spoken just before he entered Jerusalem on a donkey. Words spoken, as Jesus "was passing through" another biblically significant city,
"He entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich." (Luke 19:1-2)
We probably all know the story of Zacchaeus, that "wee-little man" who "climbed up into the sycamore tree, for the Lord he wanted to see," only to be told by Jesus, "Zacchaeus, you come down, for I am going to your house today." Good luck getting that song out of your head now!
Ironically enough, the final words of the Sunday School song were always sung with the teacher wagging their finger as if Jesus was scolding some overly energetic child who had ventured into the disobedient act of scaling the forbidden wood. I say ironic because, as we were reminded on Sunday, Jesus is actually the only one in the story who doesn't rebuke Zaachaeus but instead takes on the rebuke for him.
"And when they [the crowd who'd moments before had been jeering at the treed traitor] saw it [Jesus rebuke-less rescue of Zacchaeus], they all grumbled [about Jesus], 'He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner."
(Luke 19:7)
In order for us not to get lost in Lent--lost through self-condemnation or self-righteousness or self-saving--we need to see the Jesus Zacchaeus saw that day. Jesus who sees us exposed, vulnerable, and condemned and who trades our condemnation for his.
In order for the journey of Lent not to be just another ritual or new tradition but truly a journey through death to life whole and forever, today, we also need to be more like Zacchaeus, willing to give up our life to see Jesus and as a response to what Jesus has done and continues to do when we are facing the consequences of our sin.
So, my friends, this week, let us prepare our hearts, minds, souls, and wills for the days ahead by meditating on a familiar story anew. May we be strengthened and sobered by humility, our own and Jesus'.
Love you, faith family. God bless!