The Cast of the Holy Dance:
Jesus ………………….. Lead Dancer/Star/King/Messiah/Son of David/Christ
Disciples …….…….…….. Learners/Instructors
Crowd ………………..…… Participants
Audience …………………. Spectators
Religious Authority…… Chief Priests/Teachers of the Law/Pharisees/Sadducees
Samaritan Woman
Passover/LastSupper/Garden (Maundy Thursday)
Matthew 26:17-46
The curtain opens.
Jesus and His disciples are at the Table sharing the Passover meal.
Earlier in the day, two of His disciples joyfully danced about the stage getting the set just right for this holy meal.
As they all sat together, Jesus reclined and casually motioned that there was one among them that would betray Him.
Postures straightened and heads turned as all but one wondered who it could be. One by one, except for the one (his name was Judas), they turned toward Jesus. Pointing to themselves, they shook their heads as if to say, “Not I!?”
Jesus signaled that it was the one who was reaching into the bowl at the same time that He was.
Confusion. Amazement. Perplexity. Surprise.
Continuing movement made it clear that Jesus and Judas both knew it was he. Nothing was denied.
“Jesus then took the bread, and when He had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to His disciples” (including Judas?) (Mt. 26:26). He gestured, in the most graceful manner, a gesture that signified, “Take and eat; this is My body.”
“Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them. He gestured again. This time a gesture that invited them to “Drink from it.” His gesturing continued, graceful, compassionate, and with authority, signifying, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
He rose and began dancing. His dance was a statement that revealed a truth that they needed to hear: “I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s Kingdom.”
They all danced together. The lights went dim and they exited the stage.
The Act continues with dancing in the Mount of Olives, and the Garden of Gethsemane.
Through the dance, the audience (and the disciples) learn that they will all end up denying Jesus. Peter fights this vehemently, for He is a strong man. But Jesus insists. He actually reveals to Peter that he will deny Him three times that very night.
The dance to the Garden of Gethsemane. Here, Jesus, motions for them to sit while He goes to pray. Jesus prays to the Father. It is a passionate and deep prayer that ends with “Not My will but Yours be done.” He goes back to the disciples and they are sleeping.
Three times this scene repeats itself, getting a little more intense each time.
Having recognized that the disciples have no idea what is happening, He wakes them and gestures, “Rise! Let us go! Here comes My betrayer.”
A dance of betrayal takes place with expected and unexpected responses and Jesus is taken away to appear before the Sanhedrin.
Jesus’ declaration to Peter is proven true. Peter denies Jesus three times before the rooster crows.
This Act has been a last bit of instruction for the disciples.
New steps that have been taught before but are set in a larger context and thus need refining. They are steps that reflect:
- The key is servanthood.
- It is not about us.
- It is about love.
- It is about the Kingdom.
- It is about glorifying God.
- Let’s break bread together one last time before one of you betrays Me and the rest of you deny Me.
- Even still, I will wash your feet.
- Even still, I will serve you.
- I know that you don’t get it.
- I am patient.
- I have faith in My Father and I have faith in the Spirit that is to come and will fill you with all righteousness.
- You are My friends.
- You are My brothers and sisters.
- You are Mine and I will be with you always.
Holy Thoughts and Prayers:
- How mysterious the Holy Table is to us even today. I cannot even begin to imagine what the disciples were thinking when Jesus took the bread and told them, “This is My body broken for you” and took the juice of the vine and told them, “This is My blood of the new covenant poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins.”
- Whenever we gather, we come to the Table, the Table of our Lord. Whenever we gather, we are invited to “remember” that Jesus laid down His life for us. We are invited to “remember” that who He was, is who He is, and who He always will be. Whenever we gather, we are invited to begin again. We approach with contrite hearts knowing that even a single breath that we breathe is a gift from God. We approach knowing that all we are and all we do is completely and totally dependent on mercy and grace. We approach knowing that we are loved.
- Help us, Father, to depend on You more and more each day. Help us, Lord God, to bow low with humility, reverence, and holy awe. Create in us, Lord God, clean hearts and renew a right spirit within us.
- Prayer is the means by which Jesus’ energy is restored. And although Jesus would like the prayers of others to assist in what is ahead, His disciples still don’t quite get it and they take a nap.
Note:
Would you mind holding my hand through the remainder of this Holy Dance, this Journey to Glory?
I began today certain that I am entering a part of the dance where my feet are quite wobbly, where I fall frequently, and where I need instruction from as many as are willing.
I suspect (actually, I am confident) that is what had me relate to the disciples so much yesterday and why I kept referring to the question of whether I thought I knew what would come next and how the journey would end.
I need help and instruction from Jesus, from the Father, from the Holy Spirit, and from all of you who are dancing too. Don’t worry if you are still stumbling and falling as frequently, or even more frequently, than I am. We ALL have gifts inherent in our design, as God knit us in our mother’s wombs, that are meant to be used to build one another up, encourage one another on the journey, build the Kingdom of God, and bring glory to His name.
While I am certain that I am only beginning to skim the surface of understanding the freedom that comes through Christ and His sacrifice, I am certain that it is designed to become a reality in our lives by dancing not only with Him but also with each other. Please, hold my hand, and I will hold yours.
Reflection:
I have read, prayed, listened, and studied today. And then I fell asleep.
Does Jesus Ever Drag His Feet?
I don’t think so. He does ask for an easier path to take. He actually goes back to pray to the Father three times. I think, with a touch of hope that maybe He wasn’t as all-knowing as He knew He was. Maybe He too would get a surprise during this dance. In the Garden, it seems this may have been His hope.
It doesn’t appear He ever received a response. “Not My will but Yours be done.”
He knows. It’s go time!
Waking the disciples from their slumber, He says, “Let’s go. It’s time.”
{Selah – Take a moment, take a breath.}
It’s painful and it’s sad. It’s a matter of coming to acceptance. All the while, kicking & screaming, “It’s not supposed to be this way! It’s supposed to be easier.”
I have spent days, even years, trying to figure things out. I have missed moments with my family, my husband, my kids, my friends because “there are just some things in life that aren’t supposed to be the way that they are!”
I have had the same conversations roll through my thoughts over and over again, “What Am I Missing!?”
The truth is, I am not missing anything. It isn’t supposed to be this way. And, it is this way.
Acceptance. Acceptance with JOY.
Only through Christ. Only through His sacrifice do we get the gift of freedom.
If we choose it.
The joy has nothing to do with what we are suffering. The joy is about the promise of new life, new heights … Onward and Upward.
It is about the Victory over Sin & Death.
The joy is because someone, perfect and holy and pure, took on what was ours.
He paid the price for us. The price for redemption and restoration.
Deserving to be cut off forever, He made a way. The Way. The Truth. The Life.
So simple, so complete.
Lay down your burdens. Lay down your shame.
Come to the Table and let Me fill you up.What do I, what do you, what do we have to lose?
Prayer:
Holy Lord God, give us Your strength. Give us Your trust. Fill us with Your passion that we may come to a place of acceptance with joy and lay it all down at Your feet. Thank You for showing us the Way. Thank You for being the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Amen.
Writing Prompts:
- As I close my eyes and picture Jesus reclining at the Table …
- As I imagine Jesus pleading with His Father …
- When I get overwhelmed and/or complacent …
- I betray Jesus when …
- I deny Jesus when …
- When Jesus is taken away from me …
Note:
- Comments on these devotionals are open and I would love to interact with you if you have something you would like to share.
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