Shaun Groves
The scroll was chosen by the leaders of the synagogue long before the day Jesus read it. It was chosen before anyone could have known Jesus would be passing through, and then it was tucked away in a sacred hiding place. That was the tradition.
The service proceeded as it always did. The attendant took the scroll from its cabinet and walked it around the room. Everyone faced the scroll as it moved about them, symbolizing its centrality to their lives and their desire to obediently live its words.
Then the attendant handed the scroll to Jesus. He unrolled it and started reading the words of Isaiah assigned to him.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
A perfect promise for a beleaguered impoverished crowd.
Anointed. Set apart for a task. Purposed. Chosen.
Anointed to make announcements that would be “good” for poor people:
Freedom for those in prison – most for debts that couldn’t be repaid.
Healing for the sick – poverty made a long healthy life improbable.
Release for the unjustly ruled – there was a long history of oppressors Israel hadn’t been able to wriggle out from under – and now Rome.
The fabled year of God’s freedom, healing, release.
Favor.
The crowd knew this passage: An old and treasured promise they prayed God would keep. Someday.
“Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing,” Jesus said.
With that one simple sentence could Jesus have been saying…
It’s here! Today!
The time has come when things will be done below the way they’re done up there! Crooked will be made straight! The weak will be made strong!
Good news! The kingdom of heaven is here on earth right now!
What if he means that? What if it’s true? What if-
Wait a minute. Isn’t this Joseph’s son?
God, I want to see You, hear from You, worship You this Easter season. Not the God of my expectations. Give me eyes and ears to experience You in the traditions of my faith and outside of them, through the beautiful and powerful and in the ugly and weak, in the extraordinary and the everyday. Help me. Amen.
ZOOM says:
Beautiful.
Josh says:
Good news, indeed.
Holly Barrett says:
Love this text! It gives me chills every time I read it. Beautiful post…thanks!
Ann Voskamp@Holy Experience says:
It IS here — because I now see and I’m now free and I now I’ve got good news that makes me rich — and how can I not share that He is who He says He is and the Kingdom of God is on earth right now and who can I now turn and help emancipate?
And… maybe that’s the expectation Jesus has of *me* this Easter?
Thank you, Shaun… Thank you.
All’s grace,
Ann
Yael says:
Shaun:
Well, you have not only got me thinking again, you have brought forth some amazing memories.
My father is a Jew. My mother a christian. Each respects and follows the others religion. We celebrate, fully, both Passover and Easter every year.
Your story reminds me of my grandfather who was a Rabbi. He loved my mother. And, he loved his grandchildren. He spoke, each year at this time, about his respect for both holidays we celebrated.
Easter has always been calculated as the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox; Spring. The Passover ritual of dipping greens into salt water is, in many ways also about springtime. Most apparent is the liturgical connection of the Last Supper to the Passover seder.
My grandfather would always remind our family that the religious holidays we celebrated were not only meant to connect us to events in history — the Exodus from Egypt and the Crucifixion and Christ’s Resurrection — but also to remind us, and honor God’s amazing change of season. Winter to Spring. No matter where we are in the world, or how small or large that change is, we celebrate it. We look forward to it. It is a rebirth of not only our spirit but of the world.
So, I want to say to you, and your readers, that as a Jewish/ Christian who is STILL trying to find her final path, I want to honor all that read here and to give thanks for the sacrifices made on our behalf. The sacrifice following the Exodus, and the sacrifice of God’s only begotten son as an atonement for our sins. We, whoever we are, are saved by these sacrifices.
Happy Easter
Happy Passover
A faithful(new) reader,
Yael
Debbi says:
I am so thankful that God does not limit Himself to “our expectations”. How small and hindered my God would often be. Often, when God amazes me with His provision, His grace, His plans,etc… I stand back in awe and realize that I didn’t even know how to “pray that big”! Oh, how thankful I am that he exceeds all of our expectations.
Who “expected” a sea to split open for God’s people to march to safety?
Who ever “expected” a little boy to kill a giant with a slingshot?
Who ever “expected” a man to spend an evening in a den with some hungry lions and come out without a scratch?
Who “expected” the blasts of some trumpets to bring down the walls of Jericho?
Who ever “expected” that a no name shepherd boy would become a king “after God’s own heart”?
Seriously, did the disciples ever really “expect” water to be turned into wine? a coin would turn up in a fish’s mouth? a few fish and loaves feeding five thousand? Did they “expect” to see the lame walk and the deaf hear? Did they “expect” to walk on water?
God, forgive us for our small expectations. Thank you for blowing our minds with your majesty, power, and creativity. Thank you for not limiting yourself to our prayers.
Easter was big. The disciples could not have imagined it…. No matter how many times you told them. They did not expect it….But you were not hindered by that. Instead, you showed up, and you taught us about grace!
Sorry, I think I started preachin’ here! This is one of my favorite passages from Isaiah and I just love your prayer that ties it all together….about worshiping God this Easter season, but not the God of our expectations. That is SO true. Thanks for the reminder. Have a wonder-filled Easter!
Debbi