Praising God in "Handed Over" Life

April 1, 1999

"...the Lord Jesus, the same night he was betrayed took bread ..."

I've been reading devotions by Henri J. M. Nouwen this Lenten season, a little book Esther Sanger gave to me almost five years ago. This week I got new insight into a word we associate with Good Friday and salvation. The word is "passion."

The word "Passion" correctly refers to the agony of Jesus. The Oxford English Dictionary has as its first definition of Passion: "The suffering of Jesus on the cross (also often including the Agony in Gethsemane.)"

But there are shades of meaning to the word passion that shed light on Christ's mission and on our own calling to follow Him.

The way I commonly think of passion is the OED's third general definition, i.e.: "An affection of the mind; any kind of feeling by which the mind is powerfully affected or moved." I can have an (almost) passionate love for Scotland. Some people have a passion for certain ball teams. We can be passionate about faith, or love, or various pursuits.

But I am intrigued by the second general definition of the OED in relation to Jesus: "The fact of being acted upon, the being passive. Being acted upon or affected by an external agency."

The night Jesus ate the last Passover with his disciples, and gave them the Great Commandment: "Love one another as I have loved you—" that night Jesus was betrayed. The word in Greek (pa-ad-doµ-) means "handed over, give into the hands of." It is what Judas did in the Garden that night, but it is also the same word in Romans, spoken of God the Father, "He that spared not his own Son, but "handed him over" (pa-ad-doµ-) for the sake of us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"

Henri Nouwen points out that in the passion, in the sacrifice, Jesus finished his mission not by what he actively does, but by what is done to him! The passion, proper, began when he was handed over to those who bound him, and took him from place to place, and mock inquiry to mock trial to the Cross itself. His ministry had gone from action to passion.

Most of our lives, yours and mine, comes to us without asking, and without anything we can do about it. We have the illusion that we can control our own destiny. Self-help books are best sellers, and always will be. But passion is a great part of our lives than action. It is how we respond in the parts of life that are "handed over" to things beyond our control that shape our character, and ultimately fulfill our purpose as Christians.

Certainly what we do for God is important. It is wonderful to follow a vocation, and attempt great things for God, and even accomplish great things for God. That is sometimes the only way we can see things: in terms of what we can measure, or see, or count. But as hard as it may be to believe, it is not a cop-out to say that what we are is far more important in God's eyes, even, than what we do. The kind of person we are, the trust we put in God, and the integrity with which we seek to obey Him are somehow more precious to him than all out accomplishments. If we can, like Jesus, say "Yes!" to the Father's will even in the darkness of being betrayed, "handed over", we will be letting his passion speak to us where it counts.

Somehow the Book of Job is relevant here; it gives insight into how God knows and cares and even highly values genuine integrity above active accomplishment. You remember the setting of that poem: God brags on Job, and says, "Have you considered my servant who loves me and hates evil?" Then comes the contest or wager: the Adversary asks "Does Job love YOU, or does he just love your blessings?" And so Job is tested. But in it all, Job does not have a righteous clue as to what is going on. He is being "handed over" and in his integrity in that time of helplessness he is making God very proud of him.

In surrendering to the Father's will, and trusting Him through the darkest days in all history, Jesus has shown us, by his passion, that we can dare to trust where we cannot see. It is very meet and right, and our bounden duty to praise God when the sun is shining, and when we are happily occupied in some good work. But maybe it is even more precious in the times, the many, many times, when we are "handed over"— maybe even betrayed— to say with Job, in the dark, "Even if God slays me, I will still believe He is good! I know He knows where I am! I will trust Him!"

That next dark day, the day we call Good Friday Jesus knew darkness like we never will. In his passion, his agony, his utter helplessness he cried out, "My God, My God WHY have you forsaken me?" for that is how he truly felt.

But his very next words, wonderful words, as he gave up his spirit and died, were words of trust: "Father, into Your hands I commend my spirit!" His passion was over! He would rise as Conqueror of sin and death and hell.

Invitation to Communion

April 1, 1999 - Continuation from meditation:

Scripture (I Corinthians 11:23 - 30)

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body that is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Whoever, therefore, east the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord. Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves. For this reason many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. [NRSV]

Apostles' Creed (#8)

Invitation to the Table of the Lord

Jesus Himself is the Host.

Examine your heart. If He bids you come, you are welcome.

Prayer of Confession/Forgiveness

The "holiest" among us needs every moment the grace of God; we are not holy in and of ourselves. We come short of the perfect will of God in performance, and all too often, we lag in spirit, are insensitive in our relationships, and act more to our own self interest than for the kingdom of God and the salvation of others.

For this we ask your forgiveness— purchase of your blood on Calvary.

We claim your promise: (I John 1:7,9) If we confess our sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Prayer of Dedication

We ask that we may have your ASSURANCE that we have been CHOSEN of you to be your sons and daughters.

We ask that you will give us our ASSIGNMENT, not just our "big" assignment for life's career, but our day-by-day assignment of introducing You to those we know.

We ask that You will help us ACCEPT Your revealed will, and put you at the center of our lives, in all we do.

We ask that as we partake of these emblems of bread and the cup they may be for us true means of grace, by faith may we partake of your body and blood to our soul's life and health.

Lord's Prayer - (Instructions. Come, receive, and hold the bread and the cup and we will partake together.)

At the moment of partaking: The BODY of the Lord Jesus Christ: (may it) Preserve you blameless to life everlasting.

Again, with the cup: The BLOOD of the Lord Jesus Christ: Preserve you blameless to life everlasting.

#220 Lamb of Glory

- Into Tennebrae - (pa-ad-doµ-)