“Following In The Will Of The Father!”

“Following In The Will Of The Father!”(Mt.26:1-30).
We have commemorated the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, and we have entered the Passion Week aka Holy Week! Jesus knows very well that he has just made a journey of no return. (This reminds me of the Gate of No Return at the slave Castle in Cape Coast, Ghana. The moment slaves passed through that gate it was straight into a slave ship. The cry of “Never Again” is being resounded across the continent, but a new form of slavery is being experienced through foreign loans which we incure and our leaders launder and save in the land of the lenders. The lenders while making use of the money saved in their banks, keep piling up our debts. Debts to be paid by our yet to be born children. Whither Africa!).
That aside, Jesus knows that the Passover is two days away – and he will be handed over to be crucified.
The chief priests and the elders of the people assemble in the palace of the high priest to plan on how to arrest and kill him. But they do not want to do so during the feast. They fear the crowd that is already for Jesus.
Before his death certain things have to be done. To the indignation of the apostles, a woman anoints Jesus with an expensive perfume. While the disciples are fuming with anger, Jesus tells them that the woman has done the right thing.
May we do what our Lord considers the right things even when others are fuming with anger at our actions!
After Jesus’ anointing Judas Iscariot agrees to betray Jesus. We call this, “the enemy in the house!” My people call it “Ndzongndap” – “a thorn inside the house!” When Julius Caesar saw his friend Brutus stabbing him among the coup plotters he asked the famous question of disbelief, “Et tu Brutus?” When somebody told president TS to run because there was a plot to assasinate him, TS asked the person, “Is my friend BC aware of this plot? The answer was in the affirmative. Then TS said, “If BC is part of the plot there is no need to run. He knows all my secrets. I’ll rather just remain here and wait for them to come” And they came, and they killed him, and BC became the next president! “Watch out the enemy you trust as your friend! Betrayal is real and is recurrent everywhere!
Jesus is very aware of the coup plot, but he must do the needful. He too must celebrate the Passover meal with his close aides – including his betrayer! He told them that his enemy was right there with him, eating with him from the same dish. Judas was bold to ask, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.”
In the course of eating Jesus blessed the Passover meal and gave it new content. It became a meal of remembrance! It was his body and blood to be offered for many for the forgiveness of sins.
May we be truly remorseful of our sins and may we seek the face of God in the atoning blood of his Son.
Passion prayer: Lord Jesus Christ thank you for enduring the worst for my best. Amen!
Have a blessed Paasion week! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.