festival of nationhood time, i watch

Wailing Wall
at Passover

Capitol on Fourth of July

Lord Jesus, I need time to watch. I can’t absorb the magnitude of your mission. I fail to grasp the depth of your final trip to Jerusalem. I want just to be there for a while. Amen.

Passover for the Jews reminded them of the birth of their nation. When we think of the birth of our nation we too remember the excitement of escape from oppression. We celebrate the day of declaration. But if we’re honest we know that death and destruction were also a part of that rending. Not everyone thought it was right to rebel. Soldiers on both sides lost life and limb. Even when we believe we are right to take these actions our conscience keeps us from excessive glory. The Jewish celebration of Passover was also a solemn occasion; the sacrifices of the past were brought to mind; the cost of nationhood known. Jesus chose this time to make his final statements. Jesus chose this time to connect and to separate from his people. Jesus chose this time to reveal God anew.

Picture the creation of a nation, a kingdom. What answer does Jesus speak to us as a people?

“Passover: The Egyptian Redemption”

Fourth of July picnic