As Holy Week continues, the Rev. Dr. Scott Ness 鈥�01, senior pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Fayetteville, Georgia, shares this special message.
鈥淚f the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.鈥� - John 8:36
Earlier this week, the crowds shouted, 鈥淗osanna to the Son of David.鈥� Save us. This is what Hosanna means. Deliver us. Rescue us. God鈥檚 story from the beginning has always been a rescue mission. We are sinking, and Jesus reaches out to grab you by the hand and deliver you. It calls to mind the scene on the Sea of Galilee when Peter and Jesus were walking on the waves. Peter took his eyes off the Lord and cried out 鈥淪ave me鈥� as he began to sink. Jesus reached out.
Jesus is always reaching out. He is always reaching out for you.
I continue to fail and fall. I鈥檓 so good at getting myself in situations where I need help because I can鈥檛 break myself free. Thanks be to God, the Lord never grows weary of this rescue work.
One of the first rescue missions we see unfold in Scripture is recounted in Genesis 14. Lot, the nephew of Abraham (he was still Abram at this time), was captured. Abraham gathered 318 of his men to free his kinsman. Under the cloak of night, Lot was liberated and reunited with his family.
God still goes to incredible distances to free you from captivity. God works to unbind the chains that hold you back and to free you from sin that latches a hold of you and me. He has come to set you free. He has come to rescue you. And He will keep coming.
What did Abraham, Lot, and the kings and leaders of the day do to celebrate the successful rescue mission? They threw a party! It was a victory party. And all good parties need a place, a host, and food and drink!
The victory party for Lot鈥檚 rescue took place in the Valley of Kings right outside the city of Salem鈥攖he precursor to Jerusalem. The host was Melchizedek, the king of Salem. His name means 鈥渒ing of righteousness.鈥� And the food? Genesis 14:18 tells us that this king brought out bread and wine to celebrate the victory.
Bread and Wine, within earshot of the place that would become Jerusalem, served by the King of Righteousness鈥攖his is how God celebrates a successful rescue mission. And this is how God continues to celebrate a successful rescue mission.
On this Maundy Thursday, we remember that Jesus (who is THE King of Righteousness) gathered within earshot of the Valley of Kings within the city of Jerusalem. And the food and drink on this night recall that ancient celebration. It鈥檚 the same party, thousands of years later. And you are an invited guest. The party celebrates your rescue. The Bread and the Wine鈥攇iven for you. This is the feast of victory of our God.
The menu is the same. The location is nearly the same. The host is the same.
Make no mistake鈥攖his party is about the host, not the guests. This week is all about Jesus. And, by His grace, we are invited to be a part of the celebration. You and I have a seat at the table because Jesus risked it all鈥攍ost it all鈥攕o we might be free. As you receive the bread and the wine鈥攖he Body and the Blood鈥攔eceive this victory meal knowing that Jesus has won your freedom.
Thanks be to God.