4/20...

Yesterday was 4/20. This day is known for different things around the world. Hitler's birthday- a once wildly celebrated "holiday" in German culture- now one synonymous with evil (read this article- great Op Ed- concerning Hitler and a now German Theological Hero- Dietrich Bonhoeffer). The 1999 Columbine School shootings happened on 4/20. 4/20 is also National Weed Day. Yesterday Bethany subbed at the Jr High and a lot of kids were wearing green. Bethany jokingly asked if they had moved St Patricks day or something- the 12-14 year olds in her class giggled and one told her- "no miss, it's national weed day." So proud Jr High Students are wearing green to support this day. 4/20 for me marks my brother in-law's birthday- Happy Birthday Will!

But 4/20 this year marked our church's Tennebrae service- this service of shadows- where we walk through the Passion narrative scripturally- walking to the cross- from Jesus' last supper with his friends- in which we participate in taking the Communion Elements- for me a shockingly realistic experience this year- thinking about this being the last meal with a friend before he was to die. We read through the Garden of Gethsemane account, the denial, the trial, and throughout we sang hymns about the reality of this week in the life of Christ.  I was given the responsibility to read the John 19 account about the cross- the mocking, his crucifixion, his death, and finally his being placed into a tomb in a garden. It was a spiritual experience for me to hear for probably at least the 200th time- the Easter story.

But 4/20 & the Tennebrae experience was much different for Bethany last night. Last night Bethany sat with one of our High School students who just recently accepted Christ. And although this freshmen in high school girl has placed her faith in Christ as her Lord and Savior- last night was the first time she heard in detail the Easter story- she had no reference for why we took the Lord's Supper till last night, she was shocked to hear one of Jesus' own disciples took a sword out and tried to kill somebody, she sat with amazement to hear how brutal the cross was and what Jesus went through on her behalf. Most of our teenagers sat and giggled through the service "for old people." But this particular student sat with jaw open in amazement at what her new found Savior had done for HER.

How numb we have come to the story of Christ- his sacrifice and his love for us. I pray that we look on the Easter story this Sunday with the eyes of one hearing it for the first time- again. The Gospel is great news- whether you've heard it for the first time or the 1000th.

"In the gospel we discover that we are far more wicked than we ever dared believe, yet more loved than we ever dared hope." (Timothy Keller)