The love and intimacy of human
relationships are central in the Easter story.
Where does Jesus go on His way to Holy Week? He stops off in Bethany to see His best
friends, Lazarus, Mary and Martha! We understand
why because we feel most alive after an intimate dinner and great conversation
about real life with fine friends.
Meaningful conversations are some of the best memories I have from life
in this world. I think it was the same
for Jesus. Exchanging mutual yearnings
for intimacy with God and others around a nourishing meal fulfills the soul.
Holy Week is about working
together, serving together, spending quality time together and deepening the
most important friendships. Jesus, the
disciples and the women who supported them were busy every day. They ministered in the temple complex. Jesus taught all the people who came to hear
Him. He stumped His opponents. (That must have made the disciples
proud.) Everyone worked hard. They each had their jobs to do. They were there to meet and greet and share
the love they had for Jesus.
In the evenings Jesus and His
followers camped on the Mount of Olives.
They had deep conversations about Christian living. Some of their talks are recorded in the Gospel,
and they give us direction about what is really important in life.
The last dinner Jesus had with His
disciples started with love. John 13:1
starts with this observation about Jesus: It was just before the
Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this
world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he
loved them to the end.
Love is the reason
for Easter. Love is the reason for
creation. Love is the reason for
life. Life without love doesn’t make
sense.
Then we move on to
Friday. Jesus Himself said, Greater love has no one
than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:13). Good Friday is the greatest example of love
of all time. When Jesus willingly laid
down His life for us, His friends, He showed us what love is all about. He showed us what true friendship can be.
Easter is about our friendship with
Jesus. Easter is about becoming the kind
of friend Jesus was. Easter is about
intimacy with God through Christ that leads to intimacy with one another.
As you walk with Jesus to Easter,
think about His friendship with you.
Enjoy the reality of His love.
Become the kind of friend Jesus was.
Invite some friends over for a meal.
Discuss the depths of God’s love with them. Enjoy deep conversations about the meaning of
life. Create your own Easter friendships
centered in love.
Copyright © 2015.
Deborah R Newman
teatimeforyoursoul.com All Rights
Reserved.
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