By Amber Balista
It is holy week, something I keep reminding myself of because things are just different this year. Easter is surly coming, and as some have pointed out the solemn temperament of this Easter may be more like the first Easter morning. When the disciples did not know how the story would go. For us maybe that means we can enter into this week of remembering the anguish of Jesus and his followers a little more personally than ever before. The part of the story we are called to remember this day of holy week is that Jesus was betrayed by one of his friends. The scripture is John 13:21-30
Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. 23 One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. 27 After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
Judas, filled with darkness sets in to motion everything that Jesus had been telling his disciples. Everything that Jesus knows will happen has now started. As they are all together, celebrating Passover there is also this darkness a sad knowing that there is trouble that is not yet fully revealed. The verse tells us, “Jesus was troubled in spirit.” Sometimes it is easy to forget the humanity of Jesus. He was troubled by what he would face, by the betrayal and denial of his followers.
I imagine Jesus praying, honestly talking to the Father in whatever confusing feelings might have been. The Psalm that goes with this part of the story for us is Psalm 70. I can almost hear Jesus praying this psalm.
1 Be pleased, O God, to deliver me.
O Lord, make haste to help me!
2 Let those be put to shame and confusion
who seek my life.
Let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
who desire to hurt me.
3 Let those who say, “Aha, Aha!”
turn back because of their shame.
4 Let all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you.
Let those who love your salvation
say evermore, “God is great!”
5 But I am poor and needy;
hasten to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
O Lord, do not delay!
May we call upon God in these days, as we the community called the church remember the story of our Lord. While we might be distant from one another we all can join our troubled hearts cry to God, you are my help and my deliverer hasten to help me. Jesus is not a simple example for us when he trusts God despite what will happen to him. Jesus trusts for us. We can come to God fully honest with who we are, with whatever uncertainty, whatever trouble of our soul because Jesus Christ goes before us. We can lift our voice with his rejoicing in God’s love for us. Le us remember holy week together, and remember how our life is in Christ who prays and trust even when we cannot do so on our own.
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