By definition, abandoned means having been deserted or cast off. That definition means a lot if you are the one being deserted or cast off. The rest of us are spectators to the event of abandonment. Just yesterday, I saw a man being dragged off a plane just because he was randomly chosen by the airline to reduce the number of seats filled on the plane. What is sad by this event is that there were so many better options to choose but the authorities chose the most gruesome and graphic option to remove the passenger. By the way, I will not mention the airline but it begins with a “U” and ends with a “d”. Perhaps the best description should be “U” are really “Dumb”. How many people will change their flight plans to avoid this airline in the future?! I am sure that many will remember this event long after the person has been well compensated for his troubles but that is beside the point as the damage has been done. At least this man will live to tell the story of how he was cast off and deserted.
There are events in history that does not end with a mere dragging in humiliation off of a plane. One event that we remember every year is the total abandonment of a complete innocent person who was so misunderstood by an ignorant crowd of people saying “Crucify” him. He entered Jerusalem with shouts of acclamation and waving palms in the air only to be hung on a cross just a few days later. Unlike the man drugged off the plane in humiliation, this man was drugged into a mock court, accused of insulting God, labeled king of the Jews, severely tortured, nailed on a cross and left to die. He was truly abandoned by all. We can say not by me but history proves otherwise when crowds become a mob. (Read Matthew 26 and 27 for the whole story)
The mystery of faith is three parts. One part is that Christ has died. I am writing this message after my Palm Sunday service but today is when we celebrate “Passover”. Jesus knew the significance of this day in the history of Israel and the Jewish community and he knew that he would be betrayed and abandoned. This Thursday is called Maundy Thursday which commemorates the last Supper of Jesus Christ. (Read John 13 for more.) This Friday is called Good Friday. In my opinion, hardly a good day at all as this is the day Jesus was totally abandoned by everyone but just a few. He was crucified and sealed in a tomb which was guarded day and night to prevent further deception of what the authorities thought as one great big hoax. BOY WERE THEY WRONG! The second part of the mystery of faith will be revealed this Sunday so stay tuned for the rest of the story.
T