The Plot to Kill Jesus

1 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover  was near. 2 The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people.

3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve; 4 he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers of the temple police about how he might betray him to them. 5 They were greatly pleased and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and began to look for an opportunity to betray him to them when no crowd was present.

The Preparation of the Passover

7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us that we may eat it.” 9 They asked him, “Where do you want us to make preparations for it?” 10 “Listen,” he said to them, “when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house he enters 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” ‘ 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, already furnished. Make preparations for us there.” 13 So they went and found everything as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

The Institution of the Lord’s Supper

14 When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, 16 for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves, 18 for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21 But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. 22 For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!” 23 Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this.

Luke 22:1-23 (NRSVue Strong's Bible)

The term “Maundy” comes from the Latin “mandatum;” it is from a verb that means “to give” or “to order” — command. After Jesus and the disciples finished the Last Supper and walked toward Gethsemane, Jesus taught them a new commandment — “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another” (John 13:34).

The Last Supper

On the first Maundy Thursday, after they had eaten, Jesus gave the disciples his body and blood together with the bread and wine for the forgiveness of their sins. Called Holy Communion or the Eucharist, Lutherans believe this to be one of two sacraments — gifts from God. Most worship services focus on the meal and communion as a way to commemorate this day.

During the season of Lent, I deliberately take time in the morning to read the Bible using the Lectionary as a guide. Investing the time reading gives me a sense of wholeness, and direction.

I notice common themes. For example, the word "light" is a very important descriptor for the early Christians:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

John 1:1-9 (NRSV)

8 Yet I am writing you a new commandment that is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says, “I am in the light,” while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. 10 Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates another believer is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness.

1 John 2:8-11 (NRSV)

For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6 (NRSV)

Peace,

Steve

I noticed this headline today in my news feed:

To Help New Students Adapt, Some Colleges Are Eliminating Grades

I was stunned at the rationalizations made for removing letter grades (scoring a student's work). Mental health issues due to grades? Well, no, unless the stress of achieving those grades is defined as a "mental health issue."

Studying, being tested upon what you studied, is now a "mental health" issue?

Unfortunately, NPR chose to continue the political divide by using the "conservative" term as a definition for the opposing viewpoint. Why label opinions in that manner, NPR?

The article was particularly interesting because I've been reading Andrew Root's book, "The End of Youth Ministry?" I'm a fan of Dr. Root's books.

Here are a few quotes from the book that I was trying to wrap my head around:

It becomes a parent’s primary job to protect the child from emotional injury so that the child never gets the idea that his chosen identity is wrong or bad.

Emotional injury is terrifying because it threatens to damage the internal self, like frying the internal circuits of your computer’s motherboard by plugging in too many unsafe USB devices. To be emotionally injured brings a dark, stormy chaos to the internal quest, making life much harder. Emotional injury can strike in two directions, both of which frighten parents. First, emotional injury risks upending (or negatively redirecting) the construction of identity. It is assumed that because of your emotional injury, you can never be happy with who you are. Second, emotional injury can happen when a young person who is expressing her chosen identity finds no one to embrace it, no one who recognizes her unique expressions of her unique self. She’s emotionally injured because she feels like her way of being her is recognized only by haters.

Dr. Root is making an observation about high school and college kids from the viewpoint of the parents and their child in this "age of authenticity."

I am interested in what your viewpoint is.