Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Hallelujah! He is risen!
A Lenten Devotional Guide
By Rev. Richard Evans
An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would
be the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him
stand beside him. Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in
my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For
he who is least among you all – he is the greatest.”
Luke 9:46-48
The nominations for the 2005 Academy Awards have been announced and guess what! Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ was not named in any major category – Best Picture, Best Actor or Best Director. It was nominated in three lesser categories: Makeup, Cinematography and Original Score. The response from many corners of the Christian community is one of outrage. I haven’t yet heard a comment from Gibson.
But should we be surprised – that the glitz and glitter of Hollywood passed over the sensitive and gruesome depiction of the last twelve hours of Jesus’ life on earth? I’m almost relieved. What a contradiction it might have been to see a golden “Oscar” beside a scene showing the battered body of Christ hanging on a cross.
Millions of people saw The Passion of the Christ. It was a box office “success.” And the graphic portrayal of the suffering and death of Jesus undoubtedly strengthened the faith of many of his 21st century followers. But Jesus’ admonition to his 1st century followers who wanted to come after him was to deny themselves, take up their crosses, and follow him (Luke 9:23). That is certainly the message of the film. And the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in the release of their nominations, also has helped us to better understand these paradoxical words of Jesus: “For he who is least among you all – he is the greatest.”
You continue to remind your people, O God, that the Way of the Cross is not the way of the world. Help me to be faithful always as a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray. Amen
Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort
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