Kingdom Harbor

Last Easter I pondered the non-human actors in the passion narrative. Maybe I’m slowly losing faith in humanity’s ability to be reliable actors in God’s New Creation project. The current state of our world and country does lend itself to an excusable amount of cynicism.

But then again, this fact only serves to underscore the power of the gospel and the height of God’s love displayed on the cross. God is not cynical. Jesus knew how fickle the faith of his followers would be, and still He chose to die for us.

But our role in the drama of redemption is inextricably bound up with the groaning and crying of all creation. So, I want to make one more pass at this idea of the non-human actors in the Passion Story this Holy Week by sharing my new cinematic presentation of my reflection from last year.

Here’s just a partial list of non-human actors who appear on stage during Jesus’ final week:

• The cursed fig tree is busy teaching God’s judgment.
• The donkey is busy chauffeuring the Savior.
• The palm branches are busy welcoming the Messiah.
• The alabaster jar is busy anointing God.
• The towel and basin are busy teaching humble service.
• The loaf was busy administering Christ’s presence.
• The cup was busy offering a taste of amazing grace.
• The swinging sword is busy teaching violence.
• The rooster is busy convicting one of sin.
• The fire in the courtyard is busy showing God’s warm embrace and light of grace is present even in our darkest hour of cold betrayal. 
• The crown of thorns is busy the painful sting of self-sacrificial love.
• The piercing nails are busy demonstrating the seriousness of sin.
• The splintered cross is busy killing life. 
• The darkness over the land is busy signaling Death’s last, desperate attempt to swallow up life.
• The curtain in the temple is busy being torn giving direct access to God’s saving presence.
• The burial shroud is busy wrapping eternity in a temporary cocoon.
• The tomb is busy cradling the Creator.]
• The stone is busy rolling away death.
• The other rocks will cry out if humanity fails to praise the Redeemer.

May we reclaim our role as faithful stewards of the earth to help restore harmony to a groaning creation. Yet, even when we humans drop the ball, lose the plot, or find ourselves tongue-tied and silent, the physical world will continue to declare the glory of God.

Check out the 4-minute video above, and Happy Easter!