Let there be Light
Holy Week and Creation: a comparison
God’s first love song for his creation
40 Blogs of Lent: Day 34
The first chapter of the Book of Genesis is theology, but not theology as we know it. It is not the theology of learned people using the academic language for academic people, nor is it a historical account. It is certainly not science. What it is is a statement of God of his love for the universe he created. “God saw that it was good.”
This is God’s love song for creation.
There is a correlation with the events of Holy Week, from Jesus entering into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to being in the tomb on the following Saturday. It is not a perfect correlation, but there is enough similarity to make looking at it interesting. The events of Holy week fall into line with the love song of God for creation.
This is Jesus’ love song for the Earth.
That wonderful paraphrase, The Living Bible, says of Jesus, the Word of God: “He created everything there is — nothing exists that he didn’t make.” John 1:3.
The creator of Light, the Light of the world enters into the centre of worship of God. The Jerusalem Temple. The creator of everything has entered creation as a man and here comes on a donkey, humble. Hail King Jesus.
But despite the humility of his appearance te people praised him, cutting down branches of palm trees and adding them to their garments on the road. The God of all creation is welcomed into his temple. The people cry out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” The King is here, the kingdom of God has come. Hail King Jesus.
We are in a very different situation. Instead of crowds in Jerusalem for Passover welcoming Jesus we are in isolation, gatherings of people, including gathering to worship, have been made illegal and trips outside the home are only for shopping for toiletries and food and to pharmacies or for exercise on your own or with those you share your home with. The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives. We live in dark times.
I look out my window at the bright Spring sunshine (Tuesday 24th March, as the first draft of this blog is being prepared), but with my wife working from home and us taking out exercise this evening after she has finished, I am stuck inside. Here I am contemplating a crowd scene in the life of Jesus and yet cannot meet with people, even members of my own family. How can I enter into this scene, how do I become part of the pageant when the church is closed on Palm Sunday?
Isaiah said, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” Isaiah 9:2. That light is here riding in triumph into his capital city, to be seated in his throne room. Hail King Jesus.
The throne that God has prepared for his son Jesus the Messiah is in the hearts of men and women. We can welcome the King, Creator of the Universe into our lives. We can still participate in Palm Sunday in this way. Welcome Jesus. Hail King Jesus.
Have you welcomed Jesus in?
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
Genesis 1:1–5 ESVUK-oOo-
1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus[a] sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5 And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8 And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”
11 And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
Mark 11:1–11
Making an ass of myself 