Since the birth of our Christ till His ascension to heaven, is a testimony of God’s love and mercy towards mankind. This love (Agape, the highest form of love ) is pure,holy, divine and truly the most valuable treasure to us.
Today, through this blog, I want to share small but important details and show wider perspective from Indian Malankara Orthodox for the spiritual growth. Stay strong and continue believing in Lord Christ. For Satan even tempted our Lord Jesus Christ thrice, during 40 days fasting, in desert (Mt 4: 1-11). So we, his mere creation, too will be tempted, tested and persecuted. So we need the spirit of God to fight Satan. I hope this blog would be helpful to enrich the souls and to attain the spirit of God.
THE PALM SUNDAY
Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem is celebrated by the church on Palm Sunday. During Christ’s era, Jewish nationalism had led to the expectation of a political Messiah to deliver them from Roman control and to reestablish David’s kingdom. What they couldn’t grasp is, Messiah did come but not to save our mortal bodies but our soul. Through parables and acts of humility, Jesus shows that He has not come to establish an earthly kingdom rather prepared for us a heavenly kingdom. He did not ride on a horse nor in a chariot (like earthly kings and queens), but on donkey- a sign of humility and peace (Zechariah 9:9), thus again Christ fulfilling the old testament prophesy. This entrance into Holy City declares the establishment of the Kingdom of God. It is also a promise of Christ’s final entrance into the heavenly Jerusalem with all believers and of His accepting the new Jerusalem (promised paradise) as His pure bride (Rev. 21:2).
Donkey, has been used as a working animal for at least 5000 years, who is untied portraying that we too are untied from the bondage of our sins. The colt and the donkey, both representing faithful Jews and gentiles who are brought together in the kingdom. At our Vespers (Indian Malankara Orthodox’s evening prayer) of Palm sunday, we sing. “You are riding on a foal prefigured how the untamed and uninstructed gentiles would pass from unbelief to faith”.
A story goes like this ( just an animated fables like fictional folklore, a tale to convey a moral) the donkey, on which our Christ chose to ride, was enjoying all the attention by the people of Jerusalem. The donkey started to believe that it was the donkey for whom the carpet of clothes and palm leaves spread. Here we are this foolish donkey, who gets all the praise and attention by others and forget that it is only because of our Christ, the merciful giver, we receive this short lived recognition. Let’s be humble. For Christ our God, taught us humility, our savior had chose a donkey to ride upon and not a horse. We must thank God for every talents, gifts and blessings.
The people who spread their clothes before Jesus did so as paying reverence to a King. It is spiritually interpreted as our need to lay down to our flesh and indeed our very lives for Christ.
“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mt 21:9), this cry comes from Psalms 117:25,26. Hosanna means,”Save, we pray!”
THE PASSOVER MEAL
The Passover (Jewish Passover ) commemorates God’s deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt to the Land of Promise (Ex 12-14). In remembrance of this, the Jews would slaughter an unblemished lamb and partake of it with unleavened bread.
Passover commences on the 15th of the Hebrew month of Nisan and lasts for either seven days (in Israel and for Reform Jews and other progressive Jews around the world who adhere to the Biblical commandment) or eight days for Orthodox, Hasidic, and most Conservative Jews
The Passover prefigures the Passion of Christ, in which the only-begotten Son of God is slain (God became man, from shepherd to become a sacrificial unblemished Passover lamb) in order to deliver His people (all believers ) from their bondage to sin and death. The new Passover (christian passover) also indicates, God’s redemption of all humanity from sin and death, and entrance into the promised Kingdom.
Whether the first day of the feast was Passover or the day before Passover is debated among the Fathers. What is certain is that lord Jesus regarded the meal with disciples to be the Passover meal.
Pesaha Appam or Inriyappam or Kurisappam is the unleavened Passover bread made by the Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala, India (PC: N.Ann).
Passover meal is one of the very emotional and painful segment, for Lord Jesus knew that His time has come to fulfill the prophesy and one among His own disciple would betray Him. Again here Christ taught His disciples to be humble. Our Lord himself washed the foot of His own disciples, saying He has not come to be served but to serve. Even foretelling them about the crucifixion of our lord Christ and His second coming.
Christ has a fervent desire for this Passover because this meal will impart the mysteries of the new covenant to His followers and also this event will inaugurate the great deliverance of humanity from sin ( Adamic sin) through power of the cross.
Jesus institutes the Eucharist, the long- awaited messianic banquet, to which He admits even Judas (compare Est 7), seeking by all means to save him. Because of his wicked heart, Judas’s participation leads to his condemnation (1cor 11:27-30).
Christ’s words are repeated in the divine liturgy, inviting the faithful to receive His body and blood. In holy communion, we are truly united in Christ. He gave thanks (from the Greek word for “Eucharist”) to teach us
- how we are to celebrate this sacrament,
- that He comes willingly to His Passion, and
- to accept sufferings with thankfulness, knowing that God can use sufferings for ultimate good.
The old testament was sealed with blood of bulls and goats. The new testament is sealed by the gift of Christ, who shed His own blood to conquer sin and death and to reconcile us with God. Christ calls it the blood of the new covenant, which is God’s promise and the fulfillment of the law. By new, He means this covenant brings immortality and incorruptible life; this covenant will always have the quality of newness (in heart, mind and soul).
GOOD FRIDAY
One of the most important day in a Christian’s life. Not only are we saved from our sins but have been blessed to be called as His children, by being able to participate in His holy communion and through His death on the cross we are cleansed.
Cross was used earlier as a means to punish killers, thieves and bandits, by publicly disgracing them. Christ completely changed the meaning of cross, which now is sign of hope and salvation. Moses made a bronze serpent in midst of desert, by the command of God Jehovah, for one’s who look at the bronze serpent would be miraculously healed from the venomous snake bite (Numbers 21 :8-9). Likewise those who look at the holy cross with belief would be saved.(Jn 3 : 14-15). The parable of the wicked vineyard tenants (luke 20:9-19) is about heavenly Father sending His only son to tend His work and Jewish leaders casting Him out, eventually killing Him.
Messiah sacrificed himself willing and knowingly on cross like a blameless sacrificial lamb. To redeem us from our sins, Adamic sins and now we are cleansed. He was crucified between two thieves, the one on the right repented and he received salvation. Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, inscribed a note on Lord Christ’s cross, on which it was written INRI.
The initialism INRI (Latin: Iēsus Nazarēnus, Rēx Iūdaeōrum) represents the Latin inscription (in John19:19), which in English translates to “Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews”, and John 19:20 states that this was written in three languages—Hebrew, Latin, and Greek—during the crucifixion of Jesus.
The title “King of the Jews” is only used in the New Testament by gentiles, namely by the Magi, Pontius Pilate, and the Roman soldiers. In contrast, the Jewish leaders use the designation “King of Israel”.
Lord Jesus, our God became complete man and was born from a virgin as foretold in scriptures of Isaiah. Mother Mary, even though knowing about the fate of her holy born child from beginning was very disheartened and in immense pain during the crucifixion because of the maternal nature but knew this had to done.
St.Mary along with Mary Magdalene, St.John;the beloved and few other women followed Christ weeping and witnessing all the cruel things that had been happening to Christ. Lamenting about humiliation of Christ, lashing, receiving the five holy wounds on Christ, the provision of vinegar when Christ was thirsty and till Christ’s burial.
When Mother Mary, mother Mary’s sister, Mary; the wife of Clopas, Mary Magdalene and St.John were at foot of the cross of Jesus. He saw His mother and St. John, said to His mother, “Women, behold your son!”. Then He said to St.John,”Behold your mother!”(John19:37). In calling Mother Mary “Women”, Jesus is using a term of dignity and affection. Contrary to the certain modern usuages, this is a sacred title in scripture, an address conveying deep respect and distinction.(Jn 2:4; 4:21;8:10;20:13; compare to Genesis 2:23). This shows that Christ cared for His mother, as he makes sure His youngest disciple takes care of His mother after His death (wedding at Cana, also depicts His complete love towards His mother).
It is believed when the sun lost it’s light and there was complete darkness. When no one was able to comprehend the situation, for short period there was a small secret conversation between Christ and Mother Mary. On the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying ,”Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus had quoted Psalm 22, which foretold the very details of crucifixion. Taken without the rest of the psalm, His cry of “Why have you forsaken me?” could be misinterpreted as a cry of despair.
When Christ to fulfill a scripture said He thirsts, instead of water He was given the sour vinegar soaked on sponge. So, when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said”It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. “Finished” is better translated “accomplished” or “fulfilled”- not meaning Christ’s life is ended but showing His divine plan of salvation has been completed. St. John Chrysostom emphasizes that Jesus Christ first bowed His head amd then willingly gave up His spirit.
EASTER
Easter is the most beautiful elegant thrilling climax. As on Easter, three days after the death of our Christ on cross, Christ defeated death and was resurrected.
Here lies the beauty of Christianity, not only Christ was born as a human amongst us. Shepherd (God Jesus) became the sacrificial lamb (incarnated human) who willingly sacrificed for everyone on the cross, died, was buried and was resurrected on the third day. For so much He loved us that he gave His own life and redeemed us, defeated death and made a place for righteous ones in His new heaven.
Easter was symbolically foreshadowed in old testament by Jonah. As when Pharisees even after witnessing Lord Jesus Christ’s miracles asked for a sign from Jesus to prove them that He is the real Messiah. Jesus replies –
39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah:
40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matthew 12:39-40)
The sign of Jonah is
- the fact the rebellious Ninevites were willing to repent at Jonah’s preaching and
- that Jonah coming out of great fish prefiugres Christ rising from the tomb.
Similar new testament passage symbolises resurrection. Jesus Christ’s authority was once questioned by Cheif priest and Jews, in Temple of Jerusalem. They asked Christ for a sign of His authority upon Christ openly protesting that the house of His heavenly Father is now turned in a house of merchandise.
18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”
19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” (John 2:18-20)
Here the temple is Christ’s body. Lord Christ is careful not to reveal Himself to scoffers, He answers in a hidden way: the ultimate sign will be His death and resurrection.
Christ, my shepherd. 