I stopped while reading through the chapters of Mark in the Holy Scriptures, revisiting Christ's last earthly days. I saw these quick, five little words..."and after singing a hymn..." (Mark 14:26). The disciples, just finishing up their Passover meal with Jesus (which would be their last), were feeling worship-FULL. Some of us take walks, and they would do to that too, up to the Mount of Olives, but for now, a hymn was the dessert of choice.
My mind wandered to the disciples and their fellowship around that special Last Supper table. They witnessed so much first hand what the Prophet Jesus did in His three year ministry together. Traveling dusty roads, taking boats out to stormy seas, gathering at both weddings and funerals, walking along rivers and on top of water. They were in the midst of something spectacular. Riding donkeys, walking miles while meeting many interesting people in crowds, they always were on the move. Jesus fed a multitude of hungry people with little; He swirled His fingers in mud and wiped a blind man's eyes and this man's first vision was His Healer, Jesus! Discarding crutches of the lame, smoothing the skin of lepers, calling out demons; Godly authority and power, so evident. Christ and the disciples developed relationships with many, rich and poor, holy and not so holy and they got to know each other in the process. Most importantly, they became familiar with the One they followed. This was truly the Promised Messiah! They recognized God in their midst.
Fellowship. Jesus ministered through it. The Last Supper? --the ultimate small group. The planning commitee started out by listening to Jesus's directions for the Passover Meal. Find the person who has set aside a place, an upper room. They obeyed and without Google Maps and Suri, they located the banquet room. Once there, Jesus proceeded to set an important example to the first followers, by serving them in the washing of their dirty feet. Peter did not feel worthy. Jesus instructed him that until he submits his filthy toes, his cracked and bruised heels, his aching arches into the bowl and allow Jesus to dip his own loin cloth and cleanse, he would "have no part of Me." (John 13:10).
Peter threw his sandals off. If he could, he would have dunked his whole body from head to toe and received a full salon treatment. Thing is, just the toe dip refreshed and revived him for eternity.
The disciples with Jesus ate the Passover Meal and Jesus took the bread and together with the wine connected their presence, their significance to the Holy. Fellowship partook in the Holy and that Holy resonates in us today as we partake in the Holy elements of Grace. We remember and we give thanks.
And doesn't that make you want to sing!
The disciples did not understand fully what was to come in the next few days. They couldn't believe that a betrayer lurked among them. How did one we shared so much with, seen so many miracles with, felt so much love and purpose with, disregard the Holy? Judas left, not before spilling over the healing water of the footwash basin.
OK then, refocus. Jesus. He wants to teach us more.
"Love one another, He said. Like I have loved you. Men will see Me in you."
"Don't be worried about stuff. Just believe I've got it handled."
Jesus contined and they listened.
"I'm going to go away for awhile. I've got more work to do with the Father. There, I will make a place for you. I will come back and get you. Where I AM, you will be right with Me. There's only one way, through me, so know this Truth. It is Life.
"I feel like singing"...said Peter.
"I've seen God!" said Philip. I need to praise Him, sing and...and worship!
What lyrics, what harmonies, what beats came from these humble, chosen, very human eye witnesses to Glory on earth?
Oh Lord, revive Thy work in the midst of the years,
In the midst of the years make it known;
In wrath, remember mercy.
Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord of Hosts.
The whole world is filled with His glory.
I will tell of Thy name, Thy name to my brethren
In the midst of Thy assembly,
I will praise Thee
Holy, holy holy
Is the Lord Almighty
The whole world is filled with His glory.
And then they would gather again, at the foot of a cross. The disciples knew the Holy as they watched his heaving chest, His outstrewn arms covered in caking blood, His precious palms that had touched their own stinking feet and cleansed them of all their filth. Looking at His feet, remembering them hovered over the waves of the Galilee, and the depths of their own souls, they tasted the Manna. At the Cross they saw the blood flow down onto his matted beard from the thorns. His back lay open, sinews and dislocations evident barely through the gaping flesh. He asked John to take care of His mother Mary through the gurgling whisper of pain and spiritual separation of Himself and His Heavenly Father. The wine came back up. It is finished.
Holy, holy holy
Is the Lord Almighty
The whole world is filled with His glory.
And in the midst of Me
You are Forgiven
Into Eternity
And in the midst of my human life, I sing in fellowship with other Believers on Easter morning. For in the midst of my soul lives a Risen Savior. In the midst of my earthly pain, my dirty feet, my betrayals, my anguish, the thorns in my side, my failures, my unworthiness and regret, I am made Holy. Eucharisteo. Thank you Lord. Eucharisteo, I sing Your praises in the midst of Your forgiveness of my sin and the washing of my soul in Your own blood. In the midst of Christ Jesus, the Son, My Father sees me as His child, in Grace received. Eucharisteo, in the midst of the Manna and the Wine. Holy, Holy, Holy.
In Considerable Thoughts, Coleene
Isaiah 6:3, Habbakuk 3:2, Psalm 22:22, John 14.
