THE LORD SPOKE (February 12)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Leviticus 8-9

How much ceremony is appropriate for an installation service? Judging by the ordination of Aaron and his sons, quite a lot. But the emphasis was, and must always be, on what is “commanded by the Lord” (Lev. 8:34). In the pre-Cross, Old Covenant economy, the requirements were detailed , quite involved, and very specific. It was literally a matter of life and death (Lev. 8:35).

Today we might have an installation service for a new pastor, for newly-elected deacons, or for recently appointed Sunday School teachers. Is any form of ceremony appropriate? Yes, for the following reasons:

1) It involves a sign of dedication, or setting-apart for the ministry of God’s Word.

2) It represents a new beginning - the start of a term of service or the assumption of a sacred duty.

3) It symbolizes the weight of responsibility that falls upon the one who accepts the mantle of service.

4) It demonstrates publicly the requirement of a holy life for those who would lead others.

5) It identifies the one(s) chosen by God for service.

But how much ceremony is appropriate? Enough that all the above is evident to both those who are being installed and to those who are observing. Enough that all might sense the weight of responsibility involved. Enough that God is truly exalted and His servants get a sense of the awesomeness of their duty to Him.

Can this be taken too far? To be sure! A line is crossed when the emphasis is upon the one serving rather than the One being served. Pomp and ceremony are worthless if we forget our main purpose. In fact, they’re detrimental. Let us, like the Israelites who experienced God’s presence on the occasion of Aaron’s installation, “shout for joy and fall facedown” (Lev. 9:24) before our Master - the One whom we serve.


New Testament: Mark 15

The day probably didn’t come out quite like Simon had planned. His Jewish name and the Passover holiday provide the clue to understand why he was so far from home. Like many others, he had made the pilgrimage from Cyrene, an important city in Lybia on the North Atlantic coast, to visit Jerusalem for the festival. Not being from Jerusalem, he’d probably made arrangements to rent an apartment for his little family for the eight-day holiday in the Holy City. No doubt, anticipation ran high as his two little boys got up early that morning (see Mk. 15:1 and following context, down to vs. 21) to go to the Temple. Did Mom stay back to fix some breakfast for when they returned? Alexander and Rufus were excited to see everything they’d been hearing about for so long before the trip. With expectation they poked their way through the narrow streets, sensing the right direction by the general flow of traffic.

But suddenly the traffic stopped flowing and the shouts of an angry crowd were heard. Roman soldiers were moving through and that always meant trouble. Then the Object of the tumult rounded the corner and fell right in front of their frightened eyes. He was so bloody and weak, he could hardly be recognized. Like everyone else, they’d heard some of the stories about this man from Nazareth but he didn’t look like much of a miracle-worker right now. In fact, he looked more like the lamb they’d just watched being slaughtered the night before!

Things got worse. The soldiers yanked Simon from the crowd and made him take up the heavy crossbar as he tried to give the boys some hurried instructions to stay close. The blood smeared his new robe, bought specially for the holiday visit to Jerusalem. Mom would be mad. Simon was shoved back into the line-up and the procession continued toward the city gate and outside the city. The boys tried hard to keep up but the press of the crowd made it impossible. They got pushed farther and farther behind. As long as they could see him, their eyes were riveted on the Man who had been carrying the cross. All the time the crowd chanted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Two others were being led out to the execution site also but the people didn’t seem to pay them much attention.

By the time Alexander and Rufus caught up, their father was watching the Roman soldiers drive nails into the Man’s hands and feet. There wasn’t much reason any more to shade the boys’ eyes - they’d seen too much already and there was something spell-binding about this Man. Though He was writhing in agony, they heard Him whisper, “Father, forgive them.”

They all witnessed an unexpected lesson that Passover. It had to do with a lamb that could cover over their sin, like every previous Passover they’d celebrated back in Cyrene. But this time they got the bigger message that had been implanted in that story clear back at the very first Passover. What they really needed was the Lamb that could take away their sin.