Stuck

We all sat around in the sitting room admiring the new baby. I count it such a privilege to meet up with new parents to discuss their hopes and plans. On this occasion, we were discussing plans for their second child. It had been about a year since I had seen them last, at the Christening of their first child.

After discussing diary dates and filling in the paperwork, they shared how much it meant to them to have prayers said for God's blessing. It brought to mind the Bible readings about Jesus blessing the children, and so I asked if they had a Bible we could look at together. And that is when the conversation had stalled. The couple look at each other. No one seems to know the answer. Trying to help, I suggested the Bible we had given at the Christening of their first child. 

  

'Oh.. Yes', she said with a look of great relief. 'We have put it in a memory box for safe keeping. It's packed away in the loft.'

I have to admit, at that moment, my heart sank. 

Today is the day before Easter. 

I am trying to imagine what it was like. Eye witnesses removed the body of Jesus from the cross. Tearing the nails from his hands and feet, and then wrapping his body with linen clothes; they laid him in a tomb (Matthew 27. 57 – 66). Four Roman solders were posted as guards and that the Emperor's own seal of protection was fixed to a massive stone rolled into the entrance. All emotions had been spent. And as far as everyone was concerned, the body Jesus was now packed away for safe keeping.

But then I wonder, what else has been packed away for safe keeping?

What are your memories, hopes, fears from long ago?

When something is locked away inside us, it can become a problem. A problem with our physical health usually affects some aspect of our ability to move freely. In a similar way, a problem with our mental health cam affect our ability to move freely in our thoughts and aspirations. Part of us becomes fixed to one place. We become stuck.

Jesus was laid inside a tomb and locked away for safekeeping, or so they thought. But, 'It was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.' (Acts 2.24) Instead, Jesus enters the tomb to remove the sting, turning the place of death into a place of rest - between the cross and resurrection.

The author of the Narnia books, CS Lewis, wrote his stories to help people understand more about God. The Lion the Witch and Wardrobe includes a vivid scene where Aslan steps in to take the punishment for Edmund the traitor. In a harrowing scene, we watch from the shadows with Lucy and Susan as the mighty lion surrenders himself to be ridiculed and tied down. His glorious mane is pulled out and finally Aslan is stabbed with a knife by the wicked Queen. Afterwards, when everyone has gone and the dust has settled, the girls are left alone, inconsolable at the scene. Suddenly, with a thunderous sound, the table breaks in half and Aslan too is gone. When they look for him, the girls find him standing right in front of them, every bit the King he always was! 

'Aslan is on the move.' And so are we, if Jesus is the one we are following. 

Now over to you:

• What do you do with your memories?

• Is the death and burial of Jesus something you have ever thought about before? What do you think about it? (You may wish to spend some time reading and responding to Matthew 27. 57 – 66)

• 'Aslan is on the move.' Where is God leading you now?