Through Dark Valleys

We’ve just had the elation of an exciting parade with Jesus, our Messiah, riding a humble donkey through the crowded streets of Jerusalem. He would have followed the Chief Priest who carried the perfect lamb from Bethlehem, the sacrificial lamb of the Passover who would cover the sins of the Jews for another year. Jesus, the one who John the Baptist pointed at and called the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

And now Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are looming. These are difficult days. They raise a lot of questions, tough questions even for adults let alone kids and youth, about who our God is. Why did the Son of the God of the universe have to die? Why would a loving God allow it? And why a death that was so public and brutal? Why is any human suffering necessary at all?

I’m not a Bible scholar, but I believe that God was communicating immense love in a way that could be understood by those open to it at that time. The festival of Passover had begun over 1,000 years before at God’s direction to help the Israelites deal with their sin. The prophecies followed and the Messiah came to show a new way to honour God beyond rituals and slaughter of animals. The old ways had to be finished and a new covenant in their place. Jesus died not simply because of chanting crowds and corrupt faith leaders. It was His destiny to be the sacrificial Lamb of God taking away not just the sins of the Jews but of the whole world through His death. He finished the need for Passover once and for all, taking on humanity’s brokenness as He humbled Himself “even to death on a cross”.

That death was awful and humiliating and the disciples didn’t see it for what it was until after the resurrection. That death was filled with love and forgiveness, with discipline and courage. That death took on the reality that human beings struggle with power, bad choices and doing evil and mean-spirited things. That death acknowledged that the gift of freewill can result in darkness as much as it has the potential for light. That death was the only way that a resurrection could happen, the only way that hope could be reborn, the only way that we could live forever with God.

How do we talk about all of this with children and young people?

We can talk about the sacrifices Jesus made for all of us. He died so that we can have life. He died so that the wrongs we’ve done could be forgiven. He died so that all things could be made new again.

We can talk about how when we are going through tough times, Jesus understands. He went through terrible things – betrayal by a friend, bullying, being beat up, being made fun of, being abandoned, even dying – and so He knows what it is like when we suffer and struggle and feel as though no one cares or understands. He wants to be our friend because we are all children of God and precious and special. He’ll be our friend no matter what we’ve done or not done or what messes we’re in.

We can talk about how Jesus’ most difficult time brought life and hope to the world. Even when we struggle, with faith we can have hope in things getting better and we can see possibilities and know that new life is possible. God never abandons us, even when all seems wrong and chaotic and scary.

This past week we have seen millions demanding tighter gun laws and many taking action on world water day to protect creation. Even through dark times with big issues facing us, there is light being born. Jesus was the greatest example of this and is our role model for listening to God, responding to the wrongs around us, filling the need, and sacrificing ourselves in order for God’s power to shake the world and restore and heal us.

As we wait for Easter morning, let’s remember that the journey to get there may be through a dark valley, but the vista will be well worth it on the other side.