Good Wednesday, Good Friday, Easter

The peh Factor

“Seeking balance in a polarized world”

It was a good Wednesday. On Wednesday the hit television program of Modern family ended its 11 year run. Ranker.com places Modern Family in 2nd place on its listing by WATCHWORTHY of the Top Ten shows that best represent American Life today. The others are (drum roll please)

10. Last Man Standing

9. Fresh Off the Boat

8. Silicon Valley

7. Atlanta

6. Roseanne

5. Shameless

4. Blackish

3. This is Us

1. The Office

Prior to the final show was an hour long look into the lives of the stars and the back scenes of production. It was here that I was surprised. I know that all shows have those who work behind the scenes to make the “stars shine” so to speak. I have known this since one of our sons played a bit part on one of the episodes of “The Great Race” and another performed on “The Sing Off.” On Wednesday a window was opened once again when the writers were interviewed, and the setting of the cast and writers was shown reading through the last show. This presentation did not show those who operate the cameras, the lights, the stagehands, the go-fers, etc. To make a 20-25-minute show takes dozens (hundreds?) of individuals working for a common goal.

In reality, this should not surprise us. During this Corona 19 virus we have had the windows shades pulled back on a number of the “supporting cast” realities of essential commodities in our daily existence.

• How often we forget the suppliers who provide essential tools for our hospital heroes to do their jobs?

• How often do we forget the teachers who educate our children, often purchasing their classroom supplies out of their own pockets?

• How often to do forget those scientists who do the research and conduct the experiments that inform us of health crises and advise those who make decisions that affect us all?

• How often we do not see the thousands of sailors that work the battleship to do the bidding of the admiral as our military works to protect our freedom?

The list could go on. For many it was a good Wednesday.

It is from this list that of the supporting cast that I stand amazed this Good Friday of what Jesus did for us. I am reminded of those words from the temptation of Jesus in Matt. 4:5-6

• 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”

And even though at the end of the temptations it says

• Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him. (Matt. 4:11)

he went through the temptations alone. And, even though he acknowledged at the end of his life that he could have called upon the Heavenly Hosts to support and sustain him when he was arrested,

• 52 Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?" (Matt. 26:52-54)

he chose to go through the agony of Good Friday on our behalf, alone. How power are the words that prophesized the events of that day.

• 5 But, HE was wounded for our transgressions, (HE was) crushed for our iniquities; upon HIM was the punishment that made us whole, and by HIS bruises we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the LORD has laid on HIM the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:5-6

Jesus did this for us. He did this out of obedience to God.

• 39 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want." (Matt. 26:39)

It was through Jesus’ action that we have had our past forgiven, our future secured and been given the power to live differently in our present existence. What a Good Friday. Hallelujah.

My prayer for us during this “in quarantine” Holy Week is that we will become his supporting cast, taking the work he did

• 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." (Mark 1:14-15)

the love with which he did it, and, in the power of the resurrection, live it each day.

Amen.