Passion Cycle

The greatest achievement in the history of art would have to be the beautiful painting on the ceiling of the Sistine chapel. Michael Angelo slaved over each meticulous detail at the good Pope's request. It shows Adam sitting there lifting a single finger to call for help. In return we see the hosts of Heaven coming to the rescue. It reminds me of God's grace, and His willingness to come to our aid at any point in our life. 

The only thing I share in common with Angelo is probably our first name. But allow me to take a second to create my own modern day fresco. As I make my pastiche please realize any inconsistences or misrepresentations are the foibles of a 20 year old man. I suppose the opposite is true as well-- anything good is from God.

Jerusalem A.D. 12: Joseph and Mary make their way up to the Holy land to observe the Passover with their son. The holiday is a week long celebration of the Israelites' escape out of Egypt. As part of the festivities the Pascal lamb was slaughtered without any bones broken, cups of wine mixed with water were drunken, and Psalms 113-18 was recited. All of which foreshadowed the final moments of Jesus Christ's life. It makes me wonder if Joseph and Mary knew what their young boy was made of. Did they both fully comprehend what the Passover symbolized?

I think of the song Mary Did You Know. "Did you know that your baby boy was heaven's perfect lamb, and the sleeping child you're holding is the great I Am". I personally believe that Mary didn't fully understand what was to come in Gethsemane and Golgotha only a few years later.

Golgotha A.D. 33: After establishing the church, teaching the gospel, performing miracles, and much, much more Jesus finds Himself  rejected, on the cross. He looks down to see his mother next to John. He tells John to take care of Mary like she was his own. I find it interesting that He didn't feel like all things were accomplished until this act (John 19:27-28).

I wonder if it was at this moment Mary realized what the Passover was all about. She surely would have remembered the line she recited every year in Psalms 118:22 "The stone which‍ the builders refused is become the head stone‍ of the corner". Its another horrible irony. After Jesus built His church our brothers rejected Him. And in a sense we all reject Him in at least one point of our lives.

To remove any doubt about Jesus being the promised Messiah Peter boldly tells the rulers of the people and the Elders of Isreal "[Jesus Christ of Nazareth] is the stone‍ which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner" (Acts 4:11).

I'll quote Bruce R. McConkie to close. "I believe in Christ, so come what may".

I love you