The Defeat

Take and eat

Take and drink

Remember

Remember

Remember …

Remember the man who lost everything

Remember the man who had nowhere to lay his head, unless a friend invited him in

Remember the man that the crowds gave up on when he told them hard truths they didn’t want to hear.

Remember him.

Remember the man whose own friend betrayed him.

Remember the man whose friends slept uncaring while he writhed in agony of soul.

Remember the man who lived and walked and talked with his little group of followers for three years, and then they looked at him blankly when he tried to explain the whole point.

Remember the man whose friends gladly ate the bread of heaven, but ran away when the bread was broken.

Remember him.

Take and eat

Take and drink

Remember.

Remember the man, the innocent man, who was arrested at night by rough soldiers, taken to a farcical trial where false witnesses swore evidence against him, and condemned to death.

Remember the man who was cruelly flogged by jeering soldiers who thought that mocking his kingship and ridiculing his dignity was the most fun they’d had all week.

Remember the man who had to carry the unbearable weight of his cross (and ours) to the place of execution, until he fell beneath its weight, doewn in the dust of the road, and couldn’t get up again.

Remember the man who had nails hammered through his living flesh, and then was strung up naked, so the world could laugh at his helplessness while he slowly suffocated in agonising pain.

Remember him.

Take and eat.

Take and drink.

Remember.

Remember the man who did not even have the light of day to give him courage while he was dying.

Remember the man whose friends deserted him and denied him in fear, while his enemies triumphed in unholy joy.

Remember the man who was hastily buried in a borrowed tomb, because he still had nowhere on earth to call his own.

Remember him.

Remember that defeat doesn’t get more absolute than this.

But then

Remember.

Remember that he rose again, overcoming death forever.

Remember that he has secured life forever, life in all its fullness, for those that put their trust in him.

Remember that sin and death and hell, and all the thorns, and pains and brokenness of the curse are vanquished forever by him, and trampled underfoot.

Remember that he sits at the Father’s right hand and holds the scroll of history.

Remember that he shall come again in glory to rule over all things, our King, our Judge, our, Saviour.

Take and eat.

Take and drink

Remember.

And remember that he did it all for you.