The dictionary describes the words as being “enclosed within bounds; to limit or restrict.” You know the word. The entire world knows the word; you’re living it. It’s taken on an identity of sorts. In fact, I’ve heard some folks say, “We are…It’s not stuck or secluded; it’s not isolated or imprisoned, although those are certainly sister descriptors. The word is, “confined.” We’re confined. It’s becoming painful to say.

Who would’ve ever imagined that eight-letter word would summarize so much of our shared experience. Think of it: We’re alone…but not alone – a community confined. We, along with The Pearson’s, can say This is Us (sans the cute acoustic guitar theme. The bad news is: This is us. The good news is: There Jesus is as well. This week that we enter – Holy Week – is deemed as such, not because of the events involved or that we’re involved, but rather in the triumph, tragedy and chaos of it all, Christ is involved.

Picture it: A procession of palms. The narrow Jerusalem passageway is packed with people. Their pushing and prodding forms a wall of humanity, which invariably steers the steps of the colt carrying Jesus. They cry, “Hosanna!” (In other words, “Save Us!”) Why? Because they were weary of Rome confining them. Others, fearful of Rome, tried to confine their cries. In response, Jesus exclaims, “Try as you may to confine them, you will not contain them. The rocks will cry out otherwise.”

Soon thereafter, turn you attention to the intimacy of an upper room: Jesus and the disciples share a meal – the Passover. There they were: enclosed with one another – so close they were enfolded on one another and Jesus institutes new words about his body, his blood and also their betrayal. Even in full knowledge that everyone of them would desert him and one would conspire to have him confined, our Lord still sets a table of grace that would not be…contained.

Thursday bleeds into Friday and Friday features a flagellated Christ clinging to a Roman cross. Sin-soaked in our transgressions and shivering in the shadow of God-forsakenness, our Lord cries out, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do,” and finally, hours later, he hung his head, breathed his last and died, but not before pardoning one criminal who begs for mercy. Behold: our Savior, arms outstretched, confined between two thieves, drips forgiveness in crimson that wouldn’t be…contained.

A stone-cold tomb in which they laid Jesus’ body did well to confine him, but on the third day even that rock had to open its mouth to reveal resurrected glory which could not be…contained. Meanwhile, scared disciples huddled together in hiding. They were frozen stiff in fear and anxiety and therefore sought the comfort of…you guessed it: confinement. That was them. This is us. But praise God there Jesus is! So, disciples of a risen Christ had a decision to make…and so do we. We may be confined, but as an Easter people who possess news this good, how dare we keep it…you guessed it...May our living and our giving speak of a resurrected hope that will not be contained.

Please prayerfully support the ministries of CUMC by sending in an offering with a prayer request to Christ United Methodist Church, 1232 National Road, Wheeling. Our story is one of resurrection. Help us live it out fully!

In Christ,

Rev. Jake Steele