Divine Drama

Week 3 Day 18

Luke 22:1-6
Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

Almost every movie I have ever seen has a plot where tension is built and released. This tension is the emotional hook, and well built tension can create a powerful connection with the storyline. While this is manufactured within fictional movies it can be experienced in a real-life experience. And I believe that the drama and story of Jesus is by far the gold standard of emotional tension because it is a story of the divine drama.

Here are a few noteworthy tensions in the story of Christ. Consider the cosmic tension between God and Lucifer that resulted in Lucifer’s exile from heaven. Consider the snake’s interplay with humanity in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, and Satan’s temptation in the wilderness with Christ. Consider the tension between Mary and Joseph at the realization of inception of the incarnated Messiah in her belly.

Reflect on the constant tension of the disciples attempting to comprehend the paradox of the mission of Christ. Next look to the disciples and the tension between each other and their competitive debate about their place in the coming kingdom. Don’t forget the tension between the leaders of the Roman empire and the Jewish hierarchy. The tension of power between Pilate the Roman Governor and Caiaphas the High Priest.

Turn next to the tension in the denial of Peter three times, and the prediction of Jesus just hours before. And then finally the tension in the battle on the cross between the divine Christ and his own humanity.

Now that is cosmic tension in a cosmic story! A story that God had been telling since the dawn of time.

Reflection
For a few moments consider your story. Specifically, the story of the tension of your sin and how Christ became the hero in your life. Take a moment to write down the answer to two questions. First, what is a specific sin that has been a part of your life drama? Second, how has Christ had victory over that sin? In these two questions are your story of divine drama.

Prayer
Father, I have needed you my whole life. It may have taken some time to deeply understand this, but I know I need you. Thank you for rescuing me from my own sin and for giving me the opportunity for a new life. Thank you for suffering through your own drama so that I can be a part of your story.