When I worked as an architect, one of my co-workers offered to sell his 35 mm camera to me. This was at a time when few people owned cameras in Australia, and if they did, it was probably a box brownie, a basic box camera by Kodak with a single lens that used roll film. I quickly became hooked on taking photos, which resulted in countless 35mm colored slides, many boxes of which are in my office today.

One thing we have to note about photos is that they capture a slice of life at a particular moment. However, when I took a single photo, for example, while on vacation, although that photo captured a single moment, such as a sandcastle, it also reflected something bigger, in this case, the vacation we were on.

SNAPSHOTS OF JESUS

I wonder what it would have been like to take snapshots of Jesus in both His life and His ministry. In this Langstaff Letter, I want to suggest some snapshots of Jesus, especially in the time leading up to and including the events of Holy Week. Let us note that in doing this, we are looking for a revelation of some aspect of the character of Jesus.

SNAPSHOT – ON THE ROAD TO JERUSALEM

Jesus was born with a purpose, namely, to live and eventually die on the cross for us. A snapshot of Jesus can be found on the way to Jerusalem when, while with His disciples, He shares with them that He is going to die. There is a moment recorded in Luke 9:51 when it is said of Jesus, “He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.” A moment of determination when nothing is going to stop Him from doing what His Father called Him to do.

A snapshot – a picture of determination, revealing the character of Jesus. He was not wishy-washy. No, he was determined. We, too, are called to be people who have a backbone and who are determined.

SNAPSHOT – THE LAST SUPPER

Another snapshot can be found at the Last Supper. There are a lot of things that can be learned from the supper, but let us concentrate on one scene – the washing of the disciple’s feet (John 13). In Biblical days, when people came to your home, there would be a servant with bowls of water to wash the dirt and dust from your feet.

At the Last Supper, Jesus arose, laid aside His garment, took a towel, girded Himself, poured water into a bowl, and began to wash the feet of His disciples. Jesus did what none of His disciples were willing to do.

A snapshot – a picture of humility, setting an example to His disciples as He instructed them that they should do as He had done for them. We, too, in this modern age, are to be people who are humble, serving one another as Jesus did.

SNAPSHOT – GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE

Throughout Jesus’ life, we can see that although He was the Son of God, He was also a man of prayer. In the Garden of Gethsemane, three times, He prayed, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:45).

John 17 also records the moment leading up to Jesus’ arrest when He prays for His disciples and then, in turn, all believers (which means you and me), stating, “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:21).

A snapshot – a picture of prayer. If there was anyone who could have lived their life without prayer, it was Jesus. But Jesus revealed how important prayer was for Him. He was a man of prayer right to the end. So, we ought to be people of prayer.

SNAPSHOT – MARY AT THE CROSS

Recently, I was watching part of the movie ‘The Passion of the Christ’ directed by Mel Gibson. One scene, showing Jesus’ mother watching Jesus being taken to the cross, especially touched me as I realized how the death of Jesus might have affected her. John describes the scene in John 19:25 – 27, stating, “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved (i.e. John) standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.”

A snapshot – a picture of love and compassion. Jesus, while dying on the cross, reveals his love and compassion for others, in this case as He reaches out to care for His mother. We too are called to be people who have love and compassion for those around us.

SNAPSHOT – JESUS’ LAST WORDS

Not long after the incident with His mother, we have a snapshot of the last moments before Jesus died. Knowing that all things were accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus uttered His final words, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” (John 19:28-30). What a way to end. To be able to say, ‘It is finished!’ I have done everything the Father sent me to do. Yes, it is finished!

A snapshot – a picture of fulfilling the Father’s purpose, revealing how Jesus the Son was obedient to His Father, even to the moment of death. We, too, are called to be able to say at the end of our lives, ‘It is finished.’ We have run the race and fulfilled God’s purpose for us here on earth.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Well, there are a few snapshots taken from the life of Jesus.

On the Road to Jerusalem – Determination
The Last Supper – Humility
The Garden of Gethsemane – Prayer
Mary at the Cross – Love and Compassion
Jesus’ Last Words ‘It is Finished’ – Fulfilling the Father’s Purpose

We could go on and look at many more snapshots from Jesus’ life, snapshots that reveal something of the character ofJesus as demonstrated by His actions and words.

We, too, as followers, are called to become more like Jesus. It should be our prayer that any snapshots taken of our lives will reveal that we are seeking to pursue the characteristics of Jesus in both out life and death. 

Happy Easter