More than a Nightgown

photo © 2007 b k | more info (via: Wylio)

I see the temple soldiers

file up to the garden

the garden that smells of prayers and worry and sweat and new year’s growth

They go for the rabbi – the rabbi always causes trouble; the rabbi likes to shake

He always shakes

I’ve been told all my little life to not cause trouble,

to not shake,

to do what my fathers tell me

So that God would be pleased with us

and

Rome would be free of us

We would have our own kingdom, our old dynasty

at last

And this week – this sacrificial lamb week – this week of passing over –

All this week, Jesus has been speaking like a prophet visionary,

like a Word straight from the flaming mouth and bright-toned throne of God

every third sentence beginning with,

“The kingdom… kingdom… kingdom…”

All this week, Jesus has been healing like a prophet exclusionary

as a man straight from the mouth and throne of God

So I followed them following him into this night

of parched , bleeding lips and

of false, bruising kisses

and swords and a quick clash and a shouting

Word of God – a king not wanting the kingdom they want for him

And

And

It’s all over. They run like cowards, like chickens before the farmer, like cowards before the----

…

I made a noise in the bushes.

And I remain still, hoping they won’t find me

but they do

And I run

But they got my nightgown

And I wish I had

thought to put on

more

than my nightgown

Happy Maundy Thursday! Woo-hoo!

From the Gospel According to Matthew, 26th chapter (New Living Translation):

26 As they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and asked God's blessing on it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "Take it and eat it, for this is my body." 27 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, "Each of you drink from it, 28 for this is my blood, which seals the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many. 29 Mark my words I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom." Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

photo © 2008 Kim Mc. | more info (via: Wylio)

I'm no biblical scholar, but my understanding is that Jesus is taking forms of an old covenant, an old agreement, between his people and God (of which, remarkably, he is a representative of both, because he's fully both) to establish a new covenant. The old covenant's way of resolving wrongs and trespasses (understood in terms of shed blood and broken bodies of a blemish-free lamb) and of remembrances of where God has brought the people from (the Passover, also celebrated this month, is the immediate context for the meal that Jesus and his disciples were eating for) is being both perfected and completed by the end of the week. In its place, Jesus stands as a testimony to the new testament, the new covenant.

The new covenant, well, we'll get to that shortly.