As you wish.

And all the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!” --Matthew 27:25

A few weeks ago I blogged a little bit about a book by John Ortberg called God Is Closer than You Think. I am liking this book more and more. Gently and unsuspectingly, Ortberg draws us closer and closer into an awareness of how our relationship with the Almighty is supposed to work. (Mind you, we and it are works in progress.)

As I prepare for another class, I am reading about Ortberg's reflections on a terrific movie, The Princess Bride. He is recounting the relationship between two characters, Buttercup and Farm Boy (Westley, in the movie).

Farm Boy is deeply smitten with Buttercup. He has been bitten by the Love Bug and just cannot be cured. He worships the very ground Buttercup walks on. He's got it bad. 

And Buttercup is a wee bit high maintenance.

It's a perfect match, really. She wants someone to wait on her hand-and-foot; he has two willing hands and a pair of feet ready to walk to the ends of the earth for the woman he loves (who really hasn't a clue).

Whenever Buttercup makes a demand, Farm Boy's reply is always the same.

"As you wish."

Fetch this, do that. "As you wish."

Of course, those three simple words were code for "I love you," but it took Buttercup a long time to wake up and realize that. In the meantime, Farm Boy continued his faithful obedience. "As you wish."

*****

This week, a group of us were reflecting on a passage from the gospel according to Matthew, 27:11-26. This is the scene when Jesus has been brought before Pontius Pilate. In accordance with tradition, Pilate has offered to release a prisoner, and the crowd has chosen to release Barabbas, leaving Jesus to be crucified.

But meanwhile, Pilate's wife has had a vivid dream and is begging her husband to have nothing to do with Jesus' crucifixion.

Pilate, wanting to be absolutely certain everyone understands, washes his hands of the matter and proclaims himself free of any responsibility for what is to follow, and announces that the blood of this prisoner is on the hands of the crowd, not him.

And the crowd responds. "Let his blood be on us and on our children!"

And Jesus, unheard by anyone present, most certainly whispered, "As you wish."

Let the blood of the Lamb be poured out for the sins of those present that day and their children and their children's children. Let the burdens of sin and death be borne not by each one of us, but by the Redeemer, so that we might again know what it means to be at one with the Creator.

"As you wish."

Three words of perfect love. We asked for it. We got it. 

And soon and very soon,like Buttercup, may our eyes be opened to just how much suitor really, truly loves us and would, quite literally, willingly die for our sake.

Thanks be to God. Amen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBGTT1IWy1M