The Scarlet Thread
Today is Palm Sunday and it is profound to me that our passage today in Luke 13: 22-14: 6 points in the direction of the Passover, The Triumphal Entry, and The Cross.
Our passage in Luke begins with these words, Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. Why Jerusalem you may wonder... Just follow the thread.
Jesus' message is that "The Kingdom of God is at hand" and many will miss it if they are not prepared and watching. Listen to his profound words of warning, "Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then." Everything is about to be redefined in terms of greatness.
It is another Sabbath day and Jesus is up to his "usual good" and ticking off the Pharisees in the process. He encounters a man "whose arms and legs were swollen" (14: 2) Jesus heals the man on the Sabbath while the religious leaders are left speechless about their little laws concerning the Sabbath, but what does Jesus have to say about what he is really "up to".
Jesus replied, "Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and the third day I will accomplish my purpose. Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way. For it wouldn't do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem." (Luke 13: 27-33)
This revelation was a SHOW STOPPER! Jesus was now literally on his way to the CROSS. Destination...Jerusalem.
He laments over Jerusalem--his demise, and their deliverance--and here is what he says, "And you will never see me again until you say, 'Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord." (13: 35)
I find it equally powerful to look at the Old Testament in light of the New Testament. In our reading today in Deut. 34: 1-Joshua 2: 24, we see the powerful story of Rahab, the prostitute. You may be surprised to learn that Rahab, a Canaanite woman (they were the hated enemies of Israel) protected the two spies of Israel, which allowed them to bring the Walls of Jericho down delivering God's people. Rahab was instructed to: "Tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window" (Joshua 2:18). Here is what is said of her, "By faith, Rahab obeyed, and she tied the scarlet cord in the window." (vs. 21)
So, what does any of this have to do with Passover, The Triumphant Entry, or the Cross you might ask...
Well, Rahab, the prostitute, was actually in the genealogy of Christ as Matthew 1 tells us. Out of her faithfulness and obedience, the Messiah was born. What about the scarlet thread you may wonder?
Perhaps you may recall the story of the Passover lamb where the Israelites were to sacrifice a lamb and smear the blood on their doorposts so that they would be spared from losing their firstborn as part of the tenth and final plague before being delivered from slavery from Egypt. It was the lamb's blood that would save them from death.
So, Passover, Jerusalem, The Cross... and the scarlet thread. Can I "tie this all together"? (Pun intended)
The color red or scarlet runs all the way through the Bible. In the OT they offered a perfect lamb as a sacrifice to point us towards the Perfect Lamb that would come to take away the sins of the world.
The Israelites were spared when they applied the blood to their doorposts. Rahab was spared and blessed when she hung the scarlet thread out her window. The demons fled and people were healed when they put their faith in the true Passover lamb. John the Baptist proclaimed, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1: 29).
"Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness." (Hebrews 9:23), and that's why the symbolism of the scarlet thread in the Bible is significant and life-changing! The gift of salvation is for ALL! Jew, Gentile, Greek, Sinners, Lowly people, The Rahabs, The Saul's... the sinners can now become Saints. Perhaps, that is why Jesus was kicking the demons out of "their bodily homes" on the Sabbath and setting the sick sinners free. "The Scarlet Thread" was being unveiled right before their eyes!!!
Palm Sunday, what an exciting day! "Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!"
The lame will walk, the blind will see, and the lowly insignificant sinners will become great and mighty. "The Rahabs" will be given new life, and that is GOOD NEWS for all of us.
"The Scarlet Thread" will save us and set us free!!
Please, join in the discussion. What are your thoughts on today's reading?
