Luke 22:19 “…do this in remembrance of me…”
In the final book of The Chronicles of Narnia the dwarves determine that no one will fool them again after having been deceived by a false Aslan. Their hurt gave way to such willful disbelief that when the real Aslan returned they wanted no part of him. Their new motto: “the dwarfs are for the dwarfs.” Have you ever been in that place? …….your hurt penetrates so deeply that it causes you to withdraw into yourself?
I’m reminded of a scene from the movie, The Patriot. Benjamin Martin’s sons had been ruthlessly killed by a British commander. Now, in the midst of battle, Martin spots the officer. Filled with the desire for revenge, Martin takes after him but then realizes that without his leadership, his troops are retreating. At that moment, his dilemma crystallizes. Does he go after the British commander and avenge his sons’ deaths, or does he return to his troops and rally them to stand their ground?
As strong as the draw to vengeance must have been, he remembered that the battle wasn’t about him, about his sons, or about revenge. It was about liberty from British tyranny. He was able to let go of his agenda and embrace the bigger picture. He grabbed the American flag and selflessly charged into battle, rallying his troops, inspiring them to not retreat and eventually taste victory.
It takes something powerful to pull us away from our hurts in life and open our eyes to the real battle…. “our struggle is not against flesh and blood” (Ephesians 6:12). But God has shown us how in Luke 22. We replace remembering ourselves with remembering what the Lord has done.
His body. His blood. His sacrifice. His cross overshadows whatever cross we’ve been called to bear.
As we remember what this short span in life is all about, our dwarfish perspective is replaced with an immeasurable, boundless picture of a gigantic purpose woven throughout life.