This week in Ethiopia is very special. The countdown to Easter (Fasika) is underway.
Fasika will be celebrated this Sunday, May 5. I’m so blessed by this country’s
people and their deep and rich traditions marking Biblical events…it makes me
keep so much more aware of the big story we’re part of.
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| kids dressed in traditional clothes for Fasika celebrations |
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| some of students doing a drama in honor of Fasika |
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| students in prayer, remembering Jesus |
The Ethiopian Orthodox church and Protestant churches
here in Ethiopia are remembering Jesus’s journey- one that took Him from
heaven’s splendor and comfort and placed Him on the dusty paths of a world He created.
Jesus left His glory and restrained His power…to follow His Father’s plan. The
One who made the universe wrapped Himself in perishing flesh and entered His
own story in an incredible plan to save people from their sins.
When God made the world, He desired people who could
choose to be in relationship with Him.
He desired followers who would worship Him because of belief in Him and
love for Him, not because they were made to.
But in giving humanity this gift of the ability to freely
choose, from the beginning…the choice was made to disobey and go against God
and the whole earth was plunged into sin….separation from God and death.
So the Creator wrote Himself into His own story…He came to fully satisfy the necessary payment for sin. Jesus would suffer and die
in our place…for our sins… unthinkable and unimaginable in its magnitude.
Nothing we could ever do would ever be enough to pay for our sins except our
death. But God sent His only Son and He died in our place, giving us the chance
for a new redeemed life.
John 1:1-14
In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in
the beginning. Through him all things were made;
without him nothing was made that has been made. In
him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome
it. There was a man sent from God whose
name was John. He came as a witness to testify
concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not
the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone
was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the
world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
Yet to all
who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to
become children of God— children born not of natural
descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling
among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came
from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Romans 3:21-26
But now apart from the law the righteousness of God
has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ
to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that
came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a
sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be
received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his
forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to
demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one
who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Romans 8:1-4
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who
are in Christ Jesus, because
through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free
from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was
weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the
likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned
sin in the flesh, in
order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who
do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
AMAZING…the life, death and resurrection of Jesus…and
what it means for us all!
Last week, I had my students write about Fasika (Easter)-
and how it is celebrated here in Ethiopia.
These are some of the things I learned…
Most Orthodox and Protestant believers here have been
fasting for two months…and this will end on Fasika, Easter...this Sunday. Each of the weeks leading up to Easter
commemorate a different part of Jesus’ journey here.
This past Sunday marked the eighth and final week before
Easter…called Hosanna. People attended
church on Sunday morning and then wore crowns and bracelets made of palm leaves
the rest of the day- commemorating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a
donkey. It was so neat to see all ages
observing this day.
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| One of my students with his palm leaf crown |
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| I took a picture of this girl in a cafe |
On Monday-Friday of this week, something called “mamat”
is observed. This is a solemn time in
remembrance of Jesus’ final days. There is supposed to be no joking, no dancing
or music played. There is to be no kissing or hugging or inappropriate
language, etc. You’re supposed to be
thinking about Jesus’ great sacrifice for your sins and what He did for you.
On Thursday, in some homes, a special meal called “gulban”
is prepared. This is made from beans and wheat. It is done in memory of Jesus’
last meal with his disciples. In rural
areas, there is often the washing of the feet and legs. I was told the eldest
does this to the youngest in memory of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet.
On Friday, most people attend church all day and repent,
making the sign of the cross as they bow. They think about their sins and the
incredible price Jesus paid. In the
Orthodox faith, you confess your sins to the priests and they tell you how many
times to bow down in repentance for your sins. I was told some people bow maybe
a thousand times that day. This day is
called “Siklet.” People ask for forgiveness all day.
Here was a video I took on this day last year…
Complete fasting and prayer continue into Saturday. Food begins to be cooked in the afternoon on
Saturday, in preparation for the celebration on Sunday of Jesus rising from the
dead. On Saturday night, people go to
church in the evening- and are dismissed very late- breaking their fast time at
3am.
Sunday is a huge celebration day for family and friends.
There is eating of traditional foods and drinks and visiting of families. Some of my students wrote described it this
way….
“This is the
biggest day, when Jesus broke out of death’s prison.”
“Jesus broke the
stone and went back to His father.”
One student wrote…
“What our Savior
has done is unthinkable because He is God.
After three days, He has opened the tomb and awakened. We have a great
culture here in Ethiopia which we need to keep unblended and beautiful. Happy
holiday festivity-Fasika! May we spread
the love of our Lord!”
AMEN!
The way Jesus chose in obedience to live and die, won us
life. One of my favorite quotes that I
remember hearing when I was in seminary was… “Jesus died not to make bad people
good, but to make dead people live.” It’s so true. Introducing someone to the truth of Jesus and
what His sacrifice did and them embracing that- can change behavior. But
immediately it changes death to life.
Penalty to NO penalty. His
righteousness covers our sin. His life paid for our death…that our sins
condemned us to.
I’ve been thinking so much this week about his final days. His last week must have been so difficult.
Finishing can often be the hardest part of any
assignment. Holding on to the very end, till the season or job changes…tough!
I remember running my first and only full marathon. It
was the Country Music Marathon in Nashville, Tennessee in 2008. I had trained and felt ready. The morning of the race though, I was tired
before we even started. After about mile
four, I was done. But the cheering crowds
and the sight of my sister running next to me (and me being competitive with
her)…kept me going.
But the last two miles or so, I remember my legs going
numb. It had been four and a half hours
of solid running. The last few miles
were the most difficult. I’m still not sure how I made it over the finish line.
Jesus saw Jerusalem and at the first sight of it- He
wept. It wasn’t a nice finish line with
cheering crowds He was approaching. It
involved not a victory trophy or applause…but a crown of thorns and the worst
most humiliating death anyone should have to suffer. And worst of all, He would be separated from
His Father. To be looked upon in disgust by someone you love…nothing is worse.
Jesus would bear the full wrath of His Father’s anger and punishment of humanity’s
sin. And He would die to satisfy His
Father’s justice.
Jesus saw that ahead and yet He still went there…saying…
“not my will, but yours be done”…and “Father, forgive them, they know not what
they do.” Amazing!
Our King and Merciful High Priest is now back in His home
by His Father’s side. And our way to
have right relationship with God has been made, thanks to Jesus. We can stand
boldly in God’s presence wrapped in the righteousness of Jesus, our sins
covered and paid for all time.
That is the gospel. That is the Good News! A free gift was given to us…redemption,
salvation, grace, mercy…Jesus did what we couldn’t do for ourselves, He won us
a redeemed life, we can approach God and be in relationship again thanks to
Jesus. If we accept and believe in what
Jesus did for us, ours sins can be covered.
No longer can our sin separate us from life and eternity apart from God.
Now, we still sin- and face the consequences of sin’s effects…it brings guilt,
shame, a loss of confidence. It messes up relationships. But it cannot separate us from God for
eternity. And God’s Spirit with us helps
us to sin less and love others more.
I’m so grateful for Jesus!!!
AMAZING GRACE HOW SWEET THE SOUND
THAT SAVED A WRETCH LIKE ME
I ONCE WAS LOST, BUT NOW I’M FOUND
WAS BLIND, BUT NOW I SEE
May we rejoice and celebrate our Risen King! Someone said
to me recently…every day should be celebrated like it’s Easter. I said, AMEN!
Onward!
Prayer Requests
-This week for the holiday, we have Wednesday through
Friday off work. As our staff and
students take a break from classes and teaching- may we be refreshed and
encouraged by the good news of Jesus! I
hope to make the most of the time- to take rest and catch up on writing my
book. My God be glorified in all.
-Please continue to keep my parents and sister in your
prayers. My Dad continues to do well
with physical therapy. My Mom and sister
are great too. I’m so grateful for my
tribe.
-Please pray God will help me maximize my remaining time
in Ethiopia, making the most of all opportunities to share God’s love.
-May God give direction for the way ahead.
-Please keep my friend Debelle and his family in your
prayers as they pray about and seek God’s will for what’s next for them.
Debelle’s wife has returned to part-time work and we give thanks to God and to
all who have prayed for her recovery!!! I will be celebrating Easter with this
dear family, may God be honored as we reflect on this past year and pray for
what’s ahead.
-Please pray for many I know who are still seeking work,
visas, etc, that God will meet all needs. Our God is able!
Happy and Blessed Fasika to you from Ethiopia!
In the Love and Joy of our Savior Jesus always!
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