Christmas and the Eucharist (and the way Jesus lays himself down)
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Bridge Over Troubled Water
Sometimes I get a song stuck in my head, and sometimes, I ask God about it.
"Why oh Lord, is this song stuck in my head? Please get it out, or replace it with a different song. One that's not so obnoxious."
Maybe He heard me recently, because over the last week I've had Paul Simon's song "Bridge Over Troubled Water" in my head (Sung by Art Garfunkel). And I haven't found it to be in the least way obnoxious. Quite the contrary. I started singing it out loud and immediately I felt deeply moved. Then I became curious about the lyrics. So I looked them up, and found them to be beautiful and inspiring.
When you’re weary, feeling small, When tears are in your eyes I will dry them all I’m on your side When times get rough And friends just can’t be found Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down
And I wondered.
"What is the story behind that song?"
When you’re down and out When you’re on the street When evening falls so hard I will comfort you
Because I found it so deep and profound and inspiring, I had a suspicion Jesus may have been involved somehow. So I looked it up.
It turns out Paul Simon heard a Gospel song, sung by The Swan Silvertones, called "Oh Mary Don't You Weep" (a great song in its own right). And there's this one line in that song where the lead singer ad libs:
"I'll be your bridge over deep water, if you trust in My name."
Paul Simon was inspired by that line. So inspired, he felt compelled to create a whole song around just that one line.
I’ll take your part When darkness comes And pain is all around Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down
Jesus Our Bridge
While I sang that song, I couldn't help but think of how grateful I am Jesus came into this earth and into the lives of human beings and into my life in particular.
At various times in my life, I've felt so small. I know what it's like to be alone without friends. I've felt evening fall so hard.
But Jesus.
He was there. Every time.
The problems Art Garfunkel sings about in that song are the reasons Jesus came. They're the reasons God sent His Son to be born into this world. Even the most casual reading of the Gospels reveals how Jesus was frequently surrounded by people who were suffering. And the reason he was surrounded by people who were suffering is because Jesus very intentionally engaged people who were suffering, and helped people who were suffering, Jesus healed people who were suffering.
Jesus Our Savior
And the truth is, the whole world was (and is still) suffering — because of sin.
But Jesus is the Bridge. He's the bridge over troubled water. And Jesus is the bridge between earth and heaven, between humankind and God.
In Genesis chapter 28, Jacob has this dream about a ladder.
And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. (Genesis 28:12-13a)
Centuries later, Jesus said to his disciple Nathanael:
"Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." (John 1:51)
Do you see? Jesus is the ladder Jacob dreamed about. Jesus is the bridge.
That's why Jesus came.
I will lay me down.
To lay himself down for you and for me. To be a bridge for people who are hurting, and to be a bridge to God and to heaven.
On Being a Bridge Like Jesus
Something happened to me, and it's something that happens to a lot of people who experience Jesus come into their lives and lay himself down. They become filled with the love of Christ, and then they want to lay themselves down for others in the same way. The way Jesus has laid himself down for me makes me want to lay myself down, for the people God puts in front of me.
During the first Christmas, the wise men gave Jesus gifts. And I think doing what we're talking about here, laying ourselves down for others, is one of the absolute best gifts we could give Jesus this Christmas.
Christmas and the Eucharist
I've written before about how our connection to Christ is the key to loving like Jesus. And that's what we're talking about today in this blog post about Christmas: how Jesus came to love us by laying himself down. And also, how you and I can lay ourselves down.
But to do that we have to be connected to Jesus, because that's where the strength comes from. And one of the most powerful ways to connect with Jesus is the Eucharist.
As Jesus said in John chapter 6, and as Jesus said during the last supper, He is present in the bread and the wine. We can engage with Him and connect with Him, and become more like Him, when we take communion.
A few days ago, my family shared some things with me about the Christmas story. (Have I mentioned lately: my family is awesome.)
Did you know the name of the town where Jesus was born, the town prophesied about in Micah chapter 5, Bethlehem — that name, "Bethlehem" — means "house of bread?" And the manger where Jesus lay on that holy night; it's a trough. That's what a manger is: it's a trough meant to hold feed. So laying in that trough was Jesus, the Bread of Life, the one who instructed us to eat of His body and drink of His blood.
Church Father John Chrysostom said this about Christmas and the Eucharist:
"The Magi worshiped this body lying in the manger.... Now you no longer see him in the manger but on the altar; you do not see a woman holding him in her arms, but the priest who is standing and the Holy Spirit who flies with great liberality over the offerings placed on the altar. You must believe that today too, it, is the same supper as the one at which Jesus presided. There is no difference between that Eucharist and this one. It is the Body that bled, pierced by the lance, from which flowed blood and water, the sources of salvation for the whole earth. Do not let them be an object of contempt among its members, that is, among the poor who have no clothes with which to cover themselves. Christ emerged from the abyss in radiant light, and leaving his rays here behind, him rose to the heavenly throne. Now it is this Body that you can see here on earth. Indeed, not only do you see it, but you even touch it; not only do you touch it, but you also eat it and go home having received it."
So, a few things to think about this Christmas:
This Christmas, thank God for sending His Son into our world. Thank Him for sending Jesus to lay himself down for us.
And connect with Jesus by experiencing the Eucharist.
And then, with Jesus inside you, go out into the world and engage hurting people the way Jesus did.
Lay yourself down.
Notes:
AJ Rock School Academy, The story behind "Bridge Over Troubled Water", YouTube
The Swan Silvertones-Oh Mary Don't You Weep, YouTube
Oh Mary Don't You Weep lyrics, Songfacts
Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water (Live in Central Park), YouTube
Paul Simon, Bridge Over Troubled Water lyrics, paulsimon.com
Bridge Over Troubled Water, Wikipedia
John Chrysostom on 1 Corinthians 10, New Advent
Nativity Painting, British (English) School; Nativity; Brighton and Hove Museums and Art Galleries, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain
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Source: Christmas and the Eucharist (and the way Jesus lays himself down)
