Yes, I said it. Fart Spray.
Yesterday a funny situation happened. My nephew (7) sprayed my bed with Fart spray when his brother escaped the plot. Upon the girls racing out and tattling, I questioned him-"What in God's name made you think that spraying Fart spray in the house was a good idea?!" HE shrugged his shoulders and told me that uncle (my husband) had said it was okay.
Okay, teacher mode kicked in. "Really?!" I questioned. Uncle said this would be okay. He nodded insistently. I placed out my hand, confiscated the spray and went to investigate with him unwillingly tailing behind.
Upon exiting the home to find my beloved outside with his brothers, I yelled out the accusation he had been charged with. Whereupon the story changed from my nephew's lips, as he sobbingly confessed that his Father had told him he could and not uncle as he first proclaimed. Not buying the changed story he was charged with a time-out and lost the privilege of Fart Spray.
Looking at this "funny" scenario I think about those surrounding the cross on judgment day. Judas Iscariot. He sat at Christ's Table on Thursday for the Last supper, after selling entail to the Sanhedrin for 30 pieces of silver. The similarity that I find between my parable and the occurrence at the table comes in Matthew 26:17-30 when Jesus, sitting at the table announces to the disciples that one of them will betray him. (v.21) I think he is giving Judas an out. He already knows the plot in Judas' heart and yet, allows room for confession. When no confession is freely given he further voices his awareness with details of the situation. Thus, upon being called out, Judas denies the accusation-"Surely not I rabbi?" (v. 25) And Jesus announces confirmation of the truth.
The similarity is here. I knew what my nephew had done prior to questioning him. Rather than omit fault, he passed it off. Had he simply apologized, I would have-admittingly, not been happy but would have passed it off as boys being boys and offered forgiveness. But like Judas, he did not. Judas went on with his plan, and betrayed Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Jesus offered Judas forgiveness prior to Judas committing the sin. To Jesus, the sin had already been committed in his friend's heart. He went on with his evening as if the conversation had not happened. Had dinner with them all, and asked them to join him for prayer KNOWING that the hour was near.
My nephew's consequence was menial. Judas's consequence was huge. Both committed an act that could not be reversed mcu to their desires. Once Judas had learned of the fate of Christ he tried to correct the situation by giving the money back. But consumed with guilt he committed suicide. What would it have been like for him? To know that Christ offered forgiveness and to have rejected it? To know that you were responsible for the death of the world's savior? If only he had understood that the forgiveness offered to him was not a onetime deal? My nephew NEVER apologized; all the while I was waiting to give him the fart spray back with a minor lesson intact. Judas never went to the cross and pleaded forgiveness that I know Christ was freely giving, he did not stick around long enough to see Christ's resurrection and know that his faults were used to glorify God's kingdom as was prophesied hundreds of years prior to his deceit.
This is a lesson that extends past my nephew and Judas. We all make "Stinky" decisions. But NONE I repeat, NONE of them are beyond the forgiving capabilities of Christ. As we sit in preparation of the Easter festivities, and probably most of us participate in the communion service at our church, I implore you to search your heart, what have you not brought to the cross? What burden are you holding onto? What sin needs to be forgiven? God says "ask and you shall receive..." (Matt. 21:22 and Luke 11:9) Don't hold onto your burdens; give them to God before it is too late. For none of us know the day or the hour (Matt 24:36) Keep watch, the day of the Lord is coming again, we do not want to be caught unforgiven simply because we enver asked.
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