It was a whimsical little ditty written by Gershwin in 1937 for the movie “Shall We Dance.” It starred Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. It would be subsequently reprised by Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong, Harry Connick, Jr., Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby, and Billie Holiday. It has weaved its way into our American fabric, shedding light on our inability to agree even on the pronunciation of certain English words; and on the happy-yet-exasperating institution of marriage.

“Let’s call the whole thing off.”  In effect, could this have been on Jesus’ mind on Maundy Thursday? His close friends the disciples would have been okay with that! They were weary from the intense week. But the dreaded events of the next day were not going to be called off. Gethsemane was soon to become a fighting ground. Torches, swords and clubs would be wielded among the olive trees. The cold, calculated betrayal by Judas would come to its ghastly culmination.

Jesus knew that obedience, surrender, and submission were necessary. Indeed, they are why He came. Ever heard the expression, “a man’s gotta know his limitations”? As a man, Jesus knew that resistance would be futile. He accepted the limitations. The charges against him of treason and blasphemy would have to be executed to the fullest extent in order that God’s plan could be revealed.

History and the passage of time bring Lent and Holy Week to us every spring. We are not allowed the luxury of calling the whole thing off. The days of this week, when we know what’s coming, are actually a gift, a blessing. Everything that happened that original, fateful week was accomplished so that we would not have to endure it to that extreme.

We are the beneficiaries of the already-not-yet. We need not “disfigure our faces” in put-on piety, or sit in sackcloth and ashes. But I DO pray that each of us will apprehend the passion of our Lord in humility; that we give ourselves in grateful appreciation for these Great Three Days. In this way we can prepare for the already-not-yet unconditional love of our Savior to accomplish our salvation.

Pastor Art