In the midst of the sights, sounds and smells of Pesach (Passover) a young child stands to recite the Ma Nishtanah:
Why is this night different from all other nights?
- On all other nights we can eat bread or matzoh. On this night why do we eat only matzoh?
- On all other nights we can eat all kinds of vegetables. On this night why do we eat only bitter herbs?
- On all other nights we do not dip our vegetables even once. On this night why do we dip them twice?
- On all other nights we eat our meals sitting or reclining. On this night why do we eat only reclining?
Four questions that really serve to answer the bigger question, “Why is this night so different from all other nights?”
As the questions are explained, a growing sense of thankfulness to God is ignited.
The four questions also serve as four paths to connect with God.
Humility is the first step on the path towards God.
Matzoh is not an elaborate or fancy bread. It is thin, looks somewhat strange and has no leaven in it. In haste the Children of Israel made their bread and were ready for God’s escape plan. The larger image here ,though, is of purity. In the Bible, leaven is a metaphor for sin. If we want to journey deeper with God, we start by admitting who we are and seek to become who we are meant to be. This is a humbling journey that reveals the darkness that resides within us. The good news is that God longs to heal and restore and remove all the effects of sin in our lives.
Most of our energies are spent trying to gather attention, move up in the ranks, get noticed and find success. We want to be on the New York Times best seller list and have a video that goes viral. We want the biggest house, the nicest cars, the most lavish vacations and designer clothes. But the God-hungry long for holiness.
As leaven works through an entire batch of dough, sin affects the totality of our spirituality. When we begin to remove all the leavened (sinful) areas of our life, humility is a natural by-product.. Now we know that we are not “all that” ask God to do His cleansing work in us.
What things are you still trying to control?
What secret sin is robbing you of peace?
What hurt, habit or hang-up is tripping up your efforts to live a godly life?
In humility, we acknowledge our desperate need for God and seek to remove anything in our life that gets between us. This leads to the hard part of the path.
Brokenness is the hardest part of the path.
Maror. The bitter herbs are a reminder that the path is often hard, even as life was hard for the Children of Israel. Forced into slavery making bricks to build treasure cities for Pharoah. We make our horseradish sauce from this root, and when you eat a glob of it, you will cry some real tears!
What do you do when life goes sideways on you? How do you handle the sudden loss of a spouse, friend or job?
No one is exempt from pain and struggle. In fact, those fraternal twins are part of God’s process to expand your joy. That probably seems like a strange statement, but it is true. Without resistance muscles cannot grow. Without adversity your virtues are only theories. Without pain you will never know joy. Tears flow in life as a way for your heart to speak about the reality of life, love and loss. If you never cry, you have probably never loved.
Most of the people I know try to avoid pain at all cost…and that is why few people know God. The entrance to His presence is found in humility and brokenness. When you live in a culture that leans towards narcissism over humility and pretending to be someone you are not instead of brokenness, it is hard to know God.
God already knows all your secrets…and He loves you anyway.
God already knows how you will handle that stressful situation at work next week…and He loves you anyway.
God knows you just blew it with your daughter today…and He loves you anyway.
When you allow God to love you as you are, raw, naked and broken, you will begin to understand grace and know what real love is.
Presence is the surprise viewpoint along the path.
Kharoset. we have already dipped the Karpas into saltwater once. This reminds us that life (greens) is mixed with tears (saltwater). next we dip a second time by taking some matzoh with maror and kharoset. The kharoset is a sweet mixture of apples, honey, nuts and wine. The sweet taste mixed with the bitter herb and the matzoh is surprisingly good.
Have you noticed that the good times seem to come with the bad times?
Beauty and pain ride twin rails of reality.
In the same day you might lose a father and welcome a new son.
All of these emotions are present in you at the same time. I think of a long, steep hike. Your muscles are tired, You are thirsty and out of breath, You might even be feeling the burn! Then, out of nowhere, you come upon a stunning view.
Even though your body is screaming your eyes are feeding your soul as you take in the beauty. It is in this moment that you realize that you are always surrounded by beauty, but sometimes it is obscured by the path we travel.
The most bitter of circumstances can be sweetened when we have the presence of God.
Humility and brokenness remove the veil that keeps you from seeing God.
He is always with you.
You are never alone.
This awareness transforms the brokenness in your life and infuses it with His living presence. There is still pain, but it is made sweeter, and you experience the goodness of God even in a dark time.
Humility, Brokenness and Presence reveal the path that you are on, and it is called freedom.
Freedom is not a destination, it’s a lifestyle.
Why do we recline tonight? The child asks. In the Exodus story, they ate standing up, ready to go because they were slaves. Slaves stand, free men and women recline in comfort. When you have experienced deliverance from slavery, a Lazy-boy is what you need!
Humility is the movement when we choose to actually leave Egypt (slavery, bondage).
Brokenness is the parting of the Red Sea. Only God can bring you through it.
Presence is God’s sustaining power as you travel through the wilderness…but freedom…freedom is when you enter the Land of Promise.
Practicing His presence means that anyplace where you are is a promised land because God is there with you…freedom.
Practicing His presence sets you free to experience His grace and mercy in every moment…freedom.
Practicing His presence is a lifestyle of humility, brokenness…freedom.
Wherever God’s presence is…His power is there as well…freedom.
The power that created the universe is right there with you.
The power that rose Christ from the dead is right there with you.
The power that holds the universe together is right there with you.
The power to forgive and give you a fresh start is right there with you.
The power to free you from anything that disrupts the shalom of God in your life is right there with you.
So, why is this night so different?
This night reminds me that God is with me…For me…and leading me into greater expressions and experiences of His presence.
I had mentioned an incredible book in my message this weekend, and I have had an ongoing list of requests for the title. I’ll supply a link for the book below. The book is called “Between Heaven and Hell” and it is written by Peter Kreeft. Historically, John F. Kennedy, Aldous Huxley and C.S Lews all died on the same day. Kreeft, who is a brilliant writer and philosopher, crafts a fictitious posthumous conversation between the three men as they enter some sort of transitionary plane somewhere between Heaven and Hell after they died.
