Caffeine Free, by Tyler Smith

Recently, I have become more and more fascinated with the time in which Jesus lived. The more I read about it, the more suffocating it sounds. There were so many rules, so many tiny, seemingly insignificant boundaries that a God-fearing person was expected to respect every single moment of every single day. If they didn’t, the local religious leaders would see to it that the person would be treated as a social leper. If they were lucky, that is. Death was also a frequent punishment.

How exhausting it must have been to live in those times, both physically and mentally. When one reads about the claustrophobic spiritual lives that many were living, one really understands the incredible need for someone like Jesus. He promised forgiveness in a society that only preached condemnation. He promised freedom in a world of endless rules and regulations.

Given these conditions, it’s really no wonder that Christianity spread like wildfire. People were eager to get out from under the stifling lives they were living and follow God; the real God, not the one created by the religious leaders and politicians of the day.

In the midst of guilt and self hatred, Jesus came along and preached love, grace, and forgiveness. Over 2000 years later, living in a country where we have freedom of religion, I cannot even begin to understand just how freeing it must have been to embrace Jesus’ teachings. Not to mention the freedom from the bondage of sin and suffering.

And so we come to concept of Lent. I was not raised Catholic, so Lent is not something I know much about. It was really only a few years ago that I started to embrace the idea of it, if only as a reminder. I remember somebody once advising that I give something up for Lent so that, every time I yearned for that thing, I would be reminded of the sacrifice Jesus made for me.

This year, I gave up caffeinated beverages for Lent. Now, I realize that, to some, this seems fairly insignificant. However, for me, it’s a big deal. I love soda and I recently rediscovered my love of coffee. To give up my regular source of caffeine would mean resigning myself to at least two weeks of intense headaches and physical exhaustion.

About a week ago, I found myself looking at the calendar, wondering when oh when Lent would be over. I was tired of drinking Kool Ade and wanted a nice tall glass of Pepsi to go with my pizza. Yeah, sure, I’m allowed to have Sprite, but who wants that lemon-lime flavor 24 hours a day?!

Frustrated, I asked a friend of mine when Lent was over and he responded, “Easter.”

Suddenly, I thought about the freedom that Jesus provides. I suddenly realized that, to live in the world of Jesus was to deny yourself almost everything. And- God forbid- should you break one of the laws (moral or otherwise), the punishments were very severe. It was a world where everybody was in a perpetual state of watching their step, certain that God’s wrath would rain down on them should they make the slightest error.

Of course, a lot of that mentality was brought on by people like the Pharisees, whose legalistic obsessions could turn anybody sour on the idea of a loving God. I can only imagine the resentment that people must have felt towards God as a result. My mild resentment at myself for ever embarking on this “No Caffeine” thing pales by comparison.

With this in mind, I’ve tried to really treasure these decaffeinated days. Every time I feel like ordering a Pepsi or cup of coffee, I use the eventual realization that I can’t as a reminder that things weren’t always so easy for people. This used to be a world of obligation, guilt, and punishment. Then, on Easter, Jesus’ resurrection ushered in a new way of thinking; an era of love, compassion, grace, and forgiveness.

Easter Sunday, I’ll be free to drink coffee. And soda. It’s a freedom that I plan to take full advantage of. In the same way, when Jesus arose, he freed us from all barriers- personal or legal- between us and God. It’s a freedom that we don’t think about very often, but I suggest we take full advantage of it and thank God for the sacrifice He made for us.