I would have to admit that I've never been known to possess great physical strength, so it was probably no surprise that in wrestling a jar of beetroot... I lost! Of course, this is not the first time I've been convinced that the lids of such jars have been attached by super-glue! In fact, it's perhaps a mercy that on this occasion I, and the kitchen walls, escaped the need of a good wash-down!
On the other hand, this type of thing seems to run in my family. I remember my mother insisting that my poor father re-paint the dining room ceiling after he shook a bottle of tomato ketchup a bit too vigorously without realising that the top wasn't on properly, thus leaving a rather reddish stain overhead!
But on this particular occasion I had to admit defeat. So I wrapped up the jar very carefully and, with a polite accompanying letter, sent it back to the manufacturer. I was keen to know if there was some special technique required (of which I was hitherto unaware) in order to gain access to their product, one which would also offer protection for me and our kitchen décor.
Mind you, when you think about it, access to God was also a 'messy business'...
Betrayal
Judas went to the chief priests and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.
Luke 22:4
Abuse
They spat on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.
Matthew 27:30
Ridicule
...Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him.
John 23:11
Agony
When they came to the place called the skull, there they crucified him...
Luke 23:33
Insults
Those who passed by hurled insults at him...
Matthew 27: 39
Rejection
'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'
Mark 15:34
Yet in the great Divine scheme of things, it was all necessary in order that Christ Jesus, through His birth, life, death and resurrection, could say probably the most politically incorrect statement there has ever been... and which of course still applies today...
'I am the way and the truth and the life.
No-one comes to the Father except through me.'
John 14:6
Yes, there may be different ways of getting into a jar of beetroot, but there's still only one way to get right with God. The Maker said so Himself!
Postscript
For the benefit of those of you desperate to know the outcome of my failure to prise the top off my jar of beetroot, the manufacturer sent me a replacement, a five pound note
and the suggestion that I make a hole in the lid. But although I took this advice, I only managed to get some juice out. Do you think I should have made a bigger hole?
