The floor of the Royal Albert Hall will be flooded with water to create a stunning design where Madam Butterfly’s house is perched on stilts above the surface of a traditional Japanese water garden
Set in Japan at the turn of the century, this tale of the doomed love of an
American naval lieutenant and his young Japanese bride inspired Puccini
to write some of his most sublime and beautiful music.
The magnificent love duet which closes the first act and Butterfly’s celebrated solo ‘One Fine Day’, in which she shows her unwavering belief that Pinkerton will return to her, are just two of the greatest moments. And when, after several years, Pinkerton eventually returns with his American wife, Butterfly realises she has been betrayed and the opera moves to its powerful and tragic conclusion. Which leads toa one of the most difficult and painful topics: personal betrayal:
Oh the cutting hurt and insult when betrayed and wounded by one who affirms you as "friend". It ‘s quite likely you have experienced this at some time or other.
Imagine Jesus and Judas om Gethsamene. Judas says hello with a “Greetings, Rabbi!" and kisses Him. Jesus replies: "Friend, why have you come?” It could have been any ordinary happy reunion of friends, if it was not for the presence of the guard. Oh the sting! Judas betrays Jesus and sells Him for a mere 30 pieces of silver – for change in his pocket!
The stabbing insult of that kiss! Betrayal devastates. And again, Jesus stands before Pilate. The very people He had helped, healed, taught, fed and encouraged yell: “crucify Him”. The desperate depravity of the human heart to betray a friend…
Paul refers to the last supper as having taken place “on the same night he was betrayed” (1Cor 11:23). Jesus’ betrayer had a meal with Him even as He's about to face the agony of the cross. What should have been warm moments between friends turn out to be icy-cold hostility. Judas betrays Jesus while blood-coins jingling in his purse.
Jesus is all too acquainted with gut-wrenching betrayal, “…in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest” (Heb. 2:17).
We shudder when we stop to remember specific incidences of betraying our Jesus and still sometimes fail to acknowledge Our Friend who sticks to us closer than a brother (Prov. 18:24). Our Saviour forgives the penitent and assures, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5). Sheer, sheer, sheer grace!
His promise is huge, great, merciful and precious: “I will never betray you, I will never leave you, never abandon you, never”. Oh the height of security based on His solid promise to His own. It makes all the sense in the world to trust Him whole-heartedly, even when the struggle is intense. And, the cherry on top: He is faithful even when I’m unfaithful….. and our gracious and faithfuly Friend forgives HIs repenting ones.
But let it be known: if any persist in deliberately denying Him, there will come a day – called the Last Day – that He will deny you before His Father. A day when there will no more mercy for the one who insists on denying the Son of God who laid down His life for sinners.
Gordon and I boldly agree with Paul:
“I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38, 39).Not only will He not betray us or forsake us, He will defend, protect and care for us and keep us by His grace – all the way.
“Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling… The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.” (Psalm 42:2, 3, 6, 7)
This truly sensational production of Puccini’s tragic masterpiece, Madam Butterfly and the ravishing score have left an indelible impression on the hearts and minds of thousands and thousands of people. We think that will be so for us too on Sunday!
