April 25, 2024 – The Coffee Shop Devotions: Barbie Frappuccino

“When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion who stood facing him saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” There were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome, who followed him when he was in Galilee and ministered to him, and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.” Mark 15:33-41

The local coffee shop that offers the Barbie Frappuccino only offers it from their “secret” menu. They describe this drink as such: “What better way to celebrate Barbie than with a Starbucks secret menu drink in honor of everyone’s favorite blonde? This pink frappuccino starts with a Vanilla Bean Crème Frappuccino with three additional pumps of vanilla, strawberry or raspberry purée, a scoop of dragonfruit inclusion and a whipped cream topper. The result is a very sweet and slightly fruity bright pink beverage.”

Fruity beverage or not, the Barbie Frappuccino would never be whispered from my lips in any other way than this series of devotions. But I can only imagine that slapping the name “Barbie” on any drink, sandwich, doll, or action figure and you will get people to spend their money to buy it.

And then we have the person of Salome from the Gospels. She is not as well-known as Barbie, but she has a significant role to play in the life and death of Jesus. As the Gospel of Mark tells us, Salome was one of a few women “..who followed him (Jesus) when he was in Galilee and ministered to him, and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.” I imagine a day when the name Barbie will be as mundane and as obscure as the name Salome is to many people today. But the difference will come in their enduring legacy. While Barbie will have accomplished nothing more than turning the world more pink, Salome will be remembered for her devotion to and ministry to Jesus – especially when he was at his weakest and most vulnerable. If I can be remembered for nothing other than being devoted to Jesus, well, that is good enough for me.

Pastor Dave