Are We Resilient Enough To Suffer Though Love?
Good Morning Friends,
Last night our family attended a Tenebrae/ Maundy Thursday service. We sang in the choir, received and served communion and then as the lights dimmed, we joined the congregation in the pews. We watched as the minister’s read passages appropriate for the evening service, interspersed with a music solo of verses from, “Were You There?” There was no benediction…the service was not over…we were left to contemplate Jesus’ suffering love in silence. And I wonder if we could endure such pain. The pain of knowing everybody’s pain. Are We Resilient Enough To Suffer Though Love?
Scripture: God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Genesis 1:31 (NRSV)
Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
Mark 1:15 (NRSV)
Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus said, ‘You say so.’ But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. Then Pilate said to him, ‘Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?’ But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, ‘Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. While he was sitting on the judgement seat, his wife sent word to him, ‘Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.’ Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. The governor again said to them, ‘Which of the two do you want me to release for you?’ And they said, ‘Barabbas.’ Pilate said to them, ‘Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ All of them said, ‘Let him be crucified!’ Then he asked, ‘Why, what evil has he done?’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Let him be crucified!’ So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.’ Then the people as a whole answered, ‘His blood be on us and on our children!’ So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
Matthew 27:11-26 (NRSV)
Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they cast lots to divide his clothing.
Luke 23:34 (NRSV)
Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.’
Revelation 11:15 (NRSV)
Message: Here on this Good Friday we remember the most dramatic day in the most dramatic life ever lived. And out of it has come dogma and against this backdrop it is anything but dull. It is interesting that today’s lectionary takes scripture from the Book of Revelation… the very passage we will sing from Handel’s Messiah on Easter Sunday. At first I wondered why it is our recommended reading for Good Friday. But the more I think about it the more I like it. You see Good Friday was a terrible and horrific day and to call it “Good” we have to put it in perspective. Perhaps it was derived from God’s Day and became “Good” over time as more and more people were led to believe in Jesus’ victory over death and sin. Perhaps it is related to the reality of a time when good meant holy. I’m sure that Revelation 11 is meant to make us think of the Battle of Jericho: For six days the seven priests carrying seven trumpets marched around Jericho blowing their trumpets with the ark of the Lord behind them. And the people did not raise their voices. But on the seventh day, after marching and blowing the trumpets seven times, the people shout, the walls come a tumbling down, and the enemy is routed. Something is being created here to set us free…to release the power of the Holy Spirit. On Sunday we will sing and give thanks and worship God in the hope of that day when the kingdom of this world becomes the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. But today on Good Friday we are in that space where the Kingdom has yet to fully come. Yes it is Friday but Sunday is coming. The seven trumpets do not crescendo into silence. They crescendo into singing. Singing to raise the roof. But first we have to wait and the waiting is not easy. To enter this Kingdom we are asked to do those two things…repent and believe. And yet it is hard for us because we live in a space of Holy History between the darkness of what has been called Good Friday and the tantalizing riddle of the universe opened up on Easter Sunday. Here in the sorrow we live with only the hint of the sealing promise of Jesus’ return to extend the cosmic miracle. Here we discover that the world’s priorities are opposite of God’s. And so it is that in truly repenting we discover that only the Kingdom of hope has arrived…and though it has arrived with power…. it has also arrived powerfully upside down awaiting Christ’s return as we seek to become the Body of Christ together. And so today in repentance we submit to Christ’s gracious rule even as we remember his body was broken for us and his blood shed for us so we might have hope.
Pray that we recognize the symbols and significance of the journey. Pray with thanksgiving that Jesus endured the cross and paid for our sin in full. Pray we see the love of God at work for you and for me in the experience of Holy week. Pray we believe. Pray Christ remembers us when he comes into his Kingdom.
Pray we revisit, repent and renew our lives in the power of the Holy Spirit before the throne of God. Pray we be humble. Pray that the attitudes of our hearts and the outward visible way we live change in response to Jesus. Pray we pursue right thinking and right living. Pray we ask for help. Pray we individually confess our sins. Pray we be open to the Holy Spirit and our collective call to repentance.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 