Reflection on John 20:19-31

 

John 20:19-31

19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

 24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

 26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe. 

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. 

Reflection

Locking your doors is so very tempting. 

When you fear that someone is out to hurt you, you lock the doors to your house.

When someone you love hurts you deeply, you lock the doors to your heart.

Locking your doors is so very tempting.

I do have to admit that when the children were younger and the level of crazy in the house was much, much higher, I was tempted many times to close the door to our bedroom and lock it.  Like the Hebrew people hiding behind their doors with the lamb’s blood smeared across to protect them from the angel of death, I too sought safety from insanity and death.  Behind the door I would be safe from the arguing, and the complaining, and the unending need to have me open a jar and fix everyone a snack.  Before you call child protective services, I never locked the door and never neglected the children.  But, I do admit that I had a habit of staring at the lock, dreaming of the peace and security to my sanity that the locked door would provide.

That reminds me of a joke: “What do you call a door that won’t open?  Well, you don’t call it a jar, that’s for sure.”

Wait, here’s another: “My hands were full the other day and a clown unlocked my door for me.  I thought, ‘What a nice jester.’”

Hold on, just one more: “I’ve been told that if you ever get locked out of your house, talk to your lock on your door calmly because communication is key.”

Ok, I admit that those were terrible jokes, and that they were a complete waste of your time. But, I am trying to keep the mood light, because the fear that causes us to lock our doors is anything but light. 

Such fear is heavy.  Such fear weighs you down and makes it so that you cannot even move. 

The disciples knew.  The Bible says that “the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews” (John 20:19).  They feared that those who killed their teacher would hunt them down as well.  They feared for their lives.  They locked their doors for protection from whatever lurked outside.  They needed to keep their doors locked.

Have you?  Have you ever locked your doors, not out of a general sense of safety, but out of complete fear?  Have you ever holed up in your home or your room merely to keep yourself sane and safe?  If you have, I know a song that can speak to your soul.

“Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’  After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.  Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’” (John 20:19-20).

The problem with fear is that it causes your vision to become too narrow.  Your vision becomes like a tunnel though which you can only see the threat.  Those who have suffered abuse can only see their abuser, hiding around every corner.  Those who have suffered horrendous trauma can only see the horrors that have taken place, replaying in their minds like a horror movie again and again all day long.  Those who fear death itself can only see risk and danger everywhere they go. 

Fear causes our vision to become too narrow, and what we need when our vision is narrow is for the risen Jesus to step right in front of our eyes and show us that we need not keep ourselves locked away out of fear.  After-all, for Jesus the grave was only a brief hotel stay.  Death was only a slight holding of the breath for our Savior.  Jesus steps through our locked doors and loudly declares, “Peace be with you” (John 20:19).

And, his gift of peace is enough.  It is enough to open our eyes wider, so that we can see something other than our fears.  His peace is enough for us to consider leaving through the door once again.  His peace provides enough courage to actually hear and follow his command, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20:20).

That is such good news from the Lord, and we could just stop right there if it were not for the other door that gets locked.  Remember when I said that:  “When you fear that someone is out to hurt you, you lock the doors to your house,” but “When someone you love hurts you deeply, you lock the doors to your heart.”

I think the second locked door is where Thomas found himself.  Thomas had no problem leaving the house.  He had no fear of the world or what the world would do to him.  He was not joking when he said, “Let us also go [with Jesus], that we may die with him” (John 11:16).  Thomas had no fear of what was outside the doors.  His fear lay elsewhere.

It is the same fear that I hear from those who have deeply loved someone, and that someone takes that love and stuffs it into a dumpster.  It is the same fear of the one who deeply invests themselves in someone else’s life and interests, losing themselves in that life and those interests, and then that one in whom they are deeply invested is suddenly gone.  It is the fear of being stabbed in the heart again.  “I will never put down my guard again,” they say in words that appear to be strength, but in reality are words of fear.  It is this fear that causes someone to lock their hearts and not allow anyone in. 

It is this fear that we hear when Thomas is excitedly told that Jesus is alive and Thomas shoots back, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25).

Has your heart ever become locked?  If it has, I know a song that can speak to your soul.

Jesus walked through the doors a second time, just for Thomas!  Jesus entered beyond the lock of his heart and gave Thomas the peace of heart that he desperately needed; the peace that only Jesus could give, a peace that is able to unlock cold and closed hearts.

“My Lord and my God!” Thomas shouted to the room as his heart unlocked (John 20:28).  Jesus responded, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (John 20:29).

And those words are for you.  “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (John 20:29).  Jesus wants nothing more than to step through your locked doors.  Jesus wants nothing more than to free you and lead you out from anything that keeps you locked away from the world, to free you and lead you out from anything that keep you locked away from your neighbors, and to free you and lead you out from anything that keeps you locked away from love.

The time for locked doors is over and the time for life in the Spirit of Jesus Christ has come.  Be free from locked rooms and locked hearts.  Be free to live in the life-changing, life-giving, and forgiving Spirit of the resurrected Jesus Christ!

And, that leads me to think about a famous painting, and a particular someone’s reflection upon that painting.  The painting is the famous one of Jesus knocking on the door, waiting for an answer.  The image comes from Revelation 3:20, in which we hear the Lord saying, “Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you with me.”

During the conclave that would elect Pope Francis, before he was elected, he gave a homily to all in the room as they prayed and deliberated for a new pope.  During the homily the soon to be pope noted that the traditional and pious interpretation of that painting and of the Revelation reading behind it, is that Jesus is knocking to be admitted, to come into our hearts, to enter our lives. However, the main problem with the people to whom this scripture was first written was that they were rich and were locking themselves away comfortably behind closed doors. 

The soon to be pope suggested that maybe, rather than knocking to come in, Jesus is knocking for us to come out, and to join him in the world outside?  It was this homily that caused the others in the room to think that he might just be the pope the church needed.  It is this same message of freedom that still frees us today to step out of our locked doors and be the loving people of God that Jesus has always wanted us to be.  Jesus is insistently knocking on our doors and asking us to come out into the world.  More than just knocking, Jesus actually steps through our locked doors and saves us from those locked doors.  And, it is that good news that keeps us singing.

 

Reflection on Luke 24:1-12

 

Luke 24:1-12

¹ On the first day of the week, at early dawn, [the women] went to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. ² They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³ but when they went in they did not find the body. ⁴ While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. ⁵ The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen. ⁶ Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, ⁷ that the Son of Man must be handed over to the hands of sinners and be crucified and on the third day rise again.” ⁸ Then they remembered his words, ⁹ and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. ¹⁰ Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. ¹¹ But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. ¹² But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

Reflection

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen” (Luke 24:5).

“Why do you look for the living among the dead?”

It is a good question.  After-all, the women who visit the tomb are not the only ones who are standing, staring in the wrong place.  They are not the only ones looking for their savior in cold, empty, lifeless places.

It makes me think of the man who could be found, standing along the roadside nearly every day.  If you were traveling, you would not even question why he was there.  He would just appear to be on his way to get the mail.  But, if you traveled the stretch regularly, you would notice that he was there nearly every day, and you would also notice that there was no mailbox, nor even a house nearby.  One concerned citizen, on their daily commute to work, had noticed the man repeatedly and eventually called the state police to check the guy out.  Was he stalking someone?  Had he lost his mind?  Was he trespassing? 

The police officer spoke with the man and discovered that the very spot where they were standing was the spot that his wife had perished in an automobile accident three years earlier.  He was transfixed by the spot.  He was caught, unable to move from the scene of her death.  He was standing in a tomb, searching for something; searching for answers; searching for some sort of peace; searching for his wife; searching for his life.

“Why do you look for the living among the dead?”

In a similar way, the woman found herself standing in the middle of her office, staring at the endless tasks on her desk.  The tasks were sucking her dry.  The tasks gave no love (as if they could), nor did they even provide a sense of accomplishment anymore.  In fact, the harder she tried to feel a small sense of pride over all that she had done, more tasks were always piled before her.  Her office was an empty tomb that gave no life, though she tried again and again to squeeze some life out of it.  She searched for some meaning out of the endless tasks. 

“Why do you look for the living among the dead?”

The women had lost the one who had given them a sense of purpose, and a sense of vitality and life.  Jesus was vital and alive one day, celebrated by the people, and gone the next day, hated by the people, and nailed to a cross.  And now, here these female disciples were, staring in the tomb, the empty tomb, seeking life and purpose and meaning right where there was just an empty cold, stone slab upon which a dead body should have been lying.  Where had the body gone?  What should they do?  What about all of the spices they were going to put with the body?  Where was Jesus?

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen” (Luke 24:5).

The women are sent two messengers, by God, to tell them to stop looking for life in this dead space.  Stop looking for life in cold tombs.  Stop looking for life where the dead lay.  Stop looking for life in cold, dark places where nothing can grow and no sense of purpose can be found. 

I think those two messengers are sent to us as well.  They stand in our tombs; they stand in our places of struggle and hopelessness and they say, “Stop looking for life in dead places.” 

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen” (Luke 24:5).

“He is not here,” they tell the woman (Luke 24:5).  They need to look elsewhere for Jesus.  They need to look elsewhere for the life that only Jesus provides.  They need to search somewhere else in order to find their sense of purpose.  They need to run elsewhere to find their savior once again. 

“’Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’ Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest” (Luke 24:6-9).

They stopped searching in the tomb to find Jesus.  They stopped making their lives about cold, lifeless tombs.  Instead, they ran off, remembering that he promised that he would rise! 

Things were new now.  Now, they needed to search for him alive.  Now they had to share the story and invite others to search for him as well.  After-all, searching for where Jesus is alive and at work in the world is what followers of Jesus have been trained to do! 

We look around and search to find where the life and love of Jesus is present in the world, and then we join Jesus when we see it.  That is what living the resurrection life is all about!  And, would it not be great if we could all be a part of Jesus’ great big task of finding God’ love and then sharing God’s love and promise of new life to the entire world?  Would not that be wonderful if we are all on board in this ministry of new life, risen life, for the sake of loving the world?

But, the Bible says that when they shared the good news with the Apostles and the other gathered there, the Apostles, “did not believe them,” thinking that their story of resurrection after three days, “seemed to them an idle tale” (Luke 24:11). 

And, that, I think, is the most believable part of the whole story.  Is it not true that there is always someone present who will bring a stop to the excitement?  When celebrating a birthday, they are the ones, in their yoga pants and fitted jacket who look at the cake and say, “Cake has too much fat and sugar.  Why do we celebrate being unhealthy?”  Or, when the women give each other high fives because they got the old clunker’s engine to start again, there is always the guy nearby who pipes up, “Your husbands taught you well.  Try taking less than an hour to do it though next time.”  And then he just walks away.

More than just killing the women’s excitement though, the apostles simply do not believe the women’s story in the first place.  “Women and their stories!” they say.  They do not believe.  Probably more to the point, they will not believe.  They are fine living in their cold tombs of despair, sadness, and self-pity. 

Do you think I am being a little harsh on the eleven Apostles? 

After-all, the women’s words are truly unbelievable.  People do not come back to life.  On top of that, fear is hard to overcome.  Purpose is not easily figured out or obtained.  And, moving beyond grief is like climbing a mountain without ropes. 

I imagine the apostle’s thoughts, “Jesus is dead and these women just need to accept it.”  After-all, remaining in cold tombs is sometimes easier than exploring what is mysteriously beyond the door.  At least we know what the tomb is like.  It is small and cold and lifeless, but at least it is understandable.  It does not give life, but it is familiar.”

“Why do you look for the living among the dead?”

Sometimes, people need to see for themselves.  Sometimes people need to experience the truth for themselves.  It does not matter how many times you tell your child that the medical procedure will not hurt, they will not believe you until they discover for themselves that it does not hurt. 

Sometime people need to experience the truth for themselves.  It does not matter how many times the Christian tells the confused and wandering friend that they can find life, and meaning, and purpose in Jesus Christ.  It all just sounds like an idle tail.  It all sounds like cheap, fairy magic.  They will not understand what new life in Jesus Christ is all about until they experience Jesus for themselves.  Sometimes people have to experience the truth themselves.

That is what happened to Peter anyway, “Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened” (Luke 24:12).

Here is the thing with Peter.  At least, he went and checked it out for himself. 

I do not know his motivations for doing so.  Did he go to the tomb in order to prove the women wrong?  Did he go because he wanted to believe, but just could not bring himself to believe?  Did he go because he was awash in guilt from denying Jesus and could not bear to be accused of denying him once again?  Did he just need to go on a run and clear his conscience?  I do not know the answers to any of that.  The Bible does not tell us.  Maybe, his running to the tomb was a mix of all of them.  Whatever it was, it is absolutely the truth that he would never find himself standing there, amazed at the sight of the empty tomb of Jesus, until he went saw it for himself.

And, sometimes I think that is the best that we can do to help our friends and family when they are stuck looking for the living among the dead.  Sometimes, the best thing that we can do to help them is to point them in the right direction and tell them to go look for themselves.  “Experience it for yourself.”  “Judge for yourself.”  “Come with me, and see for yourself.”  Maybe, just maybe, they will experience the living God and “be amazed at what had happened” (Luke 24:12).

Maybe, they just need someone like you, filled with the risen life of Jesus Christ, to make them look into the tomb, point out that it is empty, and then point them in the direction of the one who is not empty: Jesus Christ our Lord.  After-all, he is risen, he is full of life, he is full of purpose, he is full of love, and he is waiting for all of us to run and see, and catch up. 

Reflection on John 13:1-17, 31b-35

 

“Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me’” (John 13:8).

There is a certain boy, who may or may not be here, for whom, when he was a little guy, the daily washing of feet was just as important as it was in ancient days.  Any two-year-old’s feet can get pretty black when going about his or her daily tasks of finding ant hills, digging pits in the dirt, and the ever important: jumping in mud puddles.  In fact, little boy’s feet get as dirty as the feet of sandal wearing people in ancient times.  So, like in ancient times, where washing feet was a practical matter, so too was it for us in order to keep the little foot prints across the floors of the house at bay. 

But, something strange happened whenever that little guy would lay back to have his feet washed.  Rather than the washing tickling his feet and waking him up, as one would expect, the warm water and gentle scrubbing would put him fast asleep with a smile on his face.  It was as if our little act of service to him, the washing his feet, was all the love and connection that he needed to feel completely at peace.

The cleaning of his feet was love, it was connection, and it brought about peace.

“Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me’” (John 13:8).

One day, Mary cleaned Jesus’ feet, with costly a perfume.  She wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair as he prepared to face the horrors of the cross.  It was almost as if Mary’s small act of service was all the love and connection that Jesus needed to feel at peace, and face his future.

The cleaning of Jesus’ feet was love, it was connection, and it brought about peace.

When questioned about the act, Jesus reiterated, “You do not always have me” (John 12:8).

Speaking of not having him, the disciples were near the edge of losing Jesus to the horrors of the cross.  They did not understand how bad the days ahead would be, but Jesus did.  So, Jesus bent down like a servant and washed their feet.  It was an act of service to provide all the love, connection, and peace that Jesus knew the disciples would need in the days to come.

The cleaning of the disciple’s feet was love, it was connection, and it brought about peace.

“Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me’” (John 13:8).

Then, Jesus instructed the disciples to wash one another’s feet.  After-all, he would soon only be present with them in Spirit.  He instructs them to do it because he had done it.  He instructs them to do it so that they may never lose the feel of Jesus’ love, the feel of Jesus’ connection, and the feel of “the peace of God which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).

The cleaning of each other’s feet is love, it is connection, and it brings about peace.

Jesus instructed, “I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15).  “Love one another.  Just as I have loved you…” (John 13:34).

One evening, after playing outside with Isaac, Isaac looked at the bottoms of my feet and declared, “Your feet are terrible.”  So, he went into the bathroom, turned on the sink, wet the washcloth from his bath, and proceeded to clean my feet with his little hands.

He did it out of love, he did it out of connection, and it brought about peace.

“Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another” (John 13:34).

For the most part, in our modern world of closed toe shoes, we do not need to serve one another by washing each other’s feet.  But, we do it tonight. 

We do it, not because I expect you to then go and wash the feet of people at the grocery store.  Just to be clear, that would be creepy. 

Rather, the very real washing of feet remind us that bending low and serving one another (loving one another in a very real way, just as Jesus did) brings about a deep, and holy connection and peace, both in the one who serves and in the one being served. 

It is a servant sort of love.  It is a holy sort of love. 

“Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another” (John 13:34).

May Jesus, grant you a deep peace and connection with him, and with one another, as we serve one another out of a divine sort of love.

Reflection on Luke 22:14-23:56

 

The Passion Christ: Luke 22:14—23:56

The story of eternal forgiveness of Jesus Christ our Lord as told by Luke.

14 When the hour came, [Jesus] took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, 16 for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves, 18 for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21 But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. 22 For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!” 23 Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this.

  24 A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 But he said to them, “The kings of the gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you; rather, the greatest among you must become like the youngest and the leader like one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

  28 “You are those who have stood by me in my trials, 29 and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

  31 “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail, and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day until you have denied three times that you know me.”

  35 He said to them, “When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “No, not a thing.” 36 He said to them, “But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. 37 For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was counted among the lawless,’ and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled.” 38 They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” He replied, “It is enough.”

It is so striking, when reading Luke’s account of the Last Supper, just how filled the table is with broken people.  The one who will betray Jesus, a betrayal which leads to his death, is right there, his hand on the table.  Yet, they were invited by Jesus to be there.

A couple of people at the table care much more about being considered great; they care much more about having power than they care about giving one’s life for others.  Yet, they were invited by Jesus to be there.

 Of course, Peter is there, who seems like a rock of faith, but will crumble like a piece of sandstone as soon as the pressure is on.  Even this one of such weak and flimsy faith is invited by Jesus to be there.

And, did you notice how, when Jesus mentions weapons, there are some with him who are able to just pull weapons out right then and there?  Even these ones who are more than ready for violence were invited by Jesus to be there with him at the table.

And, as terrible of a crowd as it seems is with Jesus at that table, the picture it paints in my head actually comforts me.  It comforts me, because it helps me to see that there is a seat at the table even for someone like me.  None of us are too broken to be offered a seat at the table of Jesus’ new covenant.  It seems that Jesus has a promise for us as well.

We return to the story.

  39 He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” 41 Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me, yet not my will but yours be done.” 43 [[Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. 44 In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.]] 45 When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.”

  47 While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?” 49 When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” 50 Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as though I were a rebel? 53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour and the power of darkness!”

“No more of this!” Jesus shouts.  Earlier, Jesus asks his followers to get out their swords, which they readily did, but here Jesus does not allow them to actually use them.  His followers assume that Jesus wants them to use the weapons.  They were asked to pull them out.  And, they readily started attacking those who were attacking Jesus, asking as they swung, “Lord, should we strike with the sword.”  

Jesus’ followers are always ready to defend him.  Jesus’ followers are always ready to go on the attack to preserve Jesus and all that he stands for.  Jesus’ followers are always ready to put others in their place and Jesus will have nothing to do with it!

“No more of this!” he shouts.  No more attacking in his name.  No more defending him or defending his honor.  No more using the sword to promote all that he is about.  “No more of this!”

What is Jesus’ reaction to his enemies coming to destroy him, he heals.  He heals the ear of one of his attackers.  He heals the damage that his followers have done to defend him.  When the darkness descends on him and on the world, he does not attack, he heals.

He heals when darkness arrives.  I need to ponder on that truth a lot.

And as I do that, we return to the story.

  54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. 55 When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 Then a female servant, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59 Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, “Surely this man also was with him, for he is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.

  63 Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him; 64 they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it who struck you?” 65 They kept heaping many other insults on him.

  66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. 67 They said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us.” He replied, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I question you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 All of them asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God?” He said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!”

 23:1 Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. 2 They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man inciting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.” 3 Then Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered, “You say so.” 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” 5 But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.”

  6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. 9 He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by vehemently accusing him. 11 Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. 12 That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.

  13 Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people, and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 I will therefore have him flogged and release him.”

  18 Then they all shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!” 19 (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city and for murder.) 20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.” 23 But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified, and their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.

I have to stop the story right here and just note that a over-thrower of law and order, indeed, a murderer, is set free while the innocent goes to his death.  This criminal did not deserve freedom.  The story has no story of this criminal’s life changing for the better because of what was done for him.  Indeed, he probably has no idea why he is being set free.  He is not there during any of these events.  He is being set free, with no repentance, no prayer, and no knowledge of Jesus.

That is the very definition of unconditional love.  How many times have I been forgiven, without even my knowledge?  How many times have I been forgiven, without deserving such a gift?  This is the scandal of the cross.  This is the power of the cross.  This is the love of Jesus.

We return to the story.

  26 As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. 28 But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

  32 Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 [[Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”]] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the people stood by watching, but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

  39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.” 43 He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

He could still forgive.  Jesus has been stripped of his freedom.  Jesus has been stripped of his clothes.  Jesus has been stripped of his dignity.  Jesus has been stripped of all power, even of his own body as his hands and feet are secured with nails to a huge, wooden device of torture.  Jesus’ entire life has been stripped away, but he still has the power to do one thing.

To the soldiers who have stripped him, beat him, and nailed him to a cross, leaving him to die, he says, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

And to the criminal who is rightfully receiving his reward for the horrors he has committed in life, Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

And, that makes me think about the times I have felt truly powerless in life.  When I have not been able to be physically present, when I have been overwhelmed, when I have no authority to change any of the terrible things happening in the world, Jesus has given us a power that cannot ever be taken away.  It is the strongest power in the universe, having the power to change lives and provide eternal love: it is the power of forgiveness.  

Forgiveness is the foundation of this entire story.  Maybe, forgiveness is the foundation of our entire lives?  And now, to finish this story of eternal forgiveness.

  44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 while the sun’s light failed, and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. 47 When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” 48 And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. 49 But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things.

  50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph who, though a member of the council, 51 had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

This was the story of the eternal forgiveness given to us by Jesus Christ our Lord.