Holy Week will shortly be ushered in by Palm Sunday … the celebratory event that brought a triumphant Jesus into a crowded Jerusalem. Jesus had, within the last days, raised a four days dead and buried Lazarus and certainly word of that undeniable miracle had gotten out. Attendance at the Feast of the Passover by faithful pilgrims had swelled the population of Jerusalem to about 2.5 – 3 million people according to Josephus. Jesus allowed the recognition. No more “Don’t tell anyone what you’ve seen or heard.” Jesus wanted the focus. He wanted the eyes and ears of the people to remember all that would soon take place … to change the world.
Major events that followed in the days ahead, most are well aware of: the cleansing of the temple … “My Father’s house will be a house of prayer” … not a strip mall to satisfy greedy vendors and bilk the travel-wearied faithful. Tuesday and Wednesday Jesus seems to have withdrawn from the public eye, maybe to prepare himself for the disturbing events that he knew would culminate with his horrific death. On Maundy Thursday, Jesus demonstrates the true “fabric” of his kingdom, bowing before his disciples as their king and master, yet humbling himself as a servant to wash their feet. Having loved his own he would love them to the very end, and, aware that they would betray, or deny, or desert him, he institutes the Sacrament of his body and blood for their forgiveness and strengthening.
Which bring us to “Good” Friday. I am still caught up in the wonder of why Jesus came at the time in history (in the fullness of time) when scourging and crucifixion were the means of punishment. To even give heed to the divine economy that without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness, why offer yourself a sacrifice for the sin of the world when crucifixion would be the means.
I’ve believe I’ve come to understand a little bit of God’s heart behind it all. First, having read a blog by a prison chaplain on the east coast, I appreciated her insight. Working with condemned prisoners on death row who had been involved in vicious murders, she commented that for them to see the torture that Christ had gone through and endured gave them hope as they remembered their appalling crimes … their brutality and the blood they had shed. Perhaps, in fact, Jesus had borne their crimes, their sins also. YES HE HAD! The Good News of Jesus crucified and risen is a Gospel for all people.
Secondly, for me to view the suffering Savior, my Savior, on the cross, reminds me of the reality of the appalling and dreadful nature of MY sin, no matter how I try and sanitize it. With the Holy Spirit’s help seeing the betrayal and denial and desertion and scourging and nails and suffering of Jesus … brings me closer to a real Savior, who I have truly offended. Against You, You only, oh God, have I sinned.
Yet so great was God’s love … for God so loved the world; God demonstrated his love for me in that while I will still a sinner Christ died for me … that Jesus still offered his life in return for mine, a poor miserable sinner.
Too good to be true? Thankfully, NO! Rather it is divine fact, divine truth that continues to change my life and give me hope. The week ahead provides me and every individual the opportunity to contemplate, to meditate on such amazing grace and awesome love. I hope you will do so … and especially in our services at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Lansing.
But it you are not in the area … please bow before Jesus in humble awe of his love for YOU!
