Isaiah 50:4-7 Philippians 2:6-11 Mark 14:1-15:47
For what would you give your life? For what or whom would you be willing to die?
Sunday after Sunday our scriptures have brought us to this place. Jesus enters Jerusalem. He is, according to religious and state authorities, a marked man. And for the crimes he is accused of this is Ground Zero.
Let us spend time today reflecting on his agony in Gethsemane and hear his prayer, “… Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me… “
Let us not read too quickly through the account of his rigged trial and his torture at the hands of the Roman soldiers.
Let us consider what must have gone through his mind as he was led to crucifixion. Surely, he had seen the ugliness of crucifixion before. After all, it was standard operating procedure for Rome.
Because our faith tells us that Jesus was "fully human and fully divine.” we can make the mistake of attributing to this suffering man divine knowledge. Because we look at Good Friday through the lens of Easter, we may assume that he did, too. But then, what do we make of "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? “
As we walk with him this week let his preaching echo in our minds. “The kingdom of heaven is like a father who had two sons… “. “There was a man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho who fell prey to robbers… “ Let us recall the hungry who were fed, the sick who were cured, and the dead who were raised to life.
The Reign of God was not a vague ideal for him but the will of his Father.
And it was worth dying for.
by: Pat Schnee
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