Devotional 4-10-09

John18:1 – 19:42

The reading for Good Friday is John’s account of Jesus’ betrayal by Judas, the trials before the temple leaders and the Roman authorities, Peter’s denial that he knew Jesus, the crucifixion and burial of Jesus.

John’s account differs from the other Gospels in several respects. Notably in John, Jesus is in total control of every event. Written later than the others, John reflects the times of heavy oppression of the early Church by Rome, pointing the blame for Jesus’ crucifixion on the Jews. Pilate, in reality a cruel and murderous governor who was removed from office by Rome because of his brutality, is portrayed as a hapless dupe, running outside to the crowd, back inside to Jesus, back to the crowd, back inside repeatedly, trying to avoid a death penalty for Jesus. For Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the crucifixion is a terrible thing that happened to the victim Jesus. For John, however, the crucifixion IS Jesus’ glorification and is the climax of the Gospel. In all four accounts of Jesus’ passion, the writers provide compelling attractions to the story.

Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy, an Anglican priest, wrote a poem in the early 20th century titled “Indifference”. In his poem, he reflects on the crucifixion and wonders whether his contemporaries in Birmingham, England, would pay any attention to Jesus if he showed up. I wonder if Jesus came to the contemporary church with a message that is radically different from the ways we have become acculturated to the society around us, would we throw him out or wish him dead? Kennedy suggests an even more distressing reaction to Jesus – that of indifference. In the second stanza, substitute “Huntington” or the name of your city or town.

“When Jesus came to Golgotha, they hanged Him on a tree,
They drove great nails through hands and feet, and made a Calvary;
They crowned Him with a crown of thorns, red were His wounds and deep,
For those were crude and cruel days, and human flesh was cheap.

“When Jesus came to Birmingham they simply passed Him by,
They never hurt a hair of Him, they only let Him die;
For men had grown more tender, and they would not give Him pain,
They only just passed down the street, and left Him in the rain.

“Still Jesus cried, ‘Forgive them, for they know not what they do.’
And still it rained the wintry rain that drenched Him through and through;
The crowds went home and left the streets without a soul to see,
And Jesus crouched against a wall and cried for Calvary.”

Are we compelled by the passion of Jesus to follow him, or are we indifferent? Does our faith make a difference for us? Do our lives make a difference in the world around us? Of course Jesus desires our fervent (hot) relationship with him. Kennedy suggests that Jesus might prefer a cold lack of relationship to a lukewarm indifference. What’s your temperature?

Dear God, thank you for the gift of your Son Jesus to the world and to me. Help me to remember the depths of his love, and enable me to be a strong and faithful follower. Amen.

Rev. Jack Lipphardt

Mission Prayer Focus and response:
April 10; Richwood-Craigsville-Webster Cooperative Parish, Webster Springs; Anita Tracy, Church and Community Worker
The newest ministry of the W. Va. Conference Church and Community Workers is located in the Greenbrier District. It provides lay leadership for the churches of the parish. It enjoys a strong outreach ministry including Webster County Hope (Helping Other People Eat) and Women's Aid in Crisis
We pray for the Webster Parish who supports HOPE and Women's aid in Crisis. Give a quarter for every female who lives in your home. (Yes, animals, too!)