Finally, you can imagine the disciples saying on a Sunday morning so long ago, finally Jesus is taking his rightful place. The palms, the crowds, the honors. And telling those Pharisees the stones would cry out in praise, priceless. Finally, you can imagine the disciples saying on a Friday afternoon so long ago, finally they got Jesus in the place they wanted him. The betrayal, the denial, the execution. And those crowds yelling “crucify him,” dreadful. What a difference in just a few days.
Finally, though, finally he died as he had lived. Even in his personal agony in the garden he was concerned about his disciples. “Pray that you many not undergo the test.” Even in the midst of his arrest he took time out to heal a victim of violence – the high priest’s servant whose ear was cut off. Even as Peter was denying him, he turned and shared a look of love and mercy to this disciple. Even as he was struggling to carry his cross he counselled the women of Jerusalem in their grief. Even as he was being stripped and nailed he prayed for his persecutors, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” Even as he was in his death throes on the cross he took time to offer salvation to the condemned man next to him. “This day you will be with me in paradise.” Even in his final spasm of suffering he offered himself completely to God, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Jesus was not a helpless victim as he was taken to his punishment. He was an agent of mercy every step of the way.
Finally, what had gotten Jesus to that point was absolute trust in the will of God. As he was confronting the storm gathering around him, as he was dealing with his own fear, as he wrestled with his doubts, he threw himself into prayer. “Father, if you are willing.” “Father, not this.” “Father, take this cup from me.” But always he appended to that prayer, “Still, not my will but yours be done.” What enabled him to get through his terrible ordeal was his absolute confidence in his identity as the beloved son of God. What got him through was his complete trust that God can make a way out of no way. What saw him over was the blessed assurance that God never fails.
Finally, Jesus wants us to share in his mercy, his faith, his assurance, his love. So he gathers around a table where we too can break bread and share the cup. “This will be given for you,” he tells us. “This will be shed for you.” Because we participate in the death of Jesus around the table we share his life. In our own Gethsemanes we can pray that God’s will be done even when it runs clean counter to what we would wish. In our own path up Calvary’s hill we can experience our beloved nature as children of God and trust that all will be well. In our own experiences of doubt, betrayal, fear, abandonment, suffering we can still feel compassion for those who are also suffering. Finally, Jesus says to us “when I send you forth with only your faith to face the trials and troubles of life are you in need of anything?” And we answer, as long as you are with us, Lord, as long as you stay by our side, we have all we need. We will pick up our cross each day for we know that all will be well, all manner of things will be well. Finally, it’s about love. AMEN.
