a word, a song, and a story
Easter is coming. In both life and liturgy, we are not in despair, but filled with hope. Remember - - not only here after the hurricane (where we still are), and here in the Covid-19 nightmare (where we may abide indefinitely), but as Palm Sunday devolves from triumphal Hosannas - - to betrayal, denial, agony, cross and death - - the storm will pass over. Easter will dawn.
In my churches years ago, I would never preach a sermon on Palm Sunday, because the Passion Gospel was so stunning, so overwhelming, that for me to stand up and comment, or indeed say anything at all, would have been anticlimactic, a distraction, even blasphemy.
Regardless which evangelist is telling it (today, Matthew), the story stands on its own, and people need time to absorb what they read and see and hear, what they experience in the horror. The Passion Gospel is like being hit over the head with a sledgehammer. So, instead of a sermon - - the Gospel alone, and then time and space to be swallowed up in shocked silence.
We would stand and sing the 18th century Italian hymn “Glory be to Jesus, who in bitter pain, poured for me the lifeblood, from his sacred veins”. There are five verses. As we sang the last verse, the congregation would kneel, and as the words and music faded, I began the Eucharistic Prayer,
“All glory be to thee, Almighty God our heavenly Father, for that thou, of thy tender mercy didst give thine only Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption. Who made there, by his one oblation of himself once offered, a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world …”
Communion in silence, only the sound of feet moving to and from the Altar. There was no confession or absolution, no post communion prayer, no closing hymn, certainly no blessing. No dismissal. I left the Altar uncleared, went out the back and closed the door, leaving the congregation to make their way out in stunned silence, wondering how creation had gone so wrong.
It was the most powerful liturgy of the church year, in part because of the silences, the simplicity. And that I did not insert myself as keynote speaker to explain, or rationalize, or justify, or theologize, or make anyone feel worse or better, guilty or innocent; but left the Bible story to stand alone as the bloody, raw, brutal Word of God.
In the story, we are there. It is not a historical remembrance, we are there: it comes present and happens before our eyes: this is Jerusalem, and we are there, sickened. You feel the evil, witness the betrayal, hear the whiplashes and ripping flesh. We hear the taunting crowd, smell the blood, watch Peter collapse in grief as he realizes that he has broken his word and betrayed himself and his Lord - - who knew Simon Peter better than Peter ever knew himself:
Simon, son of John, do you love me?
No sermon, no human words, can deepen the horror or rescind its devastation, we cannot go back to before Calvary. Yet, no one who loves Jesus wants to have the story softened by some preacher. Our only hope is to share in Jesus’ suffering, and perhaps somehow, even from the distance of the ages, ease his pain. But we cannot.
The shock of the story always brings to mind, Mel Gibson’s film The Passion of the Christ. I saw it alone my first time. I remember my dead feeling as the film ended and the credits rolled. In my theater seat, I could not move. The shock was so total I could not stand up and leave with the crowd. When finally I was able to rise and go, I made my way to my car and drove slowly home. No one was at the house but me. I sat outside on the back steps for some two hours, not weeping, though I needed to weep, but trying to comprehend the hatred and cruelty. When Linda arrived home that evening, she found me sitting there on the back steps. I could not explain. I cannot now explain or comment on the story as the film showed it, just as we shall read and hear it this morning. It leaves me beat down, exhausted. Not angry, not surprised, no feeling at all but numbed. God hear us. God help us. God save us. And God does - - God hears us. God helps us. God saves us. Listen to the lyrics.
Glory be to Jesus, who in bitter pain
Poured for me the life blood
from his sacred veins!
2 Grace and life eternal in that blood I find;
blest be his compassion, infinitely kind!
3 Blest through endless ages
be the precious stream
which from sin and sorrow
did the world redeem!
Now listen to the music:
4 Oft as earth exulting wafts its praise on high,
angel hosts rejoicing make their glad reply.
5 Lift we, then, our voices
swell the mighty flood,
louder still and louder
praise the precious blood!
The nightmare of Holy Week begins as the Passion Gospel unfolds. But hang in there, beloved: Hosanna! Jesus saves. Covid-19 that threatens us, will end, and Easter will dawn.
We are The Jesus People, and this is our story. LISTEN:
Matthew 26:14- 27:66
One of the twelve, Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I betray him to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples asked Jesus, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” So the disciples did as Jesus told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.
When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as is written of him, but woe to the one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him had he never been born.” Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.”
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, sahying, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.” Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And so said all the disciples.
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I will but what you will.” Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “Could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. My betrayer is at hand.”
While he was still speaking, Judas arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs from the chief priests and the
elders of the people.
Now Judas had given them a sign, “The one I will kiss is the man: arrest him.” At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.
Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take up the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot appeal to my Father, and he would at once send more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?”
At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Those who had arrested Jesus took him to CAIaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered. Peter was following at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end.
Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward saying, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’” The high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?” But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you,
From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?” They answered, “He deserves death.” Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before all of them, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment the cock crowed. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went out and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.” After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter’s field as a place to bury foreigners. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price, and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”
Now Jesus stood before Pilate, the governor; and Pilate asked him, “Are you King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ?” For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over.
While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.”
Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus crucified. The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Chrst?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was forming, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.”
Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to be crucified.
As they went, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled Simon to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it.
And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; then they sat down there and kept watch over him. Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “Jesus, King of the Jews.”
Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and re-build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.’” The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him the same way.
From noon on, darkness came over the entire land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” One of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last.
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and rocks were split. Tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. (After his resurrection they came out of the tombs, entered the holy city and appeared to many).
Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone across the door of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
The next day, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception would be worse than the first.”
Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.
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In this Time of anxiety and fear, I bid you not despair: Hosanna! Jesus saves. Hallelujah, Easter is coming, hallelujah.