Messiness in Holy Week ~ David Patterson

Staff, March 31, 2021

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” ~1Corinthians 1:14

The betrayal, the arrest, the angry shouts, the beating and the bloodshed, the stumbling on the street, the release of a convicted criminal, the sun being blotted out, the violent crucifixion, made Good Friday more frightening and “messier” than the many violent protests and riots we experienced this past year. But in the seven dying words of our crucified Savior, we see as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. taught: “Right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”

1.  While Pilate washed his hands and showed no mercy towards the innocent Jesus: while the soldiers crowned the “king” with thorns; while it was our sins that caused him to die; grace prevailed as Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

2. While Jesus experienced our shame, guilt and punishment on Calvary, he proclaimed that sin and death do not have the final word, as he promised, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

3. While Judas betrayed him; the disciples fled; Peter denied him; the crowd turned on him; love prevailed as Jesus looked down and said, “Dear woman, here is your son. Here is your mother.”

4.  While the Father, the Holy Spirit and Jesus, are one; our Lord reminded us that when we suffer, feel alone and abandoned, God is with us and understands our anguish, as the cry went up, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

5. While he could walk on water; while he could change water into wine; while he cured people with water; while he is the giver of living waters; with parched lips and teary eyes he cried out what so many of the less fortunate experience, "I am thirsty."

6. While there were still those who had not heard the good news; while there were still those who needed healing; while there were still those who were in bondage and poor; Jesus knowing that he had done enough, completed the work of redemption for which he had come to earth, and that his disciples would take up the ministry and mission yet needed, the carpenter’s son said, "It is finished."

7. With pierced and bloody hands nailed to the cross, while people mockingly shook fists at him; while Satan and the powers of darkness were exchanging congratulatory fist bumps; the sacrificial Lamb of God, who remained faithful to the end, delivered a knockout blow and the final victory was won, as the whisper was heard, “Into thy hands I commend my spirit.”

Living Word, speak to us anew, so that we may be united with Jesus in a death like his, and be united with him in a resurrection like his. Amen.