A congregation of the United Church of Canada
Maybe
Maybe they were actually starting to get it, to understand?
Maybe that was the reason?
Maybe it was that who Jesus was, and what he taught, and what the kingdom he embodied and revealed meant, maybe all that was finally starting to sink in?
And maybe as it did the players in this drama began to realize just what was at stake, and why it mattered so much.
If the kingdom of God’s Presence that Jesus embodied and revealed was really real then the Jewish religious authorities’ grip on the religious life and practice of their people would be challenged.
If God’s forgiveness and love is absolute then what of the Temple, and the official sacrifices, and the priesthood?
If everyone has direct access to the Presence of God then where does that leave religious authorities?
They might lose status and privilege. They might have to rethink their theological assumptions.
And so they accused him of undermining their authority – and they accused him of rebellion.
Maybe they were actually starting to get it?
Maybe that was the reason?
And in that moment, the reality and truth of it was too much for them.
If the kingdom of God’s Presence that Jesus embodied and revealed was really real then the depth of King Herod’s betrayal of his people would be laid bare.
His power would be questioned.
His position would be threatened.
His identity would be shaken.
The kingdom Herod ruled was at best secondary, and at worst a sham.
Jesus represented an existential threat to his monarchy.
Herod’s attempts at exposing a false messiah failed, so he pretended they didn’t and passed the buck.
Maybe he was actually starting to get it?
Maybe that was the reason?
And in that moment, the reality and truth of it was too much for him.
If the kingdom of God’s Presence that Jesus embodied and revealed was really real then Pilate had a disaster on his hands.
He represented an empire that celebrated Caesar as Lord. Anything less was anarchy for Pilate.
He desperately tried to minimize Jesus as harmless and dismiss him.
He ordered the usual deterrents. He had Jesus beaten.
But that wasn’t enough for those threatened by his presence.
Only death could quiet this uprising of…love. (Or so they thought.)
So Pilate, instead of choosing his own integrity, chose crucifixion.
Maybe he was actually starting to get it?
Maybe that was the reason?
And in that moment, the reality and truth of it was too much for him.
If the kingdom of God’s Presence that Jesus embodied and revealed was really real then Peter couldn’t hide behind anything anymore.
Peter would have to embody that kingdom himself.
As a disciple he would have to live the love that Jesus commanded and demonstrated.
He would have to risk standing up for this alternative understanding of how the world was supposed to work, and claim it for his own.
That very day he was given the chance to do so.
Peter was asked, point blank, if he was really with Jesus.
And he denied. Three times.
Maybe he was actually starting to get it?
Maybe that was the reason?
And in that moment, the reality and truth of it was too much for him.
And Jesus was crucified. Killed, not because of anything he did, but because his truth would upend the world, and upend people’s lives.
Our lives…
Our lives………
But that’s how it has to be.
In order for something new to be born, something has to give way.
In order to embrace a new way, the former way must be let go.
And maybe the unsettled feeling that Good Friday brings is supposed to remind us in the starkest terms that our reluctance to let go of our familiar ways and embrace Jesus’ way of the kingdom of God is the very same thing that brought about his crucifixion.
And if contemplating Jesus on the cross is breaking our hearts, then maybe, maybe we’re actually starting to get it?
Maybe…
