Reading: John 18+19
If you haven’t had a chance to read John 18 + 19 yet, pause on this reflection and go do so. Take some time to read these chapters in full. Don’t rush, don’t skim. Place yourself in the moment of time as these scriptures narrate Jesus’ journey to the cross. Notice the moments of tension, disbelief, and sorrow. Imagine how Jesus might be feeling in these situations. Notice how you yourself are feeling as you read.
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If you grew up in the church like I did, you are probably very familiar with this story. Jesus is in the garden with his disciples when he is betrayed by Judas and arrested by the soldiers and temple guards. He is questioned by the high priest and tried before Pilate meanwhile Peter denies Jesus three times. Pilate finds Jesus not guilty yet on behalf of the people, releases Barabbas instead of Jesus and turns Jesus to the crowd to crucify him. Jesus dies a painful death on the cross but is resurrected 3 days later paving the way to salvation and new life for those who believe in Him.
Pretty straight forward, right? Maybe but maybe not. I think the narrative of Jesus’ journey to the cross can easily become “just a story.” A repetition of what Christians have always heard and always known. When we take the time to sit in the scriptures, though, we realize that Jesus’ death is much more than just a series of historical events. It’s a traumatic narrative of betrayal, abandonment, loneliness, injustice, and mockery that ends in the beating, flogging, and murder of our sinless Savior.
As I read our scripture passage for today, feelings of unease and discomfort quickly rose to the surface of my heart and spirit. I was tempted to brush them off and put up a wall between me and the traumatic nature of Jesus’ death. What a paradoxical luxury to be able to separate myself from the discomfort and pain of the man who died so that he would be able to meet me in my pain and my discomfort and take away the death penalty of my sin.
Isaiah 53:3 says that “He was despised and rejected – a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.”
I wonder if that’s sometimes how we respond to Good Friday. We turn our backs and look the other way. We skim over the events of the day and dissociate ourselves from the pain that Jesus endured on our behalves so that we don’t become uncomfortable. I have been convicted today of the harsh reality of Jesus’ suffering and subsequently have been invited to sit in Jesus’ pain, knowing that He is always ready and willing to sit with me in mine.
Jesus understands pain. He understands loneliness. He understands abuse and mistreatment and injustice. Whatever situation you’re in, Jesus understands. Will you set aside time today to try and understand his?
As we read and reflect on these passages of John, would we be reminded that we follow a Jesus who can relate to us; would we recognize that the death of Christ is just as important as his resurrection; and would we respond to the suffering and pain of Jesus as he does ours.
So, on this Good Friday, we sit. We mourn. We acknowledge the pain and suffering Jesus experienced. We repent of our own apathy. And we wait…
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Reflection Questions:
- In this passage or reflection, where did you notice moments of tension, confusion, sorrow, or other emotions?
- How do you imagine Jesus might have felt in these situations? How does that make you feel?
- How does Jesus meet you in your own pain and suffering? What does it look like for you to reflect upon his?