March 29, 2013
Good Friday
Luke 22:17 - 23:56
MEAL
Jesus had amazing table manners. He would break bread with anyone. In fact, one of the criticisms some people foisted upon Jesus was that he was not discriminating enough with his dinner partners. All manner of societal outcasts could be seen at table with Jesus: the icky ill, those of poor reputation, empire collaborators, the ritually unclean, women and (brace yourself) even, children.
Thursday's evening meal was a bit more intimate, more familiar. Jesus likely had dozens of regular followers, most of who probably came with him to Jerusalem for the Passover. Since arriving in Jerusalem on Sunday, he had gained the attention of hundreds more. But this meal was a more private matter - shared among Jesus and his twelve closest disciples.
The Passover week was generally a festive occasion, but Jesus raised a more sombre topic at that Thursday meal. He spoke about brokenness. As he passed around the elements of the meal, he wanted these close friends to think about the nature of brokenness.
This [bread] is [like] my body, broken.
This [cup] is [like] my blood poured out.
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What was Jesus trying to say?
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#194MV “Bread of Life”
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BETRAYAL/DENIAL
During the meal, Jesus' brokenness language takes on a very practical form - broken relationships. At the table, among the disciples, were Simon Peter and Judas: two relationships that will crack in the coming hours. In Matthew and Mark, it appears that Jesus identified Judas as the one who would betray him mid-way through the meal, before Jesus comments on the wine and the bread. (Actually, Matthew and John are the only gospels where Judas is outed in front of the others.) For that reason, some biblical analysts will argue that Judas was not part of the first communion. But Luke's timeline waits until after the meal before Jesus mentions a betrayal.
Given, Jesus intentional habit of eating alongside all kinds of sinners and outcasts, I am partial to Luke's account.
Peter, who was predicted to be one who will deny Jesus, was also among the disciples during the meal. Even at a time of broken and fractured friendships, Jesus lived out God's wide love and compassion.
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#64MV “Because You Came”
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PRAYER
After supper, even after telling Peter that he would deny him three times before the sun's first light, Jesus invited John, James and (soon to thrice deny) Peter to join him to the garden to pray. Jesus seems to be attempting to break into this tense moment with a complete turning over of himself into the spiritual discipline of prayer, for at least an hour, maybe as much as three hours (according to some of the gospel accounts). Jesus had asked his disciples to stay awake while he was a short ways further into the garden, but it was already well past sundown and sleep won out for the disciples. Makes sense to me: it was a day and age with limited artificial light. Labourers, craftsmen and fishermen like Jesus' disciples were much more used to early mornings than late nights. Jesus compared (perhaps a bit unfairly) their lack of nighttime alertness to the energy that deep faith requires.
I wonder if Jesus felt like these disciples broke a promise to stay awake with him.
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[Good Friday Prayers]
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SR. CHOIR "I See a Rose in the Garden"
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ARREST/JUDGMENT
After the praying session, as Jesus and the disciples who were with him were coming to edge of the garden, a familar face met them. Familiar lips touched Jesus. But this usually respectful, intimate and compassionate gesture was 'none of these'. In the darkness of the garden, Judas got close enough to Jesus to see his face. The kiss was a sign to the soldiers who had come with Judas, so they would surround and quickly subdue the right man. They did. Jesus was taken away with barely a struggle.
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The gospels vary on the nature of Jesus' trial. There seems to have been dual processes: religious opponents of Jesus, and political opponents - Jesus held to account to the Sanhedrin Council and the Roman Governor of Judea - accused of blasphemy and treason:. Jesus was being called Son of God, Messiah (King).
In the end it was Pilate's decision to make. The claim to kingship may have appeared inconsequential; Jesus was small potatos at best. And yet... peace in the empire is maintained through might. And might must be demonstrated. If only Jesus would have denied the charges, recanted the claims, he could have broken his bonds and been released.
Ah well, Pilate thought, execute him for the crime of treason. Write the conviction on the sign for all to see along with his broken body: 'Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews'. I doubt we'll see anymore of these messiah types. Away with him.
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#497VU “Nearer My God to Thee”
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CRUCIFIXION/BURIAL
Crucifixion was a brutal form of execution. It was deliberately slow and painful process. The condemned arms would be outstretched by tying the arms or nailing the wrists (between the radius and ulna bones) to a cross beam and the hoisting him up so that the full weight of the body felt the full force of gravity. It was used in several regions, from as early as the 6th century BCE. According to some historians of the time, it was a particular favorite method in parts of the Roman Empire. It was used for pirates, slaves and enemies of the state. Roman Citizens would usually be dealt with some other way – their status deserved something more dignified, even for a capital crime. Crucifixion was considered a most shameful and disgraceful way to die. Death could take days: you could suffocate from the fluid build up in the lungs from the raised arms; your heart could give out; you could suffer an infection in your wounds.
To hasten death, prisoners were beaten and flogged. The condemned were often given the indignant task of carrying their own cross beam to the erected posts at the execution location. That further tired them out and gave opportunity for the crowds to mock and insult the condemned. The death posts were often strategically placed for maximum public viewing: busy crossroads, hilltops.
In Jesus' day, there was a small rounded hill, that looked like a skull cap, called Golgotha that served such a purpose. You may also know it by the anglicised version of the latin word for "place of the skull" - Calvary.
Sometimes, to further hasten death, the soldiers (who had to guard the site until the prisoner was dead) would break the legs. With a final brokenness, the condemned would have no fight against the downward pressure.
Some lasted days; the heartiest, maybe a week. Jesus was in such a weakened state that he breathed his last in only about six hours. There was no need to break his legs so the guards could go home early. Jesus was a completely broken man.
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In all of the archaeological discovers of Roman era sites, there is only one set of remains that have been confirmed to be that of a crucifixion victim. And crucifixion is only known in this case, because a nail fragment and a peace of wood was attached to an ankle bone. Usually, the nails were driven through the flesh, missing the bone. And more so, unless the condemned had family members who could negotiate the body for burial, the corpses would be left on the crosses to decay and be ravaged by predatory animals - a very disgusting deterrent to would be criminals.
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Jesus died in the mid-afternoon on a Friday. There were only a few hours of daylight left to obtain the body... wrap it... and find a suitable place to store it before the Sabbath began at sunset. A proper burial would have to wait until first light on Sunday. Mary Magdalene and some of the other women would leave as soon as was permitted with spices and burial ointments in hand.
That Sabbath had to feel like the longest one ever.
I imagine that most of them spent the day quietly... with little to break up the lonely silence or ease the real grief.
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Music: “For Real”
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