This past Sunday, Palm Sunday, we read the Passion account from Mark 14:1-15:47. This is a lengthy narrative. We asked people to take different parts and everyone in the sanctuary had a copy of the Passion account. The congregation played the part of “the people.” The congregation speaks those horrific words to Pilate about Jesus, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him.”
I am taken aback by such words. As I look across the congregations I serve I see good and decent and hard working people. People who gather for worship around the Word and Sacraments in a time and place where one must make a deliberate choice to be active in a congregation. These dear people shout out “crucify Him!” Are they playing a part?
The sad, sad truth is that none of us are playing a part here. We enter into the drama. We speak the story of Jesus’ crucifixion because we find ourselves in the story. The truth is that we would be just like the disciples and we would despite our best intentions lose courage and faith and fall away from Jesus. We would be like Peter and in that moment when it matters, we would deny Jesus. We would be in the crowd, foolishly, blindly, shouting out at the encouragement of our fearful and misguided religious leaders to crucify Jesus. This sad, sad truth leads us into shame. This sad, sad truth leads us into the truth that Jesus dies for us as well because we are sinners and we would do no better. We need the mercy of God because we fail and lose faith.
Jesus suffers and dies for us, for me, for you.
The Passion of Christ is a statement of truth. Truth of God’s profound love for us rings loud and clear. God is incarnate in Jesus. The very Son of God dies on the cross for our sakes.
The truth is that our humanity falls short. Too short. We need the mercy of God extended to us on account of Christ Jesus.
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