This is one of the most powerful narratives in all of Scripture.  For those who love Jesus, it is hard to imagine and hard to understand.  How could anybody do this to somebody who was forgiving and healing and concerned about others right to the end?  We find it hard to conceive of why so much cruelty would have been unleashed upon Jesus.  It is amazing what human sinfulness can do.

    For me, this whole narrative has come alive even more, having seen the places that go with the story.  Much of what has stuck in my mind centres around the high priest’s house, which is where Jesus would have spent the night.  Caiaphas’ house is now a church in a place that is called St. Peter in Gallicantu.  Gallicantu can be loosely translated as “cock’s crow,” and there is a sculpture there that includes Peter and a rooster and the three people who accused Peter of being a disciple.

    Within this same church lie some of the original stones from the courtyard where Peter would have stood, warming himself, as well as a prison that was underneath the house.  It would have probably been some time around one in the morning when Jesus was arrested in the garden and taken to the high priest’s house.  Yet, it wasn’t until the light of day that Jesus was brought before the council.  Thus, it is highly likely that Jesus was held in the prison there, where there are holes in the concrete that would have held iron rings for tying up prisoners.  Even today, there are signs there that this would have been a place for torture.

    At the church that was the high priest’s house, two pieces of artwork help to tell the story.  The first is on the outside of the church and seems to picture Jesus being mocked and beaten.  The words below are in French: “Les Outrages Chez Caiphe” - the outrages at Caiaphas’ house.  A second piece depicts Jesus before the Council.  The most interesting part of this painting is at the top – and unfortunately the close-up turned out kind of dark.  However, up there with the angels, it seriously looks as if God has a headache.

    Once we have in mind all that happened to Jesus – the mocking, the torture, the ridiculous trial, the flogging, and the crucifixion – it becomes even more amazing how Jesus continued to forgive and to heal – something that we see especially in the gospel of Luke.  Jesus heals the ear of the high priest’s slave.  He is concerned about the women who follow him and weep.  He prays for the forgiveness of those who crucify him and announces God’s forgiveness to the repentant criminal.  And in the end, Jesus commends his spirit into God’s hands.  In short, Jesus never wavers from his life of humble service, in spite of the insults that are hurled at him.

    As for why all this would happen to Jesus, we could say that both the religious leaders and the political leaders felt threatened by him and wanted him out of the way.  We could say that this is what human sinfulness can do.  Or we could say that Jesus humbled himself and submitted himself to all that was to come, knowing that there was no other way to break the power of sin, death and the devil.  No matter which explanation we choose, one thing is for certain: This happened to Jesus out of love for you and me, that the way might be opened for salvation and eternal life.  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

Sunday of the Passion (C)                            Luke 22:14 - 23:56
March 24, 2013
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church
Pastor Lynne Hutchison

© 2013 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved