"After mocking him,
they stripped him of the purple cloak
and put his own clothes on him.
Then they led him out to crucify him."
(from Mark 15:1-47)
As I reflect on the story of Jesus’ torment, suffering and crucifixion, similar stories come to my mind.
Stories such as George Floyd, Breyonna Taylor, school shootings by students, and NYC subway incidents.
On the one hand, I think there’s nothing outstanding about Jesus’ torment, suffering and crucifixion.
The Roman government crucified lots of people because of betrayal, arrest under false charges, abandonment, physical abuse, and mob “justice".
The world in Jesus’ day experienced profound cruelty from the elite and those with governmental power able to manipulate the legal system for their corrupt interests.
On the other hand, Jesus’ trial and crucifixion was an apocalyptic event, a revelation.
The disciples understood Jesus as the Messiah when the Centurion said, “Truly, this was the Son of God!”
The first chapter is the Exodus story with plagues, darkened skies and finally, death of the first-born son.
The new chapter, the apocalyptic event, the revelation, is God’s plan of salvation symbolized by similar events such as the tearing of the temple curtain, darkness, death of the first-born son.
Jesus’ own suffering is part of a larger story of apocalyptic liberation, created by the death of the divine Son rather than the firstborn of Egypt.
Today, in our “present evil age” we are still waiting for the Son of Man to “arrive on the clouds with great power and glory”
It seems to me that our waiting during this “present evil age ” needs to include gathering around the Lord’s table where our souls are nourished with the hope of God's mighty act of salvation.
At the same time, we need to minister to those suffering from evil, injustice, and oppression as God called us through Jesus.
Think about it: how are you nurturing your soul while waiting got God's mighty act of salvation?
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