Sunday, June 14, 2020
James Tissot: False Witness before Caiaphas
Luke 22 – The Plot to Kill Jesus
Over and over again we read frightening lines like this one: The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people. The leaders see that they will lose influence and power because to Jesus offers compassion and healing to those who suffer. The leaders also worry that Jesus’ actions might attract the attention of the overlord Romans, and they do not want to encourage another Jewish rebellion. They search for a way to do away with this troublesome rabbi who asks piercing questions. Jesus – who presents a way of finding timeless peace and healing restoration – is eliminated by those who offer far less. The paradox is that this cornerstone that is rejected becomes a salvific force which redeems not only friends but enemies – if only these adversaries might put down their weapons and return to the goodness to which they are called.
Today we continue with our theme of dark schemes and wicked conspirators, and we look at how events around Jesus’ last hours unwind . . .
While Jesus and his followers prepare for Passover, the shadowy plot of murder unwinds; these two activities coil around one another in a twisting dance of darkness and light. This serves to remind us that in this world goodness and evil often walk side by side unremarked . . . almost accepted. We fool ourselves into believing that all around us must be perfect. Who is the reaper who knows to sort the grain from the chaff?
A foreshadowing of Peter’s denial sends a frisson of consciousness through us . . . we too have denied Christ when we are under pressure. Jesus reminds us that we need nothing for our journey save his protection and guidance. We fool ourselves into believing that we make our own way and earn our own bread. Who is the source of our talents?
Jesus prays. Judas betrays. The faithful scatter. The powerful take over. The odd dance of inversion continues as those with arms believe themselves to be the strongest. We fool ourselves into believing that we can exert pressure to win arguments by overwhelming knowledge when overwhelming goodness is the true strength. Who allows himself to be made weak so that he might be strong in the creator?
Arrest, denial, rejection. Jesus stands innocent before Pilate and Herod. He is beaten and sentenced to death. He carries his cross, he is crucified and dies . . . and he awaits the resurrection he has been promised by the Father. We fool ourselves into believing that this story was lived once by a man two thousand years ago. Who suffers each day with each of his billions of sisters and brother?
There is no plot Jesus does not comprehend. There is no darkness he has not experienced. There is no pain he has not suffered. There is no mockery, no betrayal, no rebuffing, no murder he has not survived. Jesus experiences all, and Jesus wants to save and restore all . . . if we only rely on him.
When the situation is bleakest, when the plot is thickest, when the hour is darkest . . . this is where Christ stands. This is where he waits . . . for he knows that we will need him because we take nothing else with us on this journey – no purse, no bag, no sword. We take only Christ, for he is all we need against any evil, against any plot . . . against even murder.
Adapted from a Noontime written on November 18, 2009.
Image from: http://www.freebibleimages.org/illustrations/tis-trial-caiaphas/
The Noontimes 