The story we are about to hear almost always hits us right in the pit of our stomachs. We shall soon hear about the twists and turns, the motives and manoeuvrings of Jesus's last day among his followers; and it will probably upset us. It's a disturbing story, set in a cruel period of our history, acted out in the context of a much bigger picture of poverty, ignorance, oppression and political power-broking. Even without any recognition of who Jesus actually was, it's a disturbing story.
As we imagine the scene in our mind's eye, many characters flit across the picture - for some it will be just another day of Roman justice with a touch of local Jewish political arm-twisting - for others, things will never be the same again.
Here, today, we can choose to observe this scene through the eyes of any one of a number of people involved in the day's events.
We can be Pontius Pilate, protected by our absolute power over people's lives, yet still struggling to balance the will of Rome with the will of the local Jewish leaders, using a diplomat's skills to judge how much to insist upon and how much to let go.
We can be one of the crowd, thirsting for a free gory spectacle provided by the Romans, full of popular support for the dashing Barabbas, our local hero, and ready to sacrifice in his place the strange misfit who's a thorn in the side of the temple authorities.
But surely for us, the most natural eyes through which to experience the events of that Passover Preparation Day are those of Jesus's disciples - his close group of 12, and his wider circle of followers and supporters. They are the ones for whom this is not just another execution; they are the ones whose lives will be transformed beyond all recognition by the events of the day; they are the ones alongside whom we find ourselves 2000 years later as we struggle to find meaning in the overwhelming journey of human existence.
But in order truly to get alongside those early followers of Jesus, we need to share their desperation about the future. We need to reach the point of Jesus's death and burial in the tomb, and then stop. We know that there are some truly wonderful things still to happen; we know that Jesus will continue his relationship with each of his followers to the end of time. Those early followers knew none of this: they saw it all come to the most brutal and hopeless end - and we must stop there with them for the moment. We need to experience the desperation of Good Friday, otherwise we cannot truly appreciate the joy of Easter Sunday.
In the reading we are about to hear, there will be disciples who scatter in all directions. There will be one in particular who decides to engineer a confrontation with Jesus's enemies which will start off the whole process of trial, conviction and execution. There is another who will live to fight another day by denying any knowledge of Jesus when challenged. There is another who will support the women followers and will be with them, including Jesus's mother, at the foot of the cross.
But, as these dreadful events were unfolding, none of them had any idea what was to happen to their small community which placed all its hope and faith in someone about to die a disgraceful death. They must have thought that all hope was gone and that individual survival was their only priority.
Half-remembered, vaguely understood phrases about 'living temples', 'rising to new life', or 'rebuilding in three days' flew out of their minds as the events of the day unfolded. Whatever it might have meant, it was just words. How could that compare with the dead body of their master being carried from the Hill of the Skull and placed in a tomb? It was not the day to look for hope; it was the day to grieve; and it was a time to stay out of sight, out of danger, and avoid any risk of further entrapment.
That will be the point where our reading will end today; and if we are to know the true earth-shattering joy of resurrection when it comes, that is where we must stop today and wait with the disciples - grieving with them, frightened for them, scattered like them, hopeless alongside them.
The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John ...
(Philip Jones)
This
sermon was first preached in the Metropolitan Community Church of Manchester.
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