Reflections on Holy Weeks!
By Jerry L. Barnes,
Minister, Missionary, Educator
Who would have thought that God
would have come to such a non-descript
village as Bethlehem to clothe Himself
in the flesh of the Christ Child!
And, who would have thought that God
would have used an old man like Simeon,
or an old woman like Anna, to remind
an old nation like Israel that God`s grace
was inclusive of all peoples and not
exclusive of anyone.
(Which is Luke`s way of saying:
In the darkness, the light of God`s revelation
goes on shining forever for Gentiles
like you and me!)
Who would have thought that God
would have walked through the tortured
centuries up every road that led to a
new Golgotha offering nothing . . .
but His forgiving love!
And, who would have thought a part-time teacher,
a part-time healer, a part-time story teller, and a
part-time miracle worker would have evoked
religiously righteous.
Which is a poet`s way of saying: It was not the
splintered vocation that sent Him to the cross. It
was His refusal to be what so many wanted Him to be!
It was His prophetic courage: in cleansing the Temple,
forgiving prodigal sons and adulterous daughters,
commending tax collectors and Good Samaritans!
But it was more than that!
This Son of Man/ this Suffering Servant of God,
with prophetic courage,
enraged the narrow-minded Scribes and Pharisees
with His caustic criticism of their
"choking down gnats and swallowing camels!"
Then, too, what He said and did
threatened the pompous High Priest and Sadducees
with eminent insurrection because
they cared more for their political well-being
than the kingdom of God!
Their plot to crucify Jesus
was clinched with Caiaphas` chilling words:
"it is better that one man die than the whole nation perish"
What a tragic irony!
That One so profoundly innocent would die on a Roman cross
at the hands of those who were so . . .
thoroughly evil!
Who would have thought that such evidence
would have brought Him to Golgotha!
But there He was hanging on the cross:
Betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, sentenced to death by
Pilate, abandoned by disciples, crucified by Roman soldiers,
surrounded by a fickle crowd, and only supported by
His mother, one disciple, and a few faithful women.
There in the dreadful darkness of Black Friday, He cried,
"Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing!"
At the last He uttered one word, tetelestai! (It is finished)
Then He died!
In the darkness, the women waited . . .
And, who would have thought, on the third day
the few women
who were last to pay vigil at the cross,
Ah . . . the blessed women!
They spread the Good News to other disciples,
"He is not here. He has risen!"
And other disciples to the world . . .
Somberly reflecting on the Galilean Prophet`s life,
would any pensive poet not shudder to think:
If Jesus had not been raised from the dead
by the power of God,
we would not be celebrating either
Christmas or Easter!
A final reflection:
What God accomplished through His forgiving love
and triumph over death, has transformed
Black Friday into Good Friday
and the third day into Resurrection Sunday
