Jesus begs for the forgiveness of those who have beaten him and nailed him to a cross. I am compelled, at this point, to ask of myself the following question. Could I do this even for those who have not treated me as brutally as Jesus was treated? The fact that he does this freely without any need to be asked is even more amazing from a human point of view. That this conversation is between him and his father is demonstrated in his statements ("Father, forgive them they don’t know what they are doing.” In addition “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”). This conversation is somewhat muted by the events transpiring around him: First, by the sounds of soldiers cursing and laughing as they gamble for his clothes. Second, the crowd’s shouts and scream as they mock him. Third, by the hollow ring of the hammer as it strikes nails and the sound of the nails piercing skin and wood. Fourth, by his friends and loved ones weeping and crying a few huddled together at the scene. Fifth, by the others hiding behind locked doors or standing at a distance trembling in fear. Here in this frozen moment of time, this “Good Friday,” we are all blindsided by the unfathomable forgiveness and the amazing grace of God.
Those around, even though they are not listening, are in reality (to borrow a phrase from Fred Craddock) “overhearing the gospel.” In a dramatic and glorious way we are “blindsided” by the love and mercy of God. This is seen in the reaction of the Roman centurion and the crowd.
“Surely this was a righteous man. When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breast and went away” (Luke 23:47b & 48).Craddock uses the phrase (“overhearing the gospel”) to describe a style of preaching. He also uses the phrase “indirect communication” for this form of preaching. It is a narrative format, engaging form and accurate way to communicate the essence of the gospel. This is also quite often the way we encounter the gospel.
In Luke’s narrative, if you permit me to say, all of us are also, eavesdropping on (overhearing) a private conversation. It is in fact, a one-sided conversation between a son and his father. Jesus is talking about all of us but not too us. However, we are far from innocent by-standers. As the recipients and beneficiaries of his request we become embroiled, engaged and participants in the gospel story. In this instance, the gospel message is overt, objective and visible in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is also covert, subtle and auditory in the conversation of Jesus with his father. In the latter it slips up on us and jumps us from behind. It is as if the gospel slips in the back door and takes us by surprise. We are blindsided by the unconditional love of Jesus, even in this obscene event (crucifixion). Jesus slips up on us and hits us with the punch line; “Father, forgive them…” and finally the shout with his last breath, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit…” We have become accustom with Jesus’ preaching and teaching to this typical and familiar style. Those standing by overheard the gospel in a moving and dramatic way but it was not until they heard the punch line that it became evident and they respond. “This was a righteous man…” and “They go away beating their breast…”
We wait anxiously for the answer to thunder from heaven. We watch with eager anticipation for the heavens to open and angels to descend. We expectantly await the heavenly host with trumpets blaring and armed with fiery swords in hand to rush to his rescue. We overhear the conversation and wait. No thunder is heard, no angels appear, and nothing disturbs the silence, as time seems to stand still. As we overhear the conversation, it is like listening in on one side of a phone conversation. We hear the words of Jesus but only silence from God. Still we wait. This too is the gospel. It is Friday and on Friday God is silent. We are left with uncertainty and questions. Waiting and longing for an answer only to be greeted with an oppressive silence. Someone tell me once again why they call this “Good Friday?” The silence of Friday is deafening but we have become accustom to the “sounds of silence.”
One cannot help but wonder if the human Jesus longed for just a whisper in his ear. The quiet reassuring voice of a loving father in this circumstance would bolster his confidence. The knowledge of his presence could make a world of difference. Do you remember what it was like to know your father was near by? The feel of his prickly whiskers on your cheek, the scent of after shave as he held your head on his shoulder and he gently whispered “I love you” in your ear. The aroma of your father fresh in your nostrils reminds you that you are safe in his arms. You feel his strength and you are reassured and confident in his presence. In this knowledge, our hope is restored, but for Jesus there is no shoulder, and no soft whisper only silence.
We wonder aloud, if God could answer with a voice from heaven at his baptism and the cry from heaven on that holy mountain where he was transfigured before his disciples. Then, why is it that when Jesus was on the cross there is no, word not even a sigh? All we hear is simply the mournful cry of a man alone, in pain, helpless and lost. The woeful cry of a deserted soul, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” However, this is another conversation, a part of Matthew’s Good Friday story and I choose to save this discussion for another time. Now we are overhearing the conversation of Jesus and his father found in Luke’s Gospel. Even no answer can be an answer but, it’s Crucifixion Friday and on this Friday God is silent. We wait in silence for the answer. This too is another story for another time. That is the story of resurrection Sunday when God shouts in triumph and we sing a song of victory. It is not the story of Silent Friday.
Bob
No comments:
Post a Comment