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| The Taking of Christ (1602) by Caravaggio |
Pastor Tom Johnson, April 2, 2023
In this long and heavy reading, we journey with Jesus and his disciples from the night he was betrayed to his crucifixion and death.
One of Jesus’ twelve disciples—Judas Iscariot—betrays Jesus. He is disagreeable with Jesus because of the very costly ointment lavishly poured over his head. Judas argues that it should have been sold and given to the poor. Jesus does not live up to his expectations. Judas’ outspoken priority was for the poor. His unspoken priority, as the one in charge of the money, was to pilfer the money for himself—just a little bit each day so that no one would notice him lining his own pockets. So Judas rejects Jesus.
Jesus does not live up to the expectations of the Pharisees and Sadducees, The religious authority. They want a Messiah who follows all their rules—to fit in their little box. They don’t want a Messiah who constantly blows their minds and throws them off their rigid center. So they too reject Jesus.
The Jerusalem crowds greet Jesus with the word “Hosanna” which means “Save us.” They want Messiah to militarily deliver them from Roman occupation and politically save them from corrupt leadership. Jesus does not live up to their expectations. His Kingdom is not of this world. So the Jerusalem mobs reject him. The crowd who once cried “Hosanna! Hosanna!” now is a mob shouting out “Crucify! Crucify!” Jesus is rejected by his own people.
Jesus does not live up to the expectations of the Romans—Pontius Pilate and the soldiers. They expect a religious zealot bent on their murderous overthrow. They expect a liar or a lunatic who has delusions of grandeur. And so they mock him, punch him, spit upon him, and put a sign with a sick joke above his head: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” So they too reject Jesus and almost scourge him to death.
Jesus does not live up to the world’s expectations. The world mocks Jesus while he is crucified—even those crucified with him. “Save yourself if you are the Son of God!” “Save yourself if you are the true King!” “Save yourself and us!” Ironically, that is exactly what Jesus was doing. They reject the Savior of the world.
We live in a time when we can return just about any item we purchase if it does not live up to our expectations. We will give a product or a company a bad review if we are dissatisfied. It seems that is in our power to accept or reject things.
Does Jesus live up to your and my expectations? Did we wish for a prosperity teacher that would guarantee good health and line our pockets with wealth? Do we get frustrated when Jesus does not fit into our little box? Do we reject him and forsake his perplexing but gracious work in our lives? Do we get frustrated because of who Jesus allows to become president or governor? Or who he allows to be your boss? Or who he allows to serve and work under your authority? Do we have the faith to accept disappointment but also to trust that through the chaos and confusion Jesus will do his gracious work? Do we get frustrated with Jesus’ humanity and humility—that he does not just write his Word in the sky? That he does not just come down from his heavenly throne to stop war-mongering nations, corrupt political leaders, toxic bosses, and abusive spouses?
In our reading today, Jesus experiences the rejection of male and female, Jew and Gentile, and slave and free. He is rejected by all humanity. He sees rejection in the hateful scowls, raised fists, and instruments of torture and death. He hears rejection in the mockery, accusations, and taunts. He smells rejection in the sour wine raised up on a stick. He feels the rejection in his body—the punches, thorns, whips, and the nails. Emotionally, Jesus feels forsaken by his Heavenly Father: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” But at the same time he knows he is not forsaken. He is not abandoned by God. It is not what he deserved. He is not rejected. With confidence and finality, Jesus says, “Into your hands I commit my spirit.” So Jesus breathes his last and yields his spirit to the Father. Jesus is received by God the Father. It is what he deserved—as the spotless Lamb. He is accepted.
Jesus answers our prayers of Hosanna—“O Lord, save us!” Jesus saves us from our sin, the devil, and even death itself. He takes it all to the Cross. He forgives us even when we do not know what we are doing. We truly do not know what we are doing when we sin and reject him. He forgives us and sets us free from guilt and condemnation. It is not what we deserve. Although we do not live up to God’s holy and righteous expectations, he accepts us. When we feel rejected by others, even God or ourselves, we have the assurance that we are accepted by God. Jesus faced rejection for us to gain our acceptance—he purchased us—not with gold and silver—but with his own precious blood. Just as God the Father received Jesus into his hands so he receives us into his hands and his eternal Kingdom.
O seed of Israel's chosen race
Now ransomed from the fall,
Hail him who saves you by his grace
And crown him Lord of all.
Hail him who saves you by his grace
And crown him Lord of all.
(“All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name!” LBW 328, v. 3)
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