Chapter 10 – Death: The Final Week

Ever since my church introduced the Tenebrae Service on Good Friday, Good Friday has been my favorite service. I believe I was in 7^th grade at the time and my best friend and I were the acolytes for the evening. The pastors gave us a measure of responsibility in our duties and we relished it. It had never been done in our church before and they gave us general directions for our jobs, but left the details to us. They trusted us!

It has never escaped my notice that we spend quite a deal of time on the events leading up to Christ’s crucifixion. There were special names for special days. Palm Sunday, Ash Wednesday, Maunday Thursday, Good Friday. We don’t have such things for Christmas. We spend a lot of time in somber solemnity ending in the huge celebration that is Easter. And Easter is over in one quick morning it seems.

And yet, you cannot have one without the other. There is no resurrection without death. And there is no hope without the resurrection.

It is at this time that Jesus finally tells us who He indeed is. He doesn’t tell shepherds and he doesn’t tell lepers, women or children. These, humble despicables already know. He tells the High Priest and Governor. He tells Church and State. He tells religion and politics. And He tells them when He has been humbled beneath even the most untouchable. When He least resembles royalty. When He least resembles power. He admits that “it is as you say.” Yes, I am the Son of God. Yes, I am the King of the Jews. Yes, I am your biggest threat.

When it is no longer believable.

When there is no longer any chance of creating a powerful religious following.

When there is no longer any chance of starting a destructive revolution.

He conquers us, not by force, but with love and grace. Open arms on a cross.

But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Matthew 26:63-64 (ESV)

And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.”

Luke 23:3